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22-year-old Private Benjamin James Ranaudo was killed when an anti-personnel explosive device detonated during a Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force operation near Tarin Kowt.
Private Ranaudo graduated from St Joseph’s College in 2004 before he joined the Townsville based 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
Acting co-principal Max Caruso expressed condolences and deepest sympathies to the fallen soldier’s family, friends and classmates on behalf of the school community.
“Ben was a very caring and kind student whose cheeky grin made us all smile,” Mr Caruso said.
“He was an active member of our community and he will be sadly missed.”
Private Ranaudo’s family has asked the media to respect their privacy and will not conduct any interviews.
But in an online tribute, Private Ranaudo’s older sister Amy said her brother was brave, strong and loved by all who knew him.
“You are an inspiration to me, your strength and your heart will stay with me forever,” she said.
Ms Ranaudo’s thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
“It’s great to see how much he was loved,” she said.
Private Renaudo’s younger sister Hayley-Rose said he was ‘the best brother’.
Girlfriend Haylee McCarthy said Private Ranaudo would be forever in her heart and mind.
“You’ve taken a bit of my soul with you bub,” she said.
“I really thought we were going to be together forever.”
Private Ranaudo’s uncle Jason Cherry said his nephew’s death was ‘an absolute tragedy’.
“You were a great little boy, who grew into a fine man with a great future,” he said.
Defence Force chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said Private Ranaudo died ensuring terrorist groups could not use Afghanistan as a base to plan and mount attacks.
Air Chief Houston described the Digger as ‘a professional soldier who served enthusiastically and with distinction’.
“His career record speaks to a young man, very well trained, with an extraordinary array of completed courses,” he said.
“Benjamin was clearly dedicated to his career as a soldier.”
Army chief Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie said Private Ranaudo’s sacrifice would never be forgotten.
Friends described Private Ranaudo as ‘the best bloke anybody could ever have the pleasure to know’, ‘a true hero to be remembered by all” and ‘a wonderful young man’.
“I remember you sticking up for me a few times when I used to cop it in primary school and I’ll never forget that,” one former schoolmate said.
An army comrade said ‘you make us proud to be Australian soldiers’.
A second Australian soldier was wounded in the blast that killed Private Ranaudo and was in a serious but stable condition following surgery.
Three Afghan civilians were also injured.
Private Ranaudo was the 11th Australian soldier to be killed on operations in Afghanistan. RIP Ben 1RAR