Several people, including President Ivan Gašparovič, Defence Minister Martin Glváč, Chief of the General Staff Peter Vojtek and US Ambassador to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick, attended the funeral of Sergeant Major Daniel Kavuliak, who was killed in the attack at Kandahar on July 9. The ceremonial funeral with military honours took place in Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Turzovka, Žilina Region, on July 12.
Vojtek promoted Kavuliak and posthumously awarded him a gold medal of the Defence Ministry in recognition for his participation in the ISAF mission, the TASR newswire reported.
“A soldier on active duty died in a battle operation, and he was killed by the hand of our enemy,” Vojtek said, as quoted by TASR. “And that is why we have to pay special attention to him.”
A mass for the deceased soldier was also held in Kandahar. The military chaplain also prayed for the quick recovery of the two soldiers who received serious injuries in the attack, and were transported to a US military hospital in German Landstuhl on July 11, the SITA newswire reported on July 14.
Meanwhile, one of the soldiers with a chest injury underwent surgery. Though it turned out well, he will have to undergo further surgery, spokesperson for Slovak Armed Forces Milan Vanga told the SITA newswire.
Another soldier who sustained a gunshot wound to the head is still in an induced coma. The doctors hope he will be able to undergo surgery soon, Vanga added.
Source: TASR, SITA
For more information about this story please see: Slovak soldier killed in Afghanistan
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
