Condolences to the Goffs
November 12th, 2007 at 6:19 pm by David FarrarAs many NZers celebrated at the news that a Kiwi had got the VC saving a wounded comrade in Afghanistan, I am sure equally as many will feel a sense of sadness to hear an American New Zealander, Phil Goff’s nephew, was killed this week in Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Matthew Ferrara was serving with the United States Army and had graduated from West Point only in May 2005.
Any tragic death is hard to cope with. It’s probably harder when your profile makes it a public event. Condolences to the Goffs during this incredibly sad time, which reminds us the cost of freedom is sometimes considerable.
Tags: New Zealand
November 12th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
I also offer my condolences.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
It is sad to lose one when they are young.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I agree this is very sad, but when you consider all the people who died in similar fashion safeguarding the freedoms the EFB seeks to overturn…..
Hard call I know, but possibly true!
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Lets keep the EFB out of the Goff family’s misery.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Is very sad. Nothing political – just sad for all concerned.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I don’t think anyone on any point of the political spectrum would not want to extend their condolences to the Goff whanau today – Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui, arohanui.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Agree, lets keep NZ bloody politics out of this
sad day for the Goff family.
Going further, Right of way, just how fucking
Vote:crass are you.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
A young life lost. It’s always a tragedy. This is what breaks my heart about WW1 and WW2, Korea, Vietnam, the Iran/Iraq war, and now Iraq and Afghanistan – all the young men who died, and the young women who mourned them forever.
May he rest in peace.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Another death at the hands of religion.
Condolences.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
War Iraq blah blah blah.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
@Right of way is Way of Right
You are a fucking moron! Leave the politics out of it!
Condolences to the Goffs.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
My sincere condolences to the families of Mr Goff and his sister Lynda. Their soldier nephew and son had all the hallmarks of being an outstanding fine young man. No man can do more than give his life.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I’ll add my condolences too.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
DPF – We need something like this to remind us of the “cost of freedom”? If so, damn we are shallow.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I wish they would leave Phil Goff out of this.
Vote:November 12th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
# neontiger Says:
November 12th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
@Right of way is Way of Right
You are a fucking moron! Leave the politics out of it!
Condolences to the Goffs.
How the fuck do you leave politics out of it when the whole war against the Middle East is about politics?
Vote:November 13th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Condolences to the family of a brave young man who was killed defending the freedoms we currently take for granted. Interesting to ponder whether it was by chance he was posted to Afghanistan and not Iraq. The prospect of the Defence Minister’s nephew being killed in Iraq would no doubt have caused more embarrassment than Air NZ ferrying Aussies to Kuwait.
Vote:November 13th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Methinks a few here are being far too politically-correct. There is a world of different in taking some perverse pleasure at Goff’s family’s loss, and pointing out that ultimately such deaths are a cost of freedom.
Lest we forget.
Vote:November 13th, 2007 at 9:03 am
My condolences to the Goff family.
And…
Vote:Can someone do something about that horrid little troll Stanley Climbfall?
November 13th, 2007 at 9:08 am
At least Labour are being consistent in this case.
They have no time for Kiwi’s in dire straits overseas and they’re not showing any defference here. For the first time ever politician’s are leading by example.
Vote:November 13th, 2007 at 11:48 am
Sincere condolences to Phil Goff and all of his family. A fine young man doing his duty and assuming his responsibilities in the traditional manner of a soldier. One is rteminded of Douglas MacArthurs great speech given at West Point in the early 60′s just before he died. The motto of the academy was what he stressed.
Duty, Honour, Country.
Lieutenant Matthew Ferrara – Rest in Peace
Vote:November 13th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
cubit9f: “A fine young man doing his duty and assuming his responsibilities in the traditional manner of a soldier.” Amen.
“Duty, honour, country”. Amen to that too.
And yes, there’s lots of politics involved here but we’ll leave that for another day, another thread. One would love to know what Matthew Ferrara’s own views on the issues were.
Vote: