The diggers who risked their lives in the middle of a firefight to get Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney to safety have welcomed the release of the inquiry report into his death.
Corporal MacKinney, 28, a member of 6 Royal Australian Regiment, was fatally shot while protecting his mates at the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan on August 24, 2010.
Although the inquiry officer signed off on the report on January 6, 2011, it has taken more than a year for it to be issued.
This has been blamed, at least in part, on the controversy sparked by the leaking of a private email sent to a family member by a 6RAR soldier in the immediate wake of the battle. It had criticised intelligence gathering practices and said if mortars had been used Corporal MacKinney would not have died.
Soldiers who fought at Derapet, including the author of the leaked email, have since said this is not the case.
One digger yesterday said, ''Our members are not happy the controversy [over the email claims] overshadowed the work everybody in the team, both Australian and Afghan, did that day.
''That [effort] was recognised by the fact four of the 20 Australians who fought were acknowledged with gallantry awards last week.
''Members of our unit have stayed in touch with Beckie, Jared's wife, and we have supported her as much as we can.''
The 40-strong mentored force inflicted heavy casualties on about 100 Taliban who were waiting for them in prepared positions.
Australia Defence Association executive director, Neil James, said the fuss over the email had turned a highly successful operation into a public relations fiasco.
''All the commentary here [in Australia] came from armchair theorists who didn't understand the battle,'' he said.
''People, for example, were critical of the commander's decision to break off the engagement. He actually did a superb job and the army is very proud of him.''
Mr James said while he understood the soldier who wrote the email had received a ''ribbing'' over its publication, it was clear it had not been intended for public release.
Inquiry officer Colonel Boss wrote, ''At the time the email was written the member was grieving and searching for something to blame for the death of a close mate.''
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