“
Proud of you old man. Tomorrow I'll pay for the roast
.” On April 1, 2020,
Ricardo Akins
' son expressed his pride on social networks for his father's participation in the landing of Argentine troops in the
Falkland Islands
in 1982. Almost four years after that publication, the non-commissioned officer Retired major of the Marine Corps was murdered in an attempted robbery in Lanús, while working as a custodian.
“The one who took the English prisoners,
took the Royal Marines barracks and raised the Argentine Flag in the Falklands
,” wrote the young man in a post in which he shared
a video of Akins presenting himself before the camera
“to leave him something.” to their children, on the eve of a new day of commemoration of the "Day of the Veteran and of those who fell in the Malvinas War".
There, the member of the Amphibious Commando Group
reviewed in detail how his preparation was
and, mainly, the way in which he retraced the moments before and after his arrival to the Islands within the framework of Operation Rosario, which had as its objective “ disembark and recover the Malvinas.”
According to him, Akins entered the Argentine Navy in 1977, graduated in 1979, and after a year in the Marine Infantry Unit, he set his goal of taking a special forces course to “acquire special command skills,” which got it quickly.
In
1982
, he commented, he was part of a
call “to fulfill a mission in the south of the country
. ”
“We didn't know where we were going, but we did know that it was a real mission,” he highlighted.
Akins related that on March 26 of that year he left for Puerto Belgrano and that two days later,
he embarked on the destroyer ARA “Santísima Trinidad”
. “Above that ship, on the high seas, they notified us of the mission that the amphibious commandos were going to carry out,” he said.
Official information indicates that "on
the night of April 1 around 9:00 p.m.,
the amphibious commando group begins the landing from the destroyer ARA 'Santísima Trinidad, reaching the coast at 11:45 p.m.'."
Akins was among those men
.
“My boss had chosen a group of commandos to go as an Infantry point, as previous security is normally called. “We were going to prepare the entire movement in the landing area on the beach,” he indicated.
Akins, a retired senior non-commissioned officer of the Marine Corps who was killed in Lanús, joined the Argentine Navy in 1977.
He recalled that they had “some difficulties” and that they were governed by “radioelectric silence until 4 in the morning.” “I
participated in the recovery of the Royal Marines barracks
and later, after 4 in the morning, the radio circuit was opened and we were able to communicate with the other patrol and see that at that moment war actions had already begun,” express.
And he added: “Quickly, after
raising the first flag at the Royal Marines barracks
, lowering the English flag and raising ours, we made a small regrouping of the people and went to provide support to our patrol that was in full combat. ”.
After an early morning of “skirmishes” and avoiding an English ambush, Akins and his companions “captured” enemies “with small patrols,” until
they managed to “take the English as prisoners”
and, later, the
surrender of those troops. british
The farewell of comrades and war veterans
“With deep regret I have to inform you that the amphibious commando and veteran of the Malvinas war, SMIM Ricardo AKINS, victim of crime, has passed to immortality. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones, family, comrades and friends.
Rest in peace HERO of my country
. “STIRPS VIRILIS!” wrote Comandos Anfibios Argentinos on their Facebook account, in a message to which the special forces group called Tactical Buzos adhered.
For his part, user Miguel Angel Ingrassia recalled Akins' work in the Malvinas. "I can't believe it, he took the English prisoners in the Royal Marines barracks and raised the Argentine Flag in Malvinas. Chief Petty Officer of the Marine Infantry, VGM Amphibious Command Ricardo Akins.
Great person!!! Rest in Peace
!!!" , he wished him on that same social network.
Video
The victim, identified as Ricardo Akins, was 64 years old and a retired non-commissioned officer in the Marine Corps.
“
You fought like you taught us
, instructor commando!! Thank you for every word of support you gave me when I thought I was going to fall” Today crime stole your life... Greetings to heaven SMIM Ricardo Akins, hero of my country. Now on eternal patrol dear 'dwarf'. Until we regroup STIRPS Virilis,” wrote another user, next to an Argentine flag.
Akins was murdered this Saturday with a shot to the head in Lanús, when he tried to prevent the theft of the truck of the woman for whom he worked as a custodian.
IS