Dangerous liasons . . .

Lieutenant Colonel Ed Freely flies back to Afghanistan today, to the dangerous Helmand Province.

It's his job, he knows his regiment is making a difference, and by October he and his men will be back in Shropshire. God willing, all of them.

I say that, because the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment - now based at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill and commanded by Lt Col Freely - lost a colleague only last week.

Sgt Jon Matthews, on attachment from The Highlanders, died while on foot patrol with the Afghan army, helping protect the police.

All of this may be going through Ed Freely's mind as he faces the final six weeks of this six-month tour of duty, often in searing 50-degree heat and always with the knowledge that Helmand Province is a desperate place to be.

But few cameo memories will cut as deeply into his heart as the words of his two-year-old son James.

I talked to Ed last week at the family's peaceful north Shropshire home and, as we went outside for a picture, little James looked up to see the Lieutenant Colonel putting on his hat.

On cue, he waved his hand and said: "Bye, bye, daddy."

Hat on, daddy's off again. Whether you are the boss or a rookie, that hurts.

Like other soldiers, the commanding officer has missed chunks of his children's lives, including James's last four months as he emerged from toddler to a little fellow with bags of character.

Yet believing that he and his colleagues are helping make the world a safer, fairer place for James, Luke, aged eight, and daughter Georgia, sustains their dad. And as with other service families, wife Fiona is the support keeping home, hearth and children together.

Ed constantly bothers about the welfare of wives and families - his own and those of other serving rangers, as the Royal Irish are known.

During precious days at home, he might send a letter of condolence to the widowed wife of a soldier, visit a war victim in specialist care at Selly Oak, or encourage families whose men are fighting far away and need a bit of a lift.

But Ed wants the legacy for his children's generation - here, in Afghanistan and across the globe - to be the best he can help create. For him, current action is in the hot and violent wastes where Afghanistan borders Pakistan.

Like a boil on the end of a finger, there's nowhere else for the infection to go.

Lt Col Freely says: "It's the wild south-west out there which always ran on tribal lines, it was never controlled by Kabul. And the border with Pakistan is almost impossible to police."

If that sounds tough and harsh, so are the Taliban!

But the good news from Ed Freely is the progress made towards ending that reign of terror.

There are 50,000 troops in Afghanistan from 50 nations, 600 of them based at Tern Hill.

Here, the county and its communities have already taken the brigade's rangers to their hearts.

Ed Freely says: "Until a year ago we were based in Fort George in Inverness, then trained in Kenya, and have been away in Afghanistan for four months. Yet the welcome here has been amazing."

Now, the men may look forward to more time in camp and county. They'll get a good Christmas break and the boss intends "that in 2009, they will get the chance to really enjoy Tern Hill".

For now, he heads back to Afghanistan saying: "We are making a difference. Our main role is an Operational Mentor Liaison Team, pairing with the Afghan National Army not just to beat the Taliban but also win the confidence of locals. In the time we've been there, you can really see the progress.

"They learn quickly, have become more professional and the army has increased not only in numbers but in capability. It's a really positive sign that we are contributing to something enduring. We are not there to run their country, far from it. Our role is training and mentoring.

"For instance, the Afghan Army will now patrol at night, something the men never did, has the confidence to move into other areas, support locals, take responsibility and show initiative with their own police and security."

Meanwhile, our Tern Hill troops heave 90lb of equipment in relentless heat, live in the crudest conditions and know that tackling the Taliban is dangerous. Casualty statistics do not pass them by.

But when spirits are low, knowing that back home we're rooting for them is a massive spur. Poignantly, as they left for Afghanistan, they produced a wristband to help build support in local communities.

It says: "Wear a Royal Irish wristband and show that you care."

It was Lieutenant Colonel Freely's idea and he also emphasises that messages, parcels, media coverage and prayers are so important.

On October 16, Shropshire will welcome the rangers home with a service of thanksgiving at Shrewsbury Abbey and a parade of pride through the streets.

Much has been made of how Americans salute their troops returning from war. You don't even have to back the conflict to support those fighting it.

Now, Shropshire County Council chairman Brian Gillow, who served in the Irish Guards, hopes the county will back his October initiative. It will stand tribute to all our men and women in danger zones helping make the world a safer place.

And Ed Freely is thrilled to be taking that news to Afghanistan today - he knows what it means.

A few weeks from now the battalion returns to relieved families, handing over a job well done.

And little James Freely will say hello again as daddy throws his cap on the hall table.

That is the reality, the joys and the sorrows, of service life.

* The October 16 service is at 11am followed by the parade. For more from the commanding officer, and details on the parade and service, don't miss September's Shropshire Magazine.