Cdn. captain killed in Afghanistan firefight
Updated Wed. May. 17 2006 7:06 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Canada lost its first female soldier in Afghanistan during a firefight with Taliban insurgents on Wednesday, military officials said.
Capt. Nichola Goddard, of 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery based in Shilo, Man., also became the seventeenth Canadian to die in that country since 2002, and the first female combat death since the Second World War.
Goddard was serving with Task Force Afghanistan and was attached to the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) Battle Group.
Her age and hometown were not immediately available.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, commander of the multinational brigade based in Kandahar, said Goddard was killed in action at 6:55 p.m. local time (10:25 a.m. ET) about 24 kilometres west of Kandahar city in the Panjwai region.
"Our hearts, our prayers and our sympathies go out to the family of Nichola Goddard," said Fraser as he stood in front of a Canadian flag at half-mast.
Members of the Canadian Forces were sent in to reinforce combined operations of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan police, who were involved in a firefight against a group of Taliban fighters.
Fraser said the soldiers had formed a ring around the "outer cordons" of the battle area, while the "inner work was being done by the Afghan security forces.''
Coalition air support was also involved.
Fraser said details surrounding Goddard's death were still sketchy.
"There was a firefight out there and sometime during the firefight she was killed."
There has been intermittent fighting in the region since Monday between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents. Fighting had stopped Wednesday night, but Fraser said the operation was expected to continue Thursday.
"It's a hard day but it's also a day of achievement,'' added Fraser, saying there were "significant" Taliban casualties in the battle and a number of Taliban members were captured.
CTV's Janis Mackey Frayer, reporting from Kandahar, said the military is providing few details about the incident. Unconfirmed reports indicate Afghan soldiers had killed one suspected insurgent and had captured six more in Wednesday's fighting.
The incident occurred as troops prepared for a concert at Kandahar airfield that was designed to entertain the troops and boost spirits, Mackey Frayer said.
Canadian singer Michelle Wright was scheduled to perform in the Wednesday and Thursday night concert, along with The Wilkinsons and Julian Austin.
Officials had even relaxed a strict no-alcohol policy at the base to allow beer consumption during the party.
There is no word on whether the festivities will continue in light of the death.
Initial reports suggested Goddard was Canada's first female combat death. But later information revealed she is the first since the Second World War, in which five women were killed in action.
Goddard has become the 17th Canadian since 2002 to be killed in Afghanistan. One diplomat and 16 soldiers, including four who died in the friendly-fire bombing by a U.S. warplane, were the other casualties.
Statement from the prime minister
Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement Wednesday afternoon on the death of Capt. Goddard.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to express our profound regret and sadness at news of the death of Captain Nichola Goddard.
"Captain Goddard died while helping to bring peace, stability and democracy to a troubled region of the world. She, and the other men and women who serve in Afghanistan, are involved in a difficult and dangerous mission. They are serving our country and its people with distinction. Our nation will not forget their sacrifice.
"I wish to extend our deepest condolences to Captain Goddard's family, friends, and co-workers - particularly those at her home base of 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) in Shilo, Manitoba. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and with the families and loved ones of all those serving in Afghanistan."
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer also expressed regret.
"On behalf of the people of Manitoba, we respect her life of bravery and honour on behalf of Canada, and we offer our condolences to the family and to the community of Shilo," Doer told CJOB radio in Winnipeg.
Canada's latest fatality comes as MPs prepare are debating and set to vote in the House of Commons Wednesday night on a Conservative motion to extend Canada's commitment in Afghanistan by two years.
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