[Gunner]

The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery lost one of its own today.

Captain Nichola Kathleen Sara Goddard was killed in action while carrying out her duties as a Forward Observation Officer at approx 1800 hrs local time near Kandahar.

Capt Goddard joined the CF under the ROTP in June 98. She read English at RMC and graduated on the Dean's List. On completion of artillery officer training in Gagetown she was posted to the First Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery at Shilo, Manitoba as the Gun Position Officer of A Battery. She quickly gained the respect of her superiors, peers and her soldiers with her positive attitude and outstanding interest in the welfare of her Gunners.

On promotion to Capt in Apr 05 she attended the Forward Observation Officers' course and returned to A Bty as a FOO. She deployed to Afghanistan in Jan 06 and would have rotated home in June.

Capt Goddard was supporting C Coy, 1 PPCLI as part of Task Force ORION when she was killed in a heavy firefight involving Canadian and Afghan National Army ground troops supported by USAF ground attack aircraft all attacking Taliban forces some 20km from Kandahar.

Capt Goddard was 26 at the time of her death and is survived by her husband Jason Beam (a retired officer), her father Tim, her mother, Sally and her two younger sisters, Victoria and Kate.

End of Mission, Stand Easy!


Mike