Canada in Afghanistan

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

God Rest Your Souls, my lads.

Three soldiers killed, one injured in Afghanistan


CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Sat. Dec. 13 2008 5:39 PM ET

Three Canadian soldiers have died west of Kandahar city, after an improvised explosive device detonated. A fourth soldier was injured in the blast.

The soldiers were responding to reports of people planting a suspicious object.

The Canadian military said Saturday that primary next-of-kin have been notified, but the soldiers will not be identified until extended family members have been contacted.

The news came as 1,000 mourners paid tribute to Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren in a Peterborough, Ont., drill hall. He was one of three soldiers killed in a roadside blast on Dec. 5, bringing Canada's troop death toll to the grim milestone of 100.

McLaren, 23, died alongside Pte. Demetrios Diplaros, 23, and Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson, 27, on Dec. 5, when the armoured truck they were travelling in struck an IED.

Saturday's deaths occurred near where the Dec. 5 attack happened, just west of Kandahar City, on the border between the Arghandab and Zhari districts, near the village of Senjaray.

"It's the same type of attack, an IED, in almost exactly the same place," Globe and Mail reporter Graeme Smith told CTV Newsnet on the phone from Kandahar.

"It's a very dangerous stretch of highway that runs west of Kandahar city, just over the bridge that leads you out to the farmland where Canadians have been fighting for the last two years."

The area was not considered a Taliban stronghold until recently, Smith said.
With the latest attack, Canada's troop death toll is now 103. A Canadian diplomat has also been killed.

[Frank L.]

What a shitty week...yesterday was a hard one.

Well, back to work.

Regards

[John McGillivray]

The soldiers killed have been identified as: Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton, Pvt. John Michael Roy Curwin and Pvt. Justin Peter Jones.
All three were with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, RCR based in Gagetown, New Brunswick.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Two more have fallen. RIP, lads.

Two Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Sun. Dec. 28 2008 1:53 AM ET

Two Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan after a bomb exploded west of Kandahar city. An Afghan policeman and interpreter were also killed in the blast.

The soldiers had been conducting security operations in the volatile Panjwaii district, where Canadian troops have repeatedly fought against Taliban gunmen.

The military has identified the slain soldiers as:

* Warrant Officer Gaeten Joseph Roberge, a member of the Royal 22nd Regiment who was serving with the Irish Regiment of Canada in Sudbury, Ont. He was serving in Afghanistan to help train the country's national police force.
* Sgt. Greg John Kruse from the 24 Field Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont. He was serving as a member of 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group.

"There are no words to properly express our sorrow at this moment," Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, the head of Canadian and NATO forces in Kandahar, said in a statement. "Every one of our soldiers is very dear to us. They are our friends and our brothers."

He added that Canadian soldiers "also grieve for our Afghan brothers with whom we have been working side by side to help make their country more secure and stable."

Family of Roberge and Kruse were notified of their deaths on the same day as the body of Pte. Michael Freeman, who was killed in Kandahar on Friday, was taken aboard a military plane to be transported back to Canada.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay had been in Afghanistan to attend the ramp ceremony for Freeman. It's believed that MacKay's attendance was the first time a sitting defence minister had attended such an event at Kandahar Airfield.

One of Freeman's wounded colleagues also attended the ramp ceremony on a military gurney.

Before the ceremony, MacKay expressed his condolences to Freeman's family.

"We regret that loss in the extreme as we do each and every one, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and loved ones in Canada," MacKay said.

Along with one diplomat and two aid workers, 106 Canadian soldiers have now died in the war-torn country since 2002.

With files from The Canadian Press

[sapper740]

Announced this a.m. in the Dallas Morning News, America will be sending an additional 20,000 to 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. The first will start arriving in January with the rest in-country by summer. Hopefully this will reduce the toll of the fine young men of both countries. Derek.

[Brian Gough]

Wed Jan 7, 2009 - another Canadian soldier has been killed in Afghanistan

The soldier who was killed has been identified as Trooper Brian Richard Good, 42, from the Royal Canadian Dragoons from CFB Petawawa, Ont. Good was serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group.

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/hom...howbyline=True

RIP Trooper Good

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Frank L.

What a shitty week...yesterday was a hard one.

Well, back to work.

Regards

Just thought I'd let you know... while Frank hasn't posted here much during his tour, he's safe-at-home home now and on Friday morning, 01 May 2009, witnessed the birth of his first son (Hayden) at 0949... Frank, our best to all three of you! Do take care, and we'll talk soon.

Jif

[servicepub (RIP)]

Nice to read good news on this thread. Normally a sense of dread comes over me when I get a 'Canada in Afghanistan topic notification'.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

God Rest Your Souls, my lads.

RIP lads..God bless you...

Department of National Defence

Dec 14, 2008 00:41 ET
DND: Three Canadian Soldiers Killed and One Injured in Afghanistan

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 14, 2008) - Three Canadian soldiers were killed and one was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated near an armoured vehicle during a patrol in the Arghandab District. The incident occurred approximately 14 kilometers west of Kandahar City at about 9:00 a.m., Kandahar time, on 13 December 2008.

Killed in action were Corporal Thomas James Hamilton, Private John Michael Roy Curwin, and Private Justin Peter Jones. These soldiers were all from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment based at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, and served as members of the Force Protection Company of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Another soldier was injured in the blast and is currently in fair condition. The name of the injured soldier will not be released.

Members of Task Force Kandahar and the Provincial Reconstruction Team are committed to improving security and increasing development in Kandahar Province. We are all thinking of the family and friends of our fallen comrades during this sad time, but are determined to continue working with our Afghan and international partners towards a better future for the people of Afghanistan.

Note to Editors:

A photograph of Corporal Thomas James Hamilton, Private John Michael Roy Curwin, and Private Justin Peter Jones will be available on the Combat Camera website (search under last name) at www.combatcamera.ca .

For more information, please contact
Information: 1-866-377-0811
After hours: 613-792-2973
www.forces.gc.ca
Click here to see all recent news from this company

[John McGillivray]

Canadian soldier killed by roadside bomb
Updated Fri. Dec. 26 2008 1:24 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
One Canadian soldier was killed and three others were wounded after an improvised explosive device went off in the Zhari District of Kandahar Province.
The incident occurred on Friday morning, about 25 kilometres west of Kandahar City.
The dead soldier's immediate family has been notified. However, the family has requested that the soldier's identity not yet be released.
The wounded Canadian soldiers are said to be in good condition.
In December alone, seven Canadian soldiers have been killed by roadside bomb attacks.
Canadian Forces also said Friday they have killed the man behind the planning and planting of the IEDs.
Shahir Sahib, along with 11 other armed insurgents, was killed in an operation Friday.
Sahib is believed to have been involved in planting the IEDs that killed six Canadian soldiers in two separate incidents earlier this month.
Canadian intelligence played a key role in developing leads and information to help coalition forces carry out the mission.
The latest death brings the number of Canadian soldiers killed in the mission in Afghanistan to 104 since 2001.
One diplomat and two aid workers have also been killed.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

[Steve Freeman]

I've been following this message stream since the beginning, never thinking that I would be posting with this message. The soldier killed Friday was my nephew Micheal Bruce Freeman of Peterborough , Ont.

Mike and I last talked last summer before he left on this his 1st tour. Several things stick out in my memory from that coversation.

1. He had chosen to become a LAV driver since it allowed him to provide a key service to his section. He was proud to be a member of the team and wanted to play a key role.

2. He was aware of the risks involved, especially as a LAV driver.

3. He knew than that he would be rotating back to Canada the end of November for his mid-tour leave. He was pleased with this arrangement since it would allow a married member of his team to be home at Christmas. (He was single.)

4. Probably like most soldiers he was not serving for God, King, and Country. He was just proud of his job, his duty, and his team.

I talked to his dad this evening. Even though the grief was almost unbearable he expressed pride in his son. He did his duty, he was loyal to his team, and be brought honour to himself and his unit.

God bless Mike, all who have gone before him, and all who will follow.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Dammit, Steve.... just - dammit.

Thank you for sharing that story. You have our sincere heartfelt condolences.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Steve,

My heart goes out to you and Mike's family. The loss of any Canadian soldier is hard to bear but it is made all that much harder when it touches on our extended MLU family.

Ducimus

Clive

[sapper740]

[QUOTE The soldier killed Friday was my nephew Micheal Bruce Freeman of Peterborough , Ont.
God bless Mike, all who have gone before him, and all who will follow.[/QUOTE]


Many a lofty line has been written in an attempt to assuage the grief of those loved ones left behind, but we all know that only time can heal that wound created by the loss. And tho' the wound heals the indelible scar left is a constant reminder of loved ones lost. The gods of war are capricious indeed! I'm no great crafter of the English language so allow me to quote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when I say,

Let us pray to God that we may ever hold their virtues.

You and your family have my deepest condolences.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Steve Freeman

I've been following this message stream since the beginning, never thinking that I would be posting with this message. The soldier killed Friday was my nephew Micheal Bruce Freeman of Peterborough , Ont.

...

I talked to his dad this evening. Even though the grief was almost unbearable he expressed pride in his son. He did his duty, he was loyal to his team, and be brought honour to himself and his unit.

God bless Mike, all who have gone before him, and all who will follow.

Do not despair that such a man has died. Rejoice that men like him live.