Canada in Afghanistan

[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.