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Topic: Afghanistan, 3rd Bn, R22R, Part Duex... (Read 4812 times)
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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General predicts fewer battles with Taliban
Efforts to focus on construction projects, police protection, top Canadian officer in Kandahar says
COLIN FREEZE
January 3, 2008
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN -- Over the next year, soldiers will build bridges, get roads paved and better protect Afghan police, according to Canada's top general in Afghanistan. He also expects there will be fewer full-scale battles with the Taliban.
Canadian Forces Brigadier-General Guy Laroche told reporters in a briefing yesterday that he sees reasons for optimism after serving in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province during the past six months. "I've seen progress," he said. The next job, he added, is "to increase the security bubble, if you will."
The inroads made by Canadian Forces, he said, have helped force the Taliban underground. The good news is that insurgents have broken into smaller groups; the bad news is that they are now increasingly seeking to hit non-military targets.
That means the next challenge for the army, Gen. Laroche said, will be to expand outward from military outposts and work to deprive insurgents of any potential targets.
In a separate assessment, the U.S. general in charge of NATO's Afghanistan mission said yesterday that he expects another year of "explosive growth" in the country's poppy fields, a harvest the insurgents will turn into weapons for use against Afghan and NATO troops, the Associated Press reported.
General Dan McNeill said NATO commanders in Europe have told him to step up the counternarcotics fight this year, "and I will."
The past calendar year has been described as the West's worst year in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion, considering the growing levels of overall violence. More than 900 Afghan National Police have been killed since March, according to some estimates.
But there are some grounds for optimism for Canadian Forces controlling Kandahar. The Vandoos regiment that Gen. Laroche leads has suffered relatively few fatalities to date. Seven soldiers have been killed in action since the Vandoos took over most jobs in August, compared with 23 Canadians killed earlier in 2007.
"Seven is way too many," said Gen. Laroche, who is to return with his troops to Canada by March. But he explained that more is being done to protect soldiers.
First, he said, the arrival of the Vandoos coincided with new armoured vehicles specially designed to protect against roadside bombs.
Second, more Afghan National Army soldiers are in the field, leading operations ahead of Canadian Forces members who continue to mentor them.
Third, stepping up foot patrols and redirecting more troops into the villages is helping the Canadians hold ground, meaning the army is less frequently forced to fight to recapture the same patches of land.
Still, there have been many sobering developments in Afghanistan, including the frequent slayings of police officers. Sixteen were killed last week in area outside of Kandahar where there is no set military presence.
The Taliban have made a conscious choice to go after the weakest security links, Gen. Laroche said. He added that Canadian Forces have built a series of police substations with an embedded military presence to stop that. "Now, because we're with them at the police substations, it's seldom we are attacked," he said.
He regards expanding infrastructure as key. Under Canadian Forces funds earmarked for force protection, a causeway between the Zhari and Panjwai districts is being completed and a plan to pave up to 10 kilometres of roads is about to launch.
Not all assessments of outgoing officials are as rosy. For example, Daan Everts, NATO's top diplomat in Afghanistan, recently told the Al-Jazeera network that a host of mistakes have been made.
One problem he highlighted is that NATO countries have been "basically partitioning Afghanistan into lots," making aid delivery fractured, uneven and inefficient.
"So you have a little German Afghanistan in the north, an Italian Afghanistan in the west, Dutch Afghanistan in Uruzgan," said Mr. Everts, "and a Canadian Afghanistan in Kandahar and so on."
He also said that some Westerners are reaping more out of aid delivery than Afghans are. "It has been a bonanza for consultants," said Mr. Everts. "...So there is this aid industry that descends on a poor nation and runs away with part of the loot, to put it bluntly and with some exaggeration."
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Mike Blais
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Considering the last post, I'm hoping this isn't a matter of out of the frying pan and into the fire. Note the tactics, small bomb followed by big bomb... brrrr
Seven killed in Afghanistan suicide attack
Updated Thu. Jan. 3 2008 9:08 AM ET
The Associated Press
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A suicide bomber attacked Indian road construction workers and their Afghan police escorts Thursday in southwestern Afghanistan, killing seven and wounding 12, an official said.
The convoy had been traveling on a main road toward the city of Khash Rod in Nimroz province when it was first hit by a remote-controlled bomb that was planted on a motorcycle, wounding one policeman, said Nimroz Gov. Ghulam Dastagir Azad.
The convoy stopped after the primary explosion, and a suicide bomber set off a secondary attack, killing six policemen and an Indian worker, Azad said.
Ten policemen and two Indian workers were wounded.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
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Mike Blais
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Perhaps Minister Mackay should talk the generals before he opens his piehole and uses the troops as a tool for a political sound bite.
Top general says no evidence Iran behind IEDs
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Fri. Jan. 4 2008 10:46 PM ET
Canadian military officials in Afghanistan say they're concerned about the influx of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) entering the country from Iran. But they contend there is no evidence the Iranian government is behind the export of weapons that end up in the hands of Taliban fighters.
During a visit to Afghanistan over Christmas, Defence Minister Peter MacKay surprised reporters by accusing Iran of supplying IEDs to Afghan insurgents.
But the general in charge of Canadian forces in the country says the source of parts used in the IEDs is unclear.
"There were parts coming from Iran, there was parts also coming from other countries" said Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche. "I cannot say from what I see on the ground that Iran is behind that."
NATO officials also say they are seeing weapons from Iran but remain cautious about naming a source for the IEDs in Afghanistan.
"The border between Iran and Afghanistan is relatively porous and we have noticed that weaponry and ammunition does come across that border," said NATO spokesperson Antony McCord.
MacKay -- who was accompanied on his trip by David Wilkins, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada -- said Canada had spoken to Iran about the issue on several occasions. But it was the first time that Canada had voiced its concerns publicly.
MacKay said that Canada was "very concerned that weapons are coming from Iran. We're very concerned these weapons are going to the insurgents and keeping this issue alive."
The Iranians say Canada is merely repeating a familiar U.S. message. Washington has accused Iran of supplying weapons and parts for IEDs to insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. has also claimed that Iran has a nuclear weapons program -- an allegation that was refuted last month by a U.S. intelligence report.
The Iranian government has denied allegations that it is behind the weapons being smuggled into Afghanistan. Iran's Shiite government has historically had frosty relations with the Taliban, which is the main insurgent force fighting against NATO and Afghan national forces. The Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents are composed of Sunni Muslims, who have traditionally been antagonistic towards Iran's Shiite Muslims.
Iran's consul in Kandahar told CTV News that the presence of thousands of foreign troops in Afghanistan is destabilizing the country, and that was a threat to Iran's national security. The Iranian official added that Iran will defend itself against any dangers.
Afghan officials have said they have good relations with Iran and they are not sure who is behind weapon-smuggling operations along their shared 1,000-kilometre border.
Omar Samad, the top Afghan diplomat in Canada, told CTV Newsnet following MacKay's comments that his country is working with its partners, including Canada, to find an answer.
IEDs were responsible for 75 per cent of Canadian deaths in Afghanistan last year.
With a report from CTV's Murray Oliver
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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Tim McCully
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Did anyone else see the movie "Road to Guantanamo" on Jan.4/08? The story of 3 British Muslims who were caught in Afghanistan after going from England via Pakistan, to get married. They were trying to get back to Pakistan to escape at the start of the ground offensive in A-stan and got mixed up with the wrong crowd. As a soldier, mine is to do or die and not to question why! Well, I was so pissed at Bush after that show that I could not sleep. I know propaganda comes in many forms, and I cautioned myself of that while watching the movie, but it was just so compelling to watch these three young man tell their story. If it is real, then it has crimes against humanity writen all over it and the finger points right at the Bush administration. That fellow can't even spell Geneva! I remember them marching Chauchesco and his wife, up to the wall and executing them via firing squad right there on TV, I think it was in the mid 80's. He was doing to his people what Bush is doing to the prisoners in Cuba. Forgive me for Feeling ! Tim
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1RCR (82-88) B coy 6pl, (84-85) UNFICYP- BBC coy Tpt, C coy 9pl, E coy Mortars, (88-90) CFB Halifax Base Chief's Staff, CFB Trenton Refinisher Tech.(90-92). UNFICYP,CPSM
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Mike Blais
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Military planned for bigger Afghan deployment
MURRAY BREWSTER
Canadian Press
January 6, 2008 at 2:20 PM EST
OTTAWA — The Canadian military initially planned for a much wider involvement in the Afghan war than what it delivered in Kandahar, newly released documents show.
As a battle group of 2,200 soldiers was preparing to face the Taliban two years ago, the air force drew up plans in late 2005 to deploy eight CH-146 Griffon helicopters, specially modified as attack aircraft, and a fleet of CF-18 fighter-bombers.
The proposals were eventually set aside, despite NATO's plea for more aircraft, specifically transport and attack helicopters.
The Griffons and jetfighters were intended to give Canada's troops their own hard-hitting air power, instead of relying on other allied nations, such as the United States and Britain.
Canada eventually chose to send C-130 Hercules transports, which drop supplies to far-flung desert bases.
The country's top military commander said he asked the air force to draw up the contingency plans, but ultimately decided against recommending the deployment of the fighters and helicopters.
“The air force believes in this mission,” Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of defence staff, said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.
“They're already playing a huge part, as you know. And you have a variety of communities within the air force who are keen as all get out to participate in the mission.”
Extensive preparations were made with the air force arranging a service-support contract for the CF-18s and a demonstration trial where a weapon system was installed on one of the utility helicopters.
At the same time as the army was deciding on a squadron of old Leopard C2 battle tanks to counter the surge in Taliban violence in the fall of 2006, the air force pulled together a timetable that would have seen armed Griffons on station for a year at Kandahar Airfield, beginning in February 2007.
But Gen. Hillier rejected the air force plan, saying NATO already has enough fighter-bombers and attack helicopters based in Kandahar and the CH-146 was not the kind of chopper Canada most needed.
“The Griffon community was ready to go,” he said. “It's just that when we do our assessment, the real need that we have there right now is troop lift, heavy loads of people. Unfortunately, the Griffon just can't do that in that environment.”
At an informal meeting of NATO defence ministers last fall in Noordwick, Holland, the shortage of helicopters was among the biggest issues. With members either unable to reluctant to deploy their aircraft, the alliance approved a scheme to rent civilian choppers for hauling cargo in Afghanistan. It also began exploring the possibility of paying former Warsaw Pact members to take their helicopters out of mothballs.
As the military variant of the civilian Bell 412, the Griffon has the capacity to carry 12 soldiers in full combat gear, or six stretchers. The Conservative government intends to buy 16 CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which carry up to 30 soldiers, but deliveries aren't scheduled until at least 2011.
Critics have been pressuring the Defence Department to send the Griffons, in part to get Canadian soldiers off Kandahar's bomb-strewn highways.
But Gen. Hillier flatly rejected the argument, saying the CH-146 wasn't suited to operate at high elevations and in 55C degree heat.
But internal air force documents suggest that to cope with the altitude and climate extremes, the takeoff weight could be lowered by roughly 453 kilograms.
Gen. Hillier also indicated he wasn't satisfied the helicopter could function well in an attack role, citing the level of complexity and precision needed to deliver guided missiles on target.
The use of air power in Afghanistan has become a politically sensitive subject as the number of civilian casualties from wayward missile and bomb strikes rose substantially throughout 2007.
Employing the air force to a greater extent would have required a substantial increase in size of Canada's commitment as well as more money. Aside from pilots, each aircraft comes with a small army of maintainers.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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Well, it sounds to me as tho the top man felt the helicopters were not suitable for good reasons.. that we do not have that type in our arsenal is, i would think, a short fall.. but then , Nato should be able to work together with " some " country having the chopper ability.. no one can afford all the toys...and that ,too was a reason for Nato existing as such....there are , obviously some memebrs of Nato NOT pulling up ,to the table and laying it out....that is STILL a huge problem...ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Mike Blais
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Sad news...
Military names soldiers killed in Afghan accident
A Canadian flag flies at half-mast at Kandahar airfield following the death of two Canadian soldiers early on the morning of Monday, Jan. 7, 2008.
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Mon. Jan. 7 2008 9:00 AM ET
Two Canadian soldiers died Sunday after their armoured vehicle rolled over in rough terrain near Kandahar City.
Military officials said the incident was "unrelated to enemy fire."
The two dead soldiers are Cpl. Eric Labbe, 31, of the Royal 22nd Regiment, born in Rimouski, Que.; and 41-year-old Warrant Officer Hani Massouh, also of the Royal 22nd Regiment, born in Alexandria, Egypt.
"We're saddened by this tragic loss. They will be missed and we will honour their sacrifice to the service of Canada and their contribution to bring peace to the people of Afghanistan," Brig.-Gen Guy Laroche told reporters in Afghanistan.
"On behalf of all the members of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, I would like to convey my most sincere sympathies to the families of our lost comrades."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also extended his condolences and thanks.
"The loss of these two dedicated Canadians, whose hard work contributed to bring peace and stability to this war-torn country, will not be forgotten. They deserve the gratitude of all Canadians for their commitment and the work they performed on our behalf," he said in a statement.
CTV's Murray Oliver, reporting from Kandahar Airfield Monday morning, said the accident happened at about 6:30 p.m. local time, about 40 kilometres southwest of the city in the Zhari district.
Both soldiers were travelling inside the turret of a LAV III as it journeyed along a dirt track made slippery by rain. They died on the scene.
Two other soldiers inside the vehicle were unhurt in the accident. They were driving to an area where they hoped to set up camp for the night.
Oliver told CTV's Canada AM that the eight-wheeled, 20-ton vehicles have a "checkered history" and are known to become unstable when road conditions are rough or when encountering steep surfaces.
"It's had around a dozen rollovers in the time that the Canadian Forces have been using it. Here in Afghanistan, there have been three previous deaths from rollovers that have been attributed to the LAV III," he said from Kandahar Airfield.
Oliver said reporters questioned Laroche about whether troops should still be using the LAV III.
"We put this question to Guy Laroche, he's the commander of Canadian forces here, and he said he has complete confidence in the vehicle, that it is solid and reliable and has a lot of armour and firepower for the work it has to do."
Laroche said Monday that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
The soldiers were part of operation Teng Azem, or "Steadfast Decision," an operation aimed at flushing out insurgents around the nearby community of Nalgham.
The operation has been underway since Friday and will likely continue, Oliver reported.
The deaths come one week after a roadside bomb blast claimed the life of Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27, as he travelled to Kandahar Airfield for New Year's Eve.
He was a member of the 5th Regiment d'Artillerie legere du Canada, which is based in Valcartier, Que.
Canada has 2,500 soldiers operating in southern Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission. Since 2002, 76 military personnel and one diplomat have died in the country.
Other violence
* A suicide bomber attacked a group of Afghan border police officers near Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, killing one and seriously wounding four others;
* Two police officers and two civilians died in Helmand province died when the police attempted to disarm a remote-controlled roadside bomb;
* Three Taliban militants were reported killed Sunday in clashes with Afghan and NATO troops in Kandahar province's Zhari district; and
* Two civilians died and five others were wounded Friday during fighting between NATO troops and the Taliban.
With files from The Associated Press
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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Mike Blais
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Two Canadians killed in Afghanistan had experience with overseas missions
4 hours ago
OTTAWA - Two Canadians killed in Afghanistan when their armoured vehicle rolled over in wet, rugged terrain were honoured Monday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean.
Harper said the contributions made by Warrant Officer Hani Massouh and Cpl. Eric Labbe won't be forgotten.
"They deserve the gratitude of all Canadians for their commitment and the work they performed on our behalf," Harper said. "Warrant Officer Massouh and Corporal Labbe made an important contribution to the lives of the people of Afghanistan."
The Governor General said she was "deeply saddened."
"With the New Year having just begun, this new tragedy reminds us of the perilous conditions our soldiers are facing in Afghanistan," Jean said. "I salute their merit, their hard work and all the sacrifices they made so fearlessly. On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to tell their families and friends, who are grieving today, that they will not be forgotten."
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their loved ones at this time of loss."
Massouh, 41, and Labbe, 31, were members of 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment - the Van Doos - based out of Valcartier, Que. Massouh was born in Alexandria, Egypt. Labbe was from Rimouski, Que.
Massouh was a career soldier, serving in the Forces for more than 17 years. He was also a veteran of several overseas missions.
Prior to joining the Afghan mission earlier this summer, Massouh had previously been deployed to Haiti, Croatia, Somalia and twice more to the former Yugoslavia.
Labbe served alongside Massouh during a 2002 rotation in the former Yugoslavia. It was the Rimouski native's only other overseas posting during a six-year career with the military.
The two soldiers died when their light armoured vehicle flipped over Sunday evening in the region of Nalgham, about 40 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city. The military said they were travelling on dirt tracks, and rain in recent days had made the terrain very difficult.
It's the third time Canadian soldiers have died as a result of a light armoured vehicle rollover. Cpl. Paul Davis and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson died in March 2006 when their armoured vehicle ran off the road, while Pte. Braun Woodfield was killed in a similar rollover in November 2005.
The soldiers were involved in a multiday operation in the volatile Zhari district of Kandahar province at the time.
Meant to disrupt insurgent activity in the area, Operation Steadfast Decision is expected to continue despite the accident, the military said.
There were four people in the vehicle at the time of the accident and the two who died were sitting in the turret.
The two fatalities bring the number of Canadian military personnel killed in Afghanistan to 76. The majority of those deaths were the result of improvised explosive devices.
Since 2002, 76 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan. Here is a list of the deaths:
2008
Jan. 06 - Eric Labbe, 31, corporal with Van Doos from Rimouski, Que., and an unidentified soldier killed when their armoured vehicle rolled over in rough terrain southwest of Kandahar City.
2007
Dec. 30 - Jonathan Dion, 27, gunner with 5th Regiment d'Artillerie legere du Canada from Val-d'Or, Que., killed when his light armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.
Nov. 17 - Cpl. Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp of the 5th Field Ambulance in Valcartier and Pte. Michel Levesque of the Royal 22nd Regiment, killed when their light armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb near Bazar-e Panjwaii.
Sept. 24 - Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, 24, with the King's Own Calgary regiment, killed by a mortar shell while trying to repair a Leopard tank in southern Afghanistan.
Aug. 29 - Maj. Raymond Ruckpaul, 42, died from a gunshot wound in his room at the headquarters of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. He was an armoured officer based at the NATO Allied Land Component Command Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.
Aug. 22 - Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier, Royal 22nd Regiment; Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne, 5th Field Ambulance unit, both based in Valcartier, Que., killed when light armoured vehicle struck by roadside bomb after battle for strategic hill west of Kandahar city.
Aug. 19
-Pte. Simon Longtin, 23, of Longueuil, Que., on Montreal's south shore, a member of the Royal 22nd Regiment, killed when his light armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb west of Kandahar city.
July 4 - Cpl. Cole Bartsch, Capt. Matthew Johnathan Dawe, Pte. Lane Watkins and Cpl. Jordan Anderson, all of 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton; Master Cpl. Colin Bason, a reservist from The Royal Westminster Regiment based in New Westminster, B.C., and Capt. Jefferson Francis of the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery based in Shilo, Man., killed by a roadside bomb west of Kandahar city.
June 20 - Sgt. Christos Karigiannis, Cpl. Stephen Frederick Bouzane and Pte. Joel Vincent Wiebe, all of 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb near a forward-operating base at Sperwan Ghar, west of Kandahar.
June 11. - Trooper Darryl Caswell, 25, of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, killed when an improvised explosive device detonated underneath his vehicle north of Kandahar City.
May 30 - Master Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede, a combat photographer based at CFB Gagetown, N.B., killed when a U.S. helicopter was reportedly shot down by the Taliban in Helmand province.
May 25 - Cpl. Matthew McCully, 25, a signals operator from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron based at Petawawa, Ont., killed by an improvised explosive device in Zhari district.
April 18 - Master Cpl. Anthony Klumpenhouwer, 25, of Listowel, Ont., died after falling from a communications tower while on duty with the elite Special Operations Forces Command, conducting surveillance in Kandahar City.
April 11 - Master Cpl. Allan Stewart, 30, and Trooper Patrick James Pentland, 23, both of the Royal Canadian Dragoons based in Petawawa, Ont., killed when their Coyote vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
April 8 - Pte. Kevin V. Kennedy, 20, of St. Lawrence, Nfld., Sgt. Donald Lucas, 31, of Burton, N.B., Cpl. Aaron E. Williams, 23, of Lincoln, N.B., Pte. David R. Greenslade, 20, of Saint John, N.B., Cpl. Brent Poland, 37, of Sarnia, Ont., all of Gagetown, N.B.-based 2nd Battalion, RCR; and Cpl. Christopher Stannix, 24, of Dartmouth, N.S., from the Halifax-based Princess Louise Fusiliers, killed when their armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb in the Maywand district.
March 6 - Cpl. Kevin Megeney, 25, of Stellarton, N.S., a member of 1st Battalion of Nova Scotia Highlanders, killed by accidental shooting at NATO base in Kandahar.
2006
Nov. 27 - Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Girouard, his battalion's regimental sergeant major, and Cpl. Albert Storm, both of Royal Canadian Regiment based in CFB Petawawa, killed when suicide car bomber attacked their Bison armoured personnel carrier on outskirts of Kandahar City.
Oct. 14 - Sgt. Darcy Tedford, based at CFB Petawawa, and Pte. Blake Williamson from Ottawa killed in ambush west of Kandahar.
Oct. 7 - Trooper Mark Andrew Wilson of Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, Ont., killed when his armoured vehicle hit by roadside bomb in Panjwaii district.
Oct. 3 - Sgt. Craig Gillam and Cpl. Robert Mitchell of Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, Ont., killed in series of mortar, rocket attacks just west of Kandahar City.
Sept. 29 - Pte. Josh Klukie of First Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ont., killed by explosion in Panjwaii while on foot patrol.
Sept. 18 - Pte. David Byers, Cpl. Shane Keating and Cpl. Keith Morley, all of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Man., and Cpl. Glen Arnold, 2 Field Ambulance, based in Petawawa, Ont., killed in suicide bicycle bomb attack while on foot patrol in Panjwaii.
Sept. 4 - Pte. Mark Graham, based at CFB Petawawa, killed when two NATO planes accidentally strafed Canadian troops in Panjwaii district.
Sept. 3 - Sgt. Shane Stachnik, Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, Pte. William Cushley and Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan, all based at CFB Petawawa, Ont., killed in fighting in Panjwaii district.
Aug. 22 - Cpl. David Braun, based at Shilo, Man., killed in suicide bomb attack in Kandahar City.
Aug. 11 - Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom, 23, of Comox, B.C., stationed with 1st Field Ambulance, based in Edmonton, killed in suicide attack.
Aug. 9 - Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, 33, of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man., killed by apparent accidental discharge of rifle.
Aug. 5 - Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt, 31, of Loyal Edmonton Regiment, killed when large truck collided head-on with his G-Wagon patrol vehicle.
Aug. 3 - Cpl. Christopher Reid, 34, of 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, killed by roadside bomb. Three other members of same battalion killed in rocket-propelled grenade attack by Taliban forces west of Kandahar: Sgt. Vaughan Ingram, 35, Cpl. Bryce Keller, 27, and Pte. Kevin Dallaire, 22.
July 22 - Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44, of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29, of Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, based in Montreal, killed when car packed with explosives rammed their armoured vehicle.
July 9 - Cpl. Anthony Boneca, 21, reservist from Lake Superior Scottish Regiment based in Thunder Bay, Ont., killed in firefight.
May 17 - Capt. Nichola Goddard, artillery officer based in Shilo, Man., with 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, killed in Taliban ambush during battle in Panjwaii region. She was first Canadian woman to be killed in action while serving in combat role.
April 22 - Cpl. Matthew Dinning of Richmond Hill, Ont., stationed with 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade in Petawawa, Ont., Bombardier Myles Mansell of Victoria, Lt. William Turner of Toronto, stationed in Edmonton, and Cpl. Randy Payne, born in Lahr, Germany, stationed at CFB Wainright, Alta., all killed when their G-Wagon destroyed by roadside bomb near Gumbad.
March 29 - Pte. Robert Costall of Edmonton, machine-gunner, killed in firefight with Taliban insurgents in Sangin district of Helmand province.
March 2 - Cpl. Paul Davis of Bridgewater, N.S., and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alta., killed when their armoured vehicle ran off road in Kandahar area.
Jan. 15 - Glyn Berry, British-born Canadian diplomat who had served with Foreign Affairs Department since 1977, killed in suicide bombing near Kandahar.
2005
Nov. 24 - Pte. Braun Woodfield, born in Victoria and raised in Eastern Passage, N.S., killed when his armoured vehicle rolled over near Kandahar.
2004
Jan. 27 - Cpl. Jamie Murphy, 26, of Conception Harbour, Nfld., killed in suicide bombing while on patrol near Kabul.
2003
Oct. 2 - Sgt. Robert Short, 42, of Fredericton, and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger, 29, of Ottawa, killed in roadside bombing southwest of Kabul.
2002
April 17 - Sgt. Marc Leger, 29, of Lancaster, Ont., Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, 24, of Montreal, Pte. Richard Green, 21, of Mill Cove, N.S., and Pte. Nathan Smith, 27, of Tatamagouche, N.S., all killed when U.S. F-16 fighter mistakenly bombed Canadians on pre-dawn training exercise. Eight other Canadians wounded in friendly-fire incident.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
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Posts: 3437
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Dead soldier found his calling in Afghanistan, say mourners
Kathryn May , Canwest News Service
Ottawa Citizen
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Funeral for Gunner Jonathan Dion, the soldier killed Dec.30 in Afghanistan took place at Jean XXIII Church in Gatineau Saturday. L-R Brother-in-law Eric St. Cyr, sister Guylaine Dion and mother Lise Marcil.
CREDIT: Photo by Ashley Fraser, The Ottawa Citizen
Funeral for Gunner Jonathan Dion, the soldier killed Dec.30 in Afghanistan took place at Jean XXIII Church in Gatineau Saturday. L-R Brother-in-law Eric St. Cyr, sister Guylaine Dion and mother Lise Marcil.
OTTAWA - Gunner Jonathan Dion was something of a lost soul until he joined the army and found his mission in Afghanistan to "make a difference," said friends as they mourned the soldier who was killed late last month.
More than 400 family and friends crowded into a small Gatineau church on St. Rene Boulevard West Saturday for the private funeral of Gunner Dion held with full military honors.
Dion, who would have turned 28 years old last week, died Dec. 30 during his first NATO mission after his light-armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb about 20 kilometers west of Kandahar city.
After an hour-long mass, his flag-draped casket was carried down the stairs of Jean XXIII Catholic Church by eight military pallbearers, followed by his mother Lise Marcil, stepfather Raymond Pelletier and sister Guylaine Dion, as a dozen members of his regiment, 5 Regiment d'artillerie legere du Canada, gave him the traditional gun salute.
As they loaded his wooden casket into the waiting gray hearse, the family released a white dove, which flew over the heads of a somber crowd that had gathered silently outside.
"He believed strongly in the mission," said fellow Gunner Daniel Corriveau following the funeral service. "He died believing he was doing something good for his country and the mission."
Dion was born in Val d'Or Que., but spent most of his life in Gatineau. Friends said he was good athlete, was generous, selfless and "one of the gang" who was always willing to help his friends.
Kevin Graham, who grew up with Dion and later followed him into the military, said his friend found his calling in the armed forces. He had dropped out of school, tried his hand at a few jobs - and then someone handed a pamphlet about the military and was he sold, said Mr. Graham.
He said his emails from Afghanistan revealed how much Dion loved his work and had found his niche. In fact, Graham said it was Dion who inspired him to join the military a year later.
"It was the best decision he made in his life," said Graham. "He wanted to make a difference in the world and that's what he did."
Gunner Dion was killed and four other soldiers were wounded after the tracked light-armoured vehicle they were riding in hit a roadside bomb.
The five were on a routine patrol in Zhari district and were headed to the Kandahar Airfield. He was the first soldier killed in combat from the 5 Regiment d'artillerie legere du Canada, a francophone unit of the Royal Canadian Artillery based in Valcartier.
"It is the first time we lost someone in operation . . . but morale is good. It's a hard thing happening to us but we will get over it and and he will not be forgotten," said Lieutenant-Colonel Danny Fortin.
Dion's uncle Ronald Marcil said his nephew was a proud soldier who was determined to go back to Afghanistan even before he finished his first tour of duty. Despite his death, he said, the family supports the mission and distributed "Support Our Troops" pins and magnets during the funeral.
Ottawa Citizen
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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|
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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