| 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. |
 Author
|
Topic: Afghanistan, 3rd Bn, R22R, Part Duex... (Read 4612 times)
|
Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
 Offline
Gender: 
Posts: 3247
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
|
Shoot de puck!
Stanley Cup hoisted in Kandahar
OLIVER MOORE
Globe and Mail Update
March 19, 2008 at 7:16 AM EDT
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The Stanley Cup arrived in Afghanistan Wednesday for a morale-boosting trip that will include ball hockey matches between serving soldiers and retired NHL stars.
Hockey's most coveted trophy was carried off a Hercules transport in a remote part of Kandahar airfield and set carefully on a table in the fierce Afghan sun. Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier – a rabid Toronto fan who arrived here on a different plane Wednesday – drew immediate catcalls as he pointed to the spot where, he said, the Maple Leafs would be inscribing their names in just a few months.
The Cup was accompanied by a mixture of retired hockey players and musicians, collectively known as Team Canada, who will entertain the soldiers on this sprawling base.
Several of the hockey players avoided the trophy, under the premise that they hadn't won it and didn't deserve to have their photo taken with it. But the soldiers, musicians and journalists milling about had no such qualms and were quickly jockeying for position.
“It's a huge morale boost and also an escape, an escape from the day to day challenges,” said Defence Minister Peter Mackay, who arrived here two days ago but whose presence was under embargo until his plane left Wednesday.
Mr. Mackay had spoken earlier about the challenges facing the mission. He said that recent warnings about a sharp downturn in the security situation in Kandahar – including a report last week from the United Nations that showed a jump in insurgent activity – did not reflect the “incremental progress” he has seen here.
“As far as some of the infrastructure, for example, we're seeing roads being built, bridges completed in areas where, because of the security situation, those projects couldn't have occurred just a year ago,” he told reporters a few hours before his departure.
“Yes, it's suffering setbacks from time to time, and of course the insurgency remains a real challenge, but you have to look at it in relative terms. You have to do a retrospective occasionally, look at where we were five short years ago, two years ago and then gauge what some of these reports are saying.”
Mr. Mackay said that during his visit he had toured forward operating bases, met with Afghan commanders, seen a field hospital on the main NATO base and visited a causeway built over the Arghandab River, a Canadian project.
“I also had the chance to speak to a lot of our soldiers who expressed relief that the mission will be extended,” he added. “They were grateful for the fact that the Parliament of Canada endorses what they are doing.”
Mr. Mackay acknowledged that the arrival of the Stanley Cup is likely bigger news to the soldiers than his own appearance two days earlier.
“For Canadians it symbolizes something every young boy and girl grows up dreaming about,” he said. “It brings them home. It's a piece of home from Canada.”
Mike Gartner, one of the hockey players who flew in for the visit, said that his own reason for coming was simple.
“We're just here to tell our troops that we support them,” he explained on the tarmac after climbing down from the Hercules, still wearing his military-issue body armour.
Mr. Gartner was joined on the plane by NHL old-timers including Bob Probert, Mark Napier and Chris Nilan. Also visiting are members of the bands Blue Rodeo and Jonas, as well as solo artists Lori Anna Reid and Gregg Lawless
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3247
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
|
Body of Sgt. Jason Boyes, killed in Afghanistan, returns to Canada
4 hours ago
TRENTON, Ont. — Dozens of mourners huddled under umbrellas and waved Canadian flags as the body of the 81st soldier to be killed in Afghanistan was returned home Wednesday.
The grey day reflected the sombre mood at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, where bagpipes played "Amazing Grace" and the family of Sgt. Jason Boyes stood in the rain for his repatriation ceremony.
More than 60 supporters watched the ceremony from behind the fence of the military base, which is not far from Boyes's hometown of Napanee, Ont.
The Canadian flag was hung at half-mast at Napanee's Royal Canadian Legion, where locals said the news was slowly rippling through the community.
Jim Perry, who went to school and played sports with Boyes, said he got the news on the radio and was shocked to hear the familiar name.
"You hear it all the time (about guys) from Toronto or Sudbury or Windsor and all over the place, but this is the first one from here," he said. "It's a sad case."
Boyes, 32, was killed on Sunday by an explosive device while on foot patrol in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.
He was a member of the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Man.
Boyes was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, having already served in 2002 and 2006.
Col. John Vance, commander of the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, called Boyes a "good Canadian and a fine soldier."
"Sgt. Jason Boyes died doing something noble in the name of his country - protecting innocent Afghans so they can rebuild their communities," Vance said in a statement.
Maj. Michael Wright, commander of the Rear Party of the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's, said Boyes "epitomized the warrior spirit."
"He was a natural leader who had proven himself time and time again in combat," Wright said in a statement.
"His death was a blow to the regiment and the battle group, but just this morning I received a note from Lt-.Col. David Corbould stating that having seen Sgt. Boyes off at the ramp ceremony, they were carrying on with their mission - because Jason would be damn angry if they weren't."
Boyes is survived by his widow Alison and their two-year-old daughter Mackenzie.
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
Buzz Gomes
Veteran 400+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 455
Pro Patria
|
Rest in Peace Jason..My condolences to family and friends.
Pro Patria
Buzz
|
1964-1968- 2 QOR Calgary, Cyprus
1968-1971- 2 CDO Edmonton
1971-1975- 3 Mech CDO Germany, A Coy Mor
1975-1983- 1 RCR London, Bn Tpt,C Coy, B Coy, Recce
1983-1985- RCR Battle School
1985-1990-1 RCR, B Coy, Dukes, Recce, Cyprus
1990-1992- OMD HQ Ottawa, G3 Trg
1992-1993- LMD HQ London, G3 Trg
1993-2007-4 RCR, RSM
Retired CWO
|
|
|
Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3247
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
|
Canadian soldier killed in southern Afghanistan
Last Updated: Friday, April 4, 2008 | 6:15 PM ET Comments0Recommend0
CBC News
A Canadian soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, the military said early Saturday.
The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. Friday in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche told reporters at Kandahar airfield.
The soldier's name and regiment were not immediately released.
The death brings Canada's toll in Afghanistan to 82 soldiers and one diplomat since the mission began in early 2002.
|
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
|
|
|
Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3247
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
|
Explosion kills Canadian soldier
Matthew Fisher, Canwest News Service Published: Friday, April 04, 2008
Pte. Terry John Street was killed by an IED on Friday, Apr. 4. He is the 82nd Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.DND HandoutPte. Terry John Street was killed by an IED on Friday, Apr. 4. He is the 82nd Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A soldier from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry became the 82nd Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan on Friday.
Private Terry John Street, of the Patricias' second battalion, which is based at Shilo, Manitoba, was killed at dusk Friday when his armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device Wednesday to the southwest of Kandahar City, according to Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, commanding general of Task Force Afghanistan.
Pte. Street, 24, was from Gatineau, Que. and was an infantryman. He had been in Afghanistan for a little over a month of what was to have been a six month deployment. He was killed while his unit was redeploying for the evening after a day operating "outside the wire," or off the base.
"While we honour our comrade's memory, our commitment remains firm and our resolve unshaken to accomplish our task of helping the government of Afghanistan, its people and especially its children, to find the same joy and freedom we often take for granted in our own country," Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche said.
Friday's death was the second combat-related casualty for the Manitoba-based Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry battle group since it took over responsibility for the province of Kandahar five weeks ago.
"Our presence here bring hopes of a better future for all generations," Brig.-Gen. Laroche said. "Some of them have known decades of war and oppression while others are just beginning their lives.
"This is why our brave men and women accept the risks of this mission and the challenge of giving back to the people of Afghanistan a peaceful and prosperous country. I can only hope that these thoughts will be of some comfort to the family and friends of Pte. Street in this time of grief."
Three Canadian soldiers died in March. Two of the deaths were caused by improvised explosive devices. One IED struck a soldier leading a foot patrol. Another IED exploded under an armoured vehicle killing a member of the Quebec-based outgoing Royal 22 Regiment (Van Doo) Battle Group from the Edmonton-based Lord Strathconas Horse. The cause of death of a third soldier who died last month of a gunshot wound in his living quarters at the main Kandahar base was still being examined by military investigators.
Twelve members of the Van Doo Battle Group were killed during its tour which spanned from last August until the beginning of March.
A majority of the Canadians who have died in Afghanistan have been killed, like Street, while driving in armoured vehicles that struck land mines or homemade explosives buried under roads or dirt tracks.
Several Canadian deaths including diplomat Glyn Berry in January, 2006, were caused by suicide bombers who used the cars or trucks they were driving to attack Canadian convoys. Only a handful of fatalities have been caused by direct combat between Canadian troops and insurgents. No Canadians have died in a firefight with the enemy for more than nine months.
Spring is traditionally when the Taliban and their al-Qaeda allies migrate to the killing fields of southern Afghanistan from their winter sanctuaries in Pakistan's lawless Pushtun border areas. The insurgents usually spend the winters, when snow blocks mountain passes between the two countries, resting, recruiting and re-arming in their safe havens.
However, Canadian troops in Kandahar have had relatively little direct contact with the enemy since infantry from an Alberta-based battalion of Princess Patricias and the Petawawa-based Royal Canadian Regiment won several bloody battles to the west of Kandahar City in Panjwaii and Zhari districts during Operation Medusa in the summer and fall of 2006. Since Medusa, where the Taliban suffered heavy losses, its preferred modus operandi has been to plant IED's although from time-to-time they also send out suicide bombers.
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3247
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
|
Panjwaii road built the Afghan way, locals acquire skills for rebuilding
6 hours ago
PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan — The top political leaders of Kandahar province and the commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan hailed hundreds of sweaty, sun-baked Afghan workers Monday for their courageous effort to build what's being billed as their road to a safer, more prosperous future.
Surrounded by a phalanx of Canadian and Afghan soldiers, police and local media, Kandahar provincial governor Asadullah Khalid and Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche arrived to celebrate an ambitious road construction project they envision as a vital social and commercial link for the people of the war-ravaged Panjwaii district.
With Afghan National Army troops diligently guarding the perimeter, the locals who shoulder the bulk of the labour dropped their spades and picks to crowd around Khalid as he surveyed their work. District leaders later took turns speaking to the crowd through a tinny ANA radio.
"It is your right to work here; it is your country, it is your district," Khalid told the workers.
"Canadian and Afghan forces will take care of your security, (but) you also have to take care of your security and you have stop the Taliban. If you don't stand against them, it is a sin."
The project, funded by the federal government, originally envisioned a $4.5-million funding envelope for a 6.5-kilometre stretch of road to be completed by October 2008. Discussions are now underway to pave 22 kilometres of dirt track that runs through the heart of the district known as the birthplace of the Taliban.
Khalid praised Canada for its contributions toward improving the lives of Afghans, citing the 82 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat, Glyn Berry, who have died in the country since 2002.
"They have given this sacrifice for our nation, which we never forget."
Once the project is fully up and running in the next several weeks, an estimated 450 local nationals will be working on a daily basis, using little more than wheelbarrows, shovels and muscle - resources they have at their disposal, rather than the more efficient but costly high-tech methods familiar to western commuters.
The idea is to imbue them with the skills to do the work long after coalition forces have left, said Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould, the Canadian battle group commander.
"We're teaching them how to build a road with the materials they have, and they're now running it; we're just helping it along," Corbould said.
"It's building them a skill that will be enduring, that will last a long time, so that when repairs eventually need to be made to the road or they want to build more roads on their own, they're taught the skills that they can use here, without having to have all the advanced heavy machinery."
Laroche saluted the courage of the locals who participate in the project despite ongoing Taliban intimidation. Ominous "night letters" that warn of dire consequences for the workers are often found nailed to doors; one man was shot in both feet last month for his refusal to stay away.
"To all of you, thank you very much for your courage, thank you very much for the work you are doing," Laroche said.
"You are building your own road."
Rehmatullah, a 34-year-old labourer who like many Afghans goes by only one name, said he's been working on the road for two months for the daily sum of 300 Afghanis - just $6 a day.
"It is really a very risky job," Rehmatullah said.
"Taliban are always asking about our job, but we tell them lies. Because we don't have another option. The security is good for us here in the day, but not in the night - they could come very easily and kill us at our home."
Qudratullah, 25, said he's seen some of the letters left at mosques and homes by insurgents.
"'If we see anybody working here on road construction, they get killed'," Qudratullah quoted the letters as saying. "'We are warning you."'
It's a testament to the resiliency of the Afghan people, and to the value of such projects, that the workers have so far remained defiant and willing to work, said Laroche.
"They want to protect their jobs, also, because now, they are getting used to being paid, and by coming here they can work for themselves and feed their own families," he said.
"We could have brought machinery and so on, things like that to build that road, and it would have been done faster ... but we don't want to do that. We want the people to work on these projects, we want to create jobs, and in the end it's to their advantage, and I think they understand that."
It's not the ultimate objective, but a fringe benefit of a paved road is that it's less receptive to the improvised explosive devices that are the preferred weapon of the Taliban, Laroche said.
"By paving a road, it's easier to detect IEDs. It's not foolproof, though. It doesn't mean there will not be any more IEDs. But it's going to help, that's for sure."
Because it's a labour-based project, progress is slow - just 500 metres per month, said Capt. Pascal Blanchette, the construction engineer from 1 Engineering and Support Unit, based in Moncton, N.B., who oversees the work.
The end result, however, will be a road that lasts for generations.
And though there were some initial difficulties in getting the crews organized and working, they're now comfortable with their Canadian overseers and enthusiastic about the workmanship, Blanchette said.
"They bring us flowers every day now, and every day at lunch they come and knock on my door so I can go have lunch with them," he said.
"When we first got here, we really had to dictate everything that occurred on the work site; we really had to push the interpreters and the team leaders to get their guys working. Now, we don't say anything; we just let the team leaders do their thing, because they really want to build a good road."
|
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
|
|
|
ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2150
|
A win, win situation for sure..and perhaps i have tended to forget the sacrifices that the local people make daily.. and nightly as the one recalls here in Mikes narrative...evrey second of every day is a danger just to try to be .. a person, a citizen.. so one must admire them as well, and their courage to take their chances and trust us , the Nato forces...i really believe , this country and its people are well on their way to reclaiming their land in a democracy where all can fluorish...a whole lot left to do for all , but i find it absolutly amazing what our people and the locals have accomplished under impossible conditions....but then, i KNEW the CDNS ...WOULD / and WILL....jolly good show to all...ranrad
|
RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
|
|
|
Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3247
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
|
Fallen soldier's body flown home from Afghanistan
Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The body of Pte. Terry John Street, a Canadian soldier from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment killed in Afghanistan last week, was returned to Canada on Tuesday evening.
The plane touched down as scheduled around 7 p.m. local time at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. The family asked that no media be permitted on the tarmac.
In addition to many family members and friends of the fallen soldier,
Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay attended the repatriation ceremony, said Maj. Isabelle Robitaille, public affairs officer at CFB Trenton.
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
