November 27-06 They Begin Their Journey Home

We grieve alongside the families and friends of Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard and Corporal Albert Storm. They were two professional, dedicated Canadian soldiers, who made the ultimate sacrifice Monday in Afghanistan and will be greatly missed by their families, friends, military family -especially joint Task Force Afghanistan. Girouard and Storm died when a suicide car bomber drove his vehicle into a convoy of military vehicles on the outskirts of Kandahar on the highway to the Panjwaii district early Monday and detonated explosives. They were travelling in a Bison, an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard , the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group (RCR), originally Bathurst, N.B., was a very senior Non-Commissioned Officer and a proven leader. Comrades speak highly of him and regard him as a dedicated leader. Joining the military right out of high school, he had previously served in Germany, Kosovo and Bosnia. His mother said: “"But he said they had to fight for peace in order for the rest of us to enjoy the life that we have,"Girouard, a 46 year old father of three( Robert Jr., 22, Jocelyn, 21, and Michael) and his wife Jacqueline had just purchased a home in Pembroke, Ont. Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard had been with his family just last week, finishing a three week leave from Afghanistan. They had celebrated an early Christmas together.

Remember Them

Corporal Albert Storm

of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group in CFB Petawawa, On was just three years from retirement - a decorated soldier who served in trouble spots around the globe was a brave, dedicated and professional soldier. A Fort Erie, Ontario native, Cpl. Albert Storm was a 36-year-old father of two who liked to fish. He will be missed by his comrades, who have expressed he was "good-natured, a hard worker who could turn a driving job into an art - a good friend and will be missed."

Both served valiantly against an enemy that uses arbitrary attacks to thwart any progress for the Afghan people to achieve their freedom and stability. No words can express the grief their loved ones must be feeling today. My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends and comrades of our fallen soldiers - our heros fighting to make the world a better and safer place - as they begin their journey back home.

Cpl Albert Storm and Chief Warrant Officer Rober Girouard arrive at Trenton Airforce Base to the arms of their families.

National Military CemeteryOtttawa, Ontario
Members of the Bearer Party fold that flag that draped the coffin of fallen soldier CWO Girouard, RSM of 1st Bn RCR.

An Interment Ceremony was held on December 6, 2006 at the National Military Ceremony for fallen soldier Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard. CWO Girouard was the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment based in Petawawa. CWO Girouard and Corporal Albert Storm both died during an attack on their Bison light armoured vehicle just outside Kandahar, Afghanistan on November 27, 2006.
Photo by: Master Corporal Jill Cooper, CFSU(O) Photo Services.