God Bless Trooper Karine Blais -Monday, April 13th, 2009

Trooper Karine Blais

Our hearts open and tears well up as we hear the news of a fallen soldier. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends - both here and those who served alongside her in Afghanistan and through training at home. God bless you Trooper Blais. You will always be remembered.

Trooper Karine Blais was killed on April 13, 2009, when the vehicle she was travelling in hit an improvised explosive device in Shah Wali Kowt, north of Kandahar City. Her deployment is still fresh in their minds and tears still dampen on the faces of her family and friends as she left Canada only two weeks ago.
Trooper Karine Blais, 21, died and four other soldiers were wounded late Monday afternoon when their armoured personnel carrier rolled over a roadside bomb in the Shah Wali Khot district, north of Kandahar.
The soldiers wounded in Monday's blast were airlifted by helicopter to a military hospital at the Kandahar airfield despite a fierce sand storm that hit the area. Two of the soldiers were being treated by medical personnel and two were released. The conditions of the two still being treated were not known.
Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, said Blais had arrived in Afghanistan just two weeks ago. He praised the young woman's enthusiasm for the mission she was about to undertake.
"She was an energetic soldier who gave 100 per cent to every challenge she faced using a unique sense of humour, based on her honesty," Vance said. "Frank and direct, she demonstrated the qualities of a future leader who was respected by all members of her squadron."
Trooper Blais was a member of 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada based at Camp Valcartier, and was serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group.





Condolences
If you wish to post a condolence in Trooper Blais' memory, please post it in the comment section and I will transfer it below. Thank you.

It is always so sad to see the young die for the mistakes of the old. It especially tears the heart out when they look as young and innocent as Trooper Blais.My thoughts for her family and friends, she is not forgotten. ~ SusanE
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I thank your daughter for fighting for my freedom. I am truly blessed that there are men and women who are will to put there life on the line to keep me free. To the Blais Family,I thank you for raising a daughter with such compassion in her heart to fight for my freedom. I am sorry that she is now gone but just remember the great times you had with her . ~Thank you Courtney Shakotko Courtney Shakotko