Six Canadian Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Released

I look at these pictures and think of how young they look. To our fallen soldiers: we are proud of your service to your country and dedication in that which you believed in and fought for. Your mission is complete. You are truly Canadian heroes and the world in which we live is a safer place because of your commitment to freedom. We will now proudly stand for you and your families with honor, dignity, and respect. We pray that you will rest peacefully in the arms of God. May He provide peace, comfort, and understanding to each life you touched.

The of the six Canadian soldiers killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on July 4, 2007 (today) are as follows:
'

Captain Matthew Johnathan Dawe,

3rd Battalion,

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry,

based in Edmonton, Alta.

Master Corporal Colin Bason,

a reservist from

The Royal Westminster Regiment

based in New Westminster, B.C.

Corporal Cole Bartsch,

3rd Battalion,

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry,

based in Edmonton, Alta.

.

Private Lane Watkins,

3rd Battalion,

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry,

based in Edmonton, Alta.

Captain Jefferson Francis,
1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery,
based in Shilo, Man
.


Corporal Jordan Anderson, 3rd Battalion,
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry,
based in Edmonton, Alta
.

The soldiers were killed when their RG-31 vehicle struck a suspected improvised explosive device approximately 20 km southwest of Kandahar City. An Afghan interpreter was also killed in the blast. The incident occurred while the soldiers were returning from conducting joint patrol operations with the Afghan National Army.