"Goodbye, my love"

Candlelight vigil for slain soldier
By TRACY MCLAUGHLIN,

SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA

BRACEBRIDGE -- With tears streaming down her cheeks, the mother of a fallen soldier whispered one last "goodbye, my love" as she lit a candle for her son.
It should have been his birthday party, but instead it was a candlelight vigil Wednesday in honour of Trooper Darryl Caswell, who would have turned 26 the day before. Caswell was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan June 11.
"He was a hero," military padre Lee Lambert told a small crowd gathered at the Memorial Gardens in Bracebridge, where Darlene Cushman, Caswell's mother, lives.
"He sacrificed his life for a people he never even knew so that they could have a better life," Lambert said.
As he spoke about her son, the mother gently smiled, but the tears continued.
"Darryl was not there to conquer, or dictate, or plant the Canadian flag," he said. "He was there to allow the people to be Afghani people, as is their birthright. The Taliban may not have wanted him there, but the people did. And that's what Darryl died for."
As bagpipes played, Cushman clutched hands with her daughter, Jolene, and Cpl. Wade Wick, who was the gunner of the Coyote armoured vehicle when it was hit in the deadly attack.
"He was a great guy. He was my buddy," Wick said. He joked about how Caswell was almost child-like when he received a care package from his mom with flavoured drink mix he would share with the soldiers to add to warm, over-treated drinking water.
"In 40-degree temperatures, it was like a Christmas present," Wick said.

"Happy Birthday Trooper Caswell"

God bless you.

Funeral for Trooper Darryl Caswell

Family members, from left: mother Darlene Cushman, sister Jolene Cushman, stepfather Chris Walsh, brother Logan, 12, saluting, stepmother Christine Caswell and father Paul Caswell watch as the coffin of Trooper Caswell is carried from the hearse outside of Trinity United Church in Bowmanville Wednesday afternoon.

June 20, 2007 1500hr

Hundreds of people with Canadian flags and yellow ribbons pinned to their chests gathered outside a small, red-brick church in Bowmanville, Ont., on Wednesday, to pay their respects to fallen soldier Trooper Darryl Caswell. As his casket entered Bowmanville United Church for the funeral service, Trooper Darryl Caswell’s brother Logan, 12, saluted. Trooper Caswell, 25, was killed in Afghanistan on Logan’s birthday, June 11.

Caswell died last Wednesday while riding in the lead vehicle in what the Canadian Forces call a combat logistics patrol, a dangerous mission that involves restocking forward operating bases and soldiers in the field with everything from ammunition and equipment to rations and water.
The convoy was headed to the district of Khakriz in northwestern Kandahar province when it struck an improvised explosive device about 40 kilometres north of the city of Kandahar.
Yellow bows hung from lamp posts and trees along the town's main streets, flags flew at half-mast and signs in the windows of local shops expressed condolences to the family of Caswell, who died last week in an explosion.
His military funeral was held Wednesday afternoon in community where he was born and attended high school, a town of 30,000 residents, 75 kilometres east of Toronto.
A poster reading "Remember Darryl" sat in the window of Ken Harker's almost 10-year-old music store.
"I did it to let (his family) know my thoughts are with them ... that they're not forgotten," he said, shortly before the funeral procession passed on the street.
Inside the Trinity United Church, Caswell's mother, Darlene Cushman, thanked the community for their support.
"You'll never know what it means to me," she said.
She said she would be sending her son's fellow troops in Afghanistan cases of Crystal Light packages to flavour their bottles of water. The eight boxes she sent her son the last time were gone in an hour, she said.
He would have wanted his military family taken care of, she said. More people watched a live telecast of the service in adjoining rooms. A crowd of more than 100 stood across the street. A war veteran in a motorized scooter had come from a nursing home around the block, and high school students had trickled over after classes.

Shortly after 3 p.m., a piper led Caswell's flag-draped coffin into the church, where Lafave said the soldier was baptized. Caswell's hat, a single medal on a black pillow, and a knife, rested atop the casket. Cushman clutched a tan-coloured quilt as Lafave led the mourners in singing "Amazing Grace.'' She made it through a few strains before tears doubled her shaking body over.

"A mother can never prepare for this,'' Caswell's mother, Darlene Cushman, said as she eulogized her 25-year-old son during his funeral service Wednesday, her voice choked with emotion and barely audible.
Then, gesturing to his coffin below, she said, "half my heart is lying below me.''
Some people wiped their eyes as Caswell's flag-draped coffin was carried out of the church to the sound of bagpipes. As the hearse drove away, down a street flanked by soldiers, veterans and police officers, community members applauded and filled the road behind the vehicle.
"Whether you agree or don't agree with the war, it goes beyond that," Ximena Davidson said of her presence. She sat in the shade with her nine-month-old daughter.
"It goes beyond that when it's an individual," her neighbour, Jill Doswell, 52, added.
Mourners faced dozens of photos of Caswell as a small boy, as a graduate, as a soldier. There were pictures of his motorcycle and shots from his recent vacation in Australia, hugging a Koala bear.
"All of the ribbons, all of the people, it's amazing how supportive the whole town has been," said Kayla Myers, who flew back to her hometown from Australia for her friend's funeral.
Cpl. Darren Hann, 23, who went to high school with Caswell said the town's response has been "overwhelming."
"I've always been proud (to be a soldier) but it lifts the morale," he said.
When a police cruiser drove by with a sticker of a yellow ribbon on its bumper, Hann said: "It's great to see that. (People) may be against the war but at least back up the soldiers who are defending your country."
During the service, Caswell's stepmother, Christine Caswell, asked the congregation to "remember all of the other soldiers who have served this great country, Canada, in our time of need."
"Three more families (are) going through what we are going through," she said, referring to the three Canadians killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday, bringing the total of Canadians who have died in Afghanistan since 2002 to 60.
"Our thoughts are with them."
She invited everyone to stand and face the soldiers in the church and hall.
"Thank you for your sacrifices ... We are so proud."

In November, Darryl Caswell's belongings arrived home, including his diary. The 25-year-old soldier, who got to Afghanistan in late January 2007, writes about his frustrations and his appreciation for Afghanistan. He describes how one of his best friends was killed and how he watched his body being loaded into a helicopter. He writes that he does not know how he will deal with people back home "who waste their time and walk circles in the dark, not knowing how well off they are just being born a Canadian."He writes that he would come to Afghanistan again, but only for the children."These people have been kicked … so many times by countries, it's no wonder they have trust issues," he wrote. "If Canada pulls out, all will be lost once more."In May, his name was added to the top of the granite pillar. His entry reads simply "Afghanistan," a few inches above his name.

Trooper Caswell Arrives at CFB Trenton June 15, 2007

Stepmother Christine Caswell (right) of Trooper Darryl Caswell holds picture of him as she is comforted by a unidentified family member during a repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton, Ont. Friday.

CFB TRENTON, Ont. - A military aircraft carrying the body of Trooper Darryl Caswell returned to Canadian soil Friday night.

Grieving family members and military officials gathered on the tarmac at CFB Trenton as the plane landed. Caswell, 25, died Monday while riding in a combat patrol vehicle that hit a roadside bomb about 40 kilometres north of Kandahar.

He was scheduled to return home in just six weeks.

Caswell was deployed with the Reconnaissance Squadron from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group.

~Bless our soldier and his family and friends.~

Funeral:
Trooper Darryl Caswell, who was killed in Afghanistan on June 11, 2007, will be remembered by family, friends and his regiment at a military funeral service in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Where:       Trinity United Church, 116 Church St, Bowmanville


When:        Wednesday, June 20, 3 p.m.


Officiating: The Reverend Joe Lafave, Incumbent,
            Trinity United Captain Lee Lambert,
      Padre, Royal Canadian Dragoons


Visitation:  Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home,
            53 Division St N, Bowmanville
            Tuesday, June 19, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.


Interment:   Thursday, June 21, 3 p.m.
         National Military Cemetery
         of the Canadian Forces
        (Beechwood),Ottawa

Trooper Caswell's Ramp Ceremony June 14, 2007

14 June 2007 Kandahar, Afghanistan The Joint Task Force salutes as the body of fallen soldier Trooper Darryl James Caswell, carried by his comrades is slowly marched through the ranks and to the waiting C130 Hercules Transport plane. Trooper Caswell was a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons Reconnaissance Squadron from CFB Petawawa and was part of the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment Battle group of Joint Task Force Afghanistan. He's on his way home.

Our Fallen Soldier - Trooper Darryl Caswell

It is with deepest sadness, we learn today that one of our Canadian Soldiers has fallen to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. We grieve and our hearts are heavy for the family and friends of soldier Trooper Darryl Caswell . Our hearts go out to the family - both here and in Afghanistan, their section and friends of our two wounded soldiers and our fallen soldier.

God Bless.

-

~Trooper Darryl Caswell~

To view or sign the guestbook for Trooper Caswell's family, click here:

http://www.legacy.com/GB/GuestbookEntry.aspx?&PersonID=89008051

Received: June 11, 2007 11:12 pm (Canada)
Canadian Soldier Killed, Two Injured by Roadside Bomb in Afghanistan
A Canadian soldier was killed today when a roadside bomb detonated near the vehicle he was travelling in, about 40 km north of Kandahar City. The incident occurred at approximately 6:25 p.m. Kandahar time (10:05 a.m. EST). Two Canadian soldiers suffered non-life threatening injuries from the blast. They have been evacuated by helicopter to the Canadian-led multinational hospital at Kandahar Airfield for further treatment and are expected to return to duty soon.

Killed was Trooper Darryl Caswell of The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD), based at Petawawa, Ont. Trooper Caswell was deployed in the south of Afghanistan with the RCD Reconnaissance Squadron as part of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) Battle Group.

Trooper Caswell was part of a Combat Logistics Patrol (CLP) convoy, conducting a resupply mission for Canadian troops based at a forward operating base in Kahkrez when the incident occurred. The convoy was operating in support of the ongoing security efforts conducted jointly by the Afghan national security forces and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers in the northern region of Kandahar province. Family members of the deceased and injured soldiers have been notified.

Our priority at this time is to ensure that our wounded soldiers receive the best possible medical care and that the remains of Trooper Caswell are repatriated to Canada in the most dignified and respectful manner. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of our wounded and fallen soldiers.

Our Fallen Soldier

Canadian Soldier Dies in Afghanistan
(www.canada.com)
SHAHWALI KOT, Afghanistan — A Canadian soldier spearheading a convoy into the newest hotspot of Taliban activity was killed Monday night when a powerful mine ripped through his armoured car.
Trooper Darryl Caswell, 25, was driving the convoy's lead vehicle, a Coyote, as it hit the bomb en route to a remote NATO base in Kandahar province's Shahwali Kot district.
Two other crew members were hurt, including one who suffered inhalation burns in his throat, and were taken by helicopter back to the Canadian-led emergency hospital at Kandahar Airfield.
The medical evacuation occurred in the midst of the desert as night fell and troops spread out on a lonely rural highway to secure the area.
"They're cowards," the commander of another vehicle in the resupply convoy said of those who planted the mine.
"I have no respect for them or their way of life. We'll see what happens. But I suspect there will be some payback."
He said he saw two blasts, one after the other, from his Bison troop transport about seven vehicles behind the Coyote.
Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of the Canadian mission here, voiced his condolences to Trooper Caswell's family, and said bombing was typical of insurgents who are avoiding direct combat with NATO troops when possible.
"It is a tactical weakness," he said.
Moments after the explosion, soldiers spotted two Afghan men near the side of the road observing the wreckage, before disappearing into the barren landscape of mountain and sand.
Intelligence officers later intercepted cell phone communication among suspected Taliban making plans for an ambush of the convoy.
Other crew members from the Coyote, which has the nickname Ghostrider painted on its side, appeared badly shaken by the incident. "I just have no energy any more," murmured the commander as he struggled to climb into another vehicle.
A quick-reaction security force arrived and surveyed the scene, and army engineers ensured there were no other explosives nearby. Then, six hours after the blast, the convoy of about 12 vehicles headed back the way it came.
The trucks and armoured cars arrived at a remote Canadian base, also in Shahwali Kot, at about 4 a.m. Tuesday. The convoy had left Kandahar Airfield, the huge NATO base, at noon Monday, never reaching its final destination.
The wreckage of the Coyote was towed along with the convoy. The front wheels and undercarriage on the driver's side were completely blown off, and the tires on the other side badly mangled.
Trooper Caswell's flak vest was still inside the driver's mangled cockpit.Much of the rest of the vehicle seemed to be intact, though.
"They're chickensh—," said a soldier as he looked over the wreckage. "It's bullsh— when you have to play by the rules and they don't. I'm f—ing sick of it."
The convoy was supplying food, water, spare parts and other goods to the Hotel Company base and other "austere forward-operating bases," further north, where U.S. infantry and Canadian artillery units are based.
They returned to the area, largely abandoned by NATO for about a year, in the last several weeks and have encountered significant Taliban activity.