God Bless our Troops - Friday, December 5, 2008

Today I pray, as with fellow Canadian, for the families of our 3 fine Canadian soldiers who were died December 5, 2008 at 9 am today as they travel a difficult journey ahead. My thoughts and prayers also go to their military familes (the troops who trained with them and those who served alongside them during their rotation in Afghanistan)

I first heard of this news after being contacted by a reporter this early afternoon.

Three Canadian Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
Three Canadian soldiers were killed as a result of an improvised explosive device attack on their armoured vehicle during a joint patrol with Afghan National Army soldiers in the Arghandab District. The incident occurred approximately 15 kilometres west of Kandahar City at about 9:00 a.m., Kandahar time on 5 December 2008.The Canadian soldiers were participating in a vehicle patrol with their Afghan colleagues when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. The three soldiers were killed instantly by the explosion.Killed in action were Corporal Mark Robert McLaren and Private Demetrios Diplaros. The primary next of kin for all three soldiers have been notified; however, the third name will not be released at this time at the request of the family.

In an unrelated incident, earlier on the same day, two Canadian soldiers were seriously injured when an improvised explosive device detonated in the vicinity of a joint Canadian - Afghan foot patrol in Zharey District. The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m., Kandahar time, approximately 30 kilometres west of Kandahar City.

A cordon was quickly established and the soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the Multi-national Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield where one soldier is reported to be in serious condition and the other is reported to be in fair condition. The names of the injured soldiers will not be released.

Today Canada lost three fine soldiers. They served Canada in an effort to bring peace and security to the people of Afghanistan. God Bless.

Pte Diplaros

Pte Diplaros was a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario. He was deployed in Afghanistan with Task Force Kandahar’s Operational Mentor and Liaison Team.

Cpl McLaren

Cpl McLaren was a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario. He was deployed in Afghanistan with Task Force Kandahar’s Operational Mentor and Liaison Team

.. and Panic Begins

The other evening while I was sitting at home doing some sewing, my husband came in the house from work in a panic. "Did you hear anything?" he asked with desperation in his voice.
Confused and concerned, I tried calming him down before asking him what he was talking about.
"A soldier was injured.. it was on the news today... a Canadian Soldier." I felt the blood drain from my face. I know many people will tell me "No news is good news." however, in my case this is not true - however rare it is. (only my son and I know why)
So through my husband's instructions, I turned to the news channel. It was not there. He said it was on the radio all day. Looking at him, I saw how much he cares about our boy. The worry in his face.. the intensity of his eyes. Although I was feeling ill inside.. this was a time to comfort him and we continue to pray..



...We pray for the injured soldier and the soldier's family. Give our soldier the strength for a full recovery and his family the stength and love and our support.



The protocol prevents the release the names of our injured soldiers. This is held in confidence.

Canadian soldier injured in Afghanistan
Canwest News ServicePublished: Wednesday, October 08, 2008
KANDAHAR CITY, Afghanistan - One Canadian soldier was injured Tuesday when he was struck by insurgent small arms fire about 30 kilometres west of Kandahar City, according to Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Alain Blondin.
The injured Canadian soldier was evacuated by helicopter to Kandahar Airfield, Blondin said in a statement. The soldier is in serious but stable condition.
The identity of the soldier will not be released.

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This gives me an opportunity to pass on some IMPORTANT words of advise...
If you are a family member of a deployed soldier - have your passport prepared and updated.

Six Canadian Soldiers Killed, Two Injured Today

PRESS RELEASE

Department of National Defence

April 8, 2007

DND: Six Canadian Soldiers Killed, Two Injured in Afghanistan

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--- Six Canadian soldiers were killed and two of their comrades were injured today in Afghanistan after a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle. The incident occurred at approximately 13:30 hrs Kandahar time, west of Kandahar City. Four soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the Canadian-led multinational hospital at Kandahar Airfield for further medical assessment. One soldier suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries from the blast and will likely be transferred to the U.S. military facility at Landstuhl, Germany. Another soldier who only received minor injuries was released from the hospital along with the other two who had not suffered any physical injuries.The names of the casualties are being withheld pending the notification of families.Though very saddened by the news several of their comrades have fallen in the line of duty, Canadian troops in Afghanistan remain staunchly committed to the critical mission of helping the Afghan people achieve peace and stability and rebuild their country and institutions.

Six Canadian Soldiers Killed, Two Injured Today

PRESS RELEASE

Department of National Defence

April 8, 2007

DND: Six Canadian Soldiers Killed, Two Injured in Afghanistan

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--- Six Canadian soldiers were killed and two of their comrades were injured today in Afghanistan after a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle. The incident occurred at approximately 13:30 hrs Kandahar time, west of Kandahar City. Four soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the Canadian-led multinational hospital at Kandahar Airfield for further medical assessment. One soldier suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries from the blast and will likely be transferred to the U.S. military facility at Landstuhl, Germany. Another soldier who only received minor injuries was released from the hospital along with the other two who had not suffered any physical injuries.The names of the casualties are being withheld pending the notification of families.Though very saddened by the news several of their comrades have fallen in the line of duty, Canadian troops in Afghanistan remain staunchly committed to the critical mission of helping the Afghan people achieve peace and stability and rebuild their country and institutions.

Soldiers and dog Injured

Soldiers Injured Near Kandahar City

Tuesday, March 20, 2007
ZHARI DISTRICT, Afghanistan
Just hours after the governor of Kandahar province urged village elders to reject the Taliban, a bomb exploded in this troubled district west of Kandahar City, wounding a Canadian soldier, severely injuring a civilian dog handler and killing his dog. “The best way to ensure your own security is to stop supporting Taliban activity,” Asadullah Khalid told almost 200 district elders gathered for a special meeting in the village of Pasab. “Don’t let them in.” But somebody apparently did let them in, or, at the very least, did nothing to get them out. Just four hours after Khalid’s speech, a Canadian patrol set off a homemade land mine, or improvised explosive device, near the neighbouring village of Amadkhan, 36 kilometers west of Kandahar City. Both the Canadian and the dog handler, who is employed by the U.S.-based company, American K-9, were flown by helicopter to the Canadian-led hospital at Kandahar Airfield Base where they are being treated. Lieut. John Nethercott, a spokesman for the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, said the soldier sustained "non-threatening injuries," while the dog handler was "very seriously injured." "The next of kin of both the soldier and the dog handler have been notified," Nethercott said. The explosion was actually the second of the day. At noon a Canadian armoured Coyote reconnaissance vehicle hit an IED near Ahmadkhan, a village west of Kandahar City, during a patrol. The blast damaged the vehicle but did not injure any soldiers. After the disabled vehicle was recovered, a team- a second team, with the bomb- detecting dog, was sent out to the scene to determine if there were any other IEDs in the area and inadvertently triggered the second bomb. the dog was searching for explosives near a village about 36 kilometres west of Kandahar City when the roadside bomb exploded.