May Canada never forget these fine Canadians.
Pte. Garrett Chidley Cpl. Zachery McCormack
Sgt. Kirk Taylor Sgt. George Miok,
What extremely sad news to wake up to this last day of 2009 4 soldiers and a journalist from the Calgary Herald taken by a cowardly ied of the taliban. May the Lord take these fine Canadians to his side and , give peace and blessings to their families and loved ones. What a Sad Day for Canadians.
Thu Dec 31, 2:23 AM
MONTREAL (AFP) - Five Canadians -- four soldiers and a journalist -- were killed Tuesday in Afghanistan by a bomb that exploded as their armored vehicle passed by, a Canadian general announce
GENERAL DANIEL MENARD, THE HEAD OF CANADIAN FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, ANNOUNCED THE DEATHS
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The military has identified the four Canadian soldiers killed in a blast that also killed a journalist.
They are Sgt. George Miok, 28, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, both of Edmonton, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, of Yarmouth, N.S., and Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21, of Cambridge, Ont.
The soldiers, along with Michelle Lang of the Calgary Herald, were killed by a powerful explosion Wednesday during a patrol in Kandahar city.
The deaths - the worst such incident in two-and-a-half years - bring to 138 the number of soldiers killed on the Afghan mission since 2002.
In a statement, Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard spoke of each soldier with pride, describing them as enthusiastic, passionate soldiers.
He also praised Lang for her sensitivity and ability to connect with people
Public television station CBC identified the journalist killed as Michelle Lang, a reporter with the Calgary Herald, who was on her first trip to Afghanistan and was the first Canadian reporter to die in the country's conflict.
Yesterday Canada lost five citizens, Menard said. Four soldiers and one journalist were killed as a result of an improvised explosive device attack on their armored vehicle during a community patrol in Kandahar City.
Menard said a Canadian civilian official was also injured in attack.
The soldiers were patrolling to gather information on the pattern of life and maintain security in the area, he said.
The journalist was travelling with them to tell the story of what Canada's soldiers are doing in Afghanistan, he said.
On behalf of all the soldiers, airmen, sailors and special operators of Joint Task Force Afghanistan I offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our fallen, he said.
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper also offered his condolences to the families of the Canadian soldiers who he said had paid the ultimate price while courageously serving their country.
Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, he said.
Also fallen is a brave reporter, Michelle Lang, who lost her life reporting on the invaluable work being done by Canadian soldiers, aid workers and diplomats in Afghanistan, he added.
While not regularly the subject of news, those journalists who risk their lives reporting alongside the men and women of the Canadian Forces in one of the most dangerous regions in the world should not be forgotten.
The deaths, which raised to 138 the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, came just hours before a suicide attack that killed eight US civilians at a military base in eastern Afghanistan.
Canada has some 2,800 troops deployed in the Kandahar region, a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. They are supposed to return home in 2011.
These soldiers and Journalist will never be forgotten, may their brothers in arms and fellow journalists, carry out their duties during this period of extreme grief. Knowing that they are doing a professional job as Canadians. God Bless.
A prayer or a thought for all those Deployed and to their Loved ones.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
