Fallen Canadian Soldiers In Afghanistan

Master Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud passed away on July 5, 2009 2 weeks after suffering injuries on June 23 while on patrol at approximately 9am. after he stepped on an improvised explosive device in the Panjwaii District, southwest of Kandahar. Michaud was immediately airlifted to Kandahar Airfield and then transported to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany. He was subsequently taken to a Quebec City hospital on June 28th. He succumbed to his injuries, never regaining consciousness.

Michaud is survived by his wife, parents and brother. This was his 3rd operations tour and second tour in Afghanistan. Michaud was from the 2nd Batallion, Royal 22nd Regiment based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier near Quebec City.
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On July 3rd, Corporal Nicholas Bulger, 30, was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Zhari district of Kandahar province. The explosion occurred seconds after the bomb was narrowly missed by the vehicle carrying the senior commander of coalition forces in the province. Five other Canadian soldiers were also wounded in the IED blast, with three sustaining injuries serious enough to require evacuation to Germany for further medical treatment. Bulger was with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and left behind a wife and 2 daughters.
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Mirroring the recent death of Pte. Alexandre Peloquin less than a week ago, Corporal Martin Dubé, 35, died as he dismantled an improvised explosive device meant to strike a high traffic area in the Panjwayii district southwest of Kandahar City. The blast also killed an Afghan police officer and wounded a Pashto interpreter, who was rushed by helicopter to hospital.

Brigadier-General Jonathan Vance told reporters at Kandahar Air Field "The IED that Martin was dismantling could have killed an entire family, as it was deliberately aimed at passing traffic. His energy and enthusiasm made him one of the best guys to be around," said Gen. Vance, recalling the soldier's constant smile. "For that, we loved him."

The explosion occurred in the Panjwayii district southwest of Kandahar City, the same rural area where Private Alexandre Péloquin, 20, was killed last Monday as he stepped on a bomb. That operation had recovered bombs, detonators, fertilizer and other items that could be used for deadly explosions, but obviously hadn't entirely neutralized the threat.
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Twenty-year old Pte. Alexandre Peloquin from the province of Quebec was killed by one of the very bombs he was trained to disarm. Known as "Pelo" by his pals, Peloquin died from an improvised explosive device or IED, which has taken the lives of many Canadian soldiers in the Panjwaii district. Characterized as a fit and courageous by his commanders. No one else was injured in the blast.
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Karine Blais was only 2 weeks into her tour in Afghanistan when she was killed in action. 4 other soldiers were also injured when the armour-plated vehicle they were patrolling in well-travelled roads northeast of Kandahar City on April 13th.

Trooper Blais, 21, leaves behind her parents, Gino and Josee as well as a young brother, Billy, 14 as well as her partner Hugo.

Blais's flag-draped casket was carried on a CC-130 Hercules transport to begin the long journey back to Canada. Among the eight pallbearers was a fellow female trooper.

A group on Facebook has been formed in memory of Trooper Karine Blais.
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Four more Canadian soldiers died in Afghanistan on March 20th and eight more were injured in two separate attacks.

Master Cpl. Scott Vernelli, 28, Cpl. Tyler Crooks, 24, and a local interpreter were killed and 5 other Canadian soldiers were injured while on foot patrol west of Kandahar. Trooper Jack Bouthillier, 20, and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes, 22 were killed about 2 hours later when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Three more soldiers were injured in the blast. The attack occured about 20 kilometres northeast of Kandahar city in the Shah Wali Kot district. All the wounded soldiers were evacuated by helicopter and are listed in stable condition.
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17 March, Trooper Marc Diab, from Toronto, 22, died of injuries received when his armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb. Four other soldiers were injured in the attack. Brig.-General Jonathan Vance called Diab a passionate soldier who 'loved to make people laugh' and 'never stopped giving.' Diab was also deeply committed to his church, loved playing soccer, and had a close relationship with his family and girlfriend.

Marc Diab was born in Lebanon, and his family moved in 2000 to Canada, where his father, Hani Diab, said his son was proud to serve his adopted country. "You paid the ultimate price - your life - for the cause that you believed in: to have a better world for everyone," the soldier's father said.
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On Friday March 6, the bodies of three fallen Canadian soldiers will be returned to Canadian Forces Base Trenton at 2 p.m. Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown, Cpl. Dany Olivier Fortin and Cpl. Kenneth Chad O'Quinn were killed March 3 when an improvised explosive device was detonated near an armoured vehicle while the trio took part in a patrol northwest of Kandahar City in Afghanistan's Arghandab district. Two other soldiers were also injured in the blast.

The three deaths bring Canada's military death toll in Afghanistan to 112. A Canadian diplomat and two Canadian aid workers have also been killed over the course of the insurgency.

Unit: 5 Combat Engineer Regiment
Base: CFB Valcartier, Quebec
How Killed: Defusing Explosive Device

Unit: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: CFB Edmonton, Alberta
How Killed: Roadside Bomb Blast
Home: Buckhorn, Ontario

Unit: The Royal 22nd Regiment
Base: La Citadelle in Quebec City
How Killed: Defusing Explosive Device
Home: Laurentides, Quebec

Unit: 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment
Base: Val Cartier, Quebec
How Killed: roadside bomb blast
Home: Les Mechins, Quebec

Unit: November Company, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: improvised explosive attack while on foot patrol

Unit: November Company, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: improvised explosive attack while on foot patrol

Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons
Base: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: roadside bomb attack

Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons
Base: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: roadside bomb attack

From: Toronto, Ontario
Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons
How Killed: roadside bomb struck armoured vehicle; 4 others injured

Unit: 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron
Base: Bagotville
How Killed: explosive device detonated

Unit: Lincoln and Welland Regiment
How Killed: explosive device detonated

Unit: 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron
How Killed: explosive device detonated

Unit: 2 Combat Engineer Regiment
Base: Manitoba
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

Unit: 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group
Base Location: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

Royal 22nd Regiment
CFB Petawawa
Inspecting an improvised explosive device

From: New Brunswick
Unit: 24 Field Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: Inspecting an improvised explosive device

From: Peterborough ON
Unit: 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa
How Killed: Improvised explosive device hit armoured vehicle

Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: Gagetown, NB
How Killed: Improvised explosive device hit armoured vehicle

From: Truro Nova Scotia
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: Gagetown, NB
Improvised explosive device hit armoured vehicle

From: Baie Verte Newfoundland
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: Gagetown, NB
How Killed: Improvised explosive device hit armoured vehicle

From: Keswick, Ontario
Unit: 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa, ON
How Killed: Explosive device hit armoured vehicle

From: Peterborough, Ontario
Unit: 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa, ON
How Killed: Explosive device hit armoured vehicle

From: Toronto, Ontario
Unit: 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
Base: CFB Petawawa, ON
How Killed: Explosive device hit armoured vehicle

From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

From: Calgary, Alberta
Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Insurgent attack

From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Insurgent attack

From: Windsor, Ontario
Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Insurgent attack

From: Campbell River, British Columbia
Unit: 12th Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Batallion, PPCLI
Base: Edmonton, Alberta
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

From: Spiritwood, Saskachewan
Unit: 12th Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Batallion, PPCLI
Base: Edmonton, AB
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

From: Hamilton, Ontario
Unit: 12th Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Batallion, PPCLI
Base: Edmonton, AB
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

From: Edmonton, Alberta
Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Edmonton, AB
How Killed: Shootout

From: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Shootout

From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

From: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Unit: 1 Field Ambulance
Base: Edmonton, AB
How Killed: Improvised Explosive Device

From: Dundurn, Saskatchewan
Unit: Military Police Detachment
Base: Dundurn, SK
How Killed: Non-combat related

From: Penticton, British Columbia
Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Edmonton, AB
How Killed: Accident

From: Brantford, Ontario
Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Base: Shilo, MB
How Killed: Insurgent attack

From: Calgary, Alberta
Unit: 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance
Base: Calgary, Alberta
How Killed: Insurgent attack