Another Canadian Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

The troop, identified as trooper Mark Andrew Wilson, was killed by a roadside bomb that exploded during a pre-dawn patrol in the volatile Panjwayi district of Kandahar province – an area where international forces clashed with Taliban fighters last month in a mission dubbed Operation Medusa.

Military officials haven’t said what type of explosive device was used.

This area has been the site of increasing violence over the past several months in which the Taliban has been stepping up its use of suicide and roadside bombings.Thirteen soldiers have been killed in the area since Sept. 1.

Officials haven’t said why or how the bomb was able to penetrate the soldier’s armoured vehicle – a Nyala RG-31 armoured truck – which has been praised in the past for its ability to withstand anti-tank mines.

“You can always build a bigger bomb,” said Col. Fred Lewis, deputy commander of Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan.  

“In this particular case, I think the enemy got a bit lucky.”

No other soldiers were injured in the explosion.

There are approximately 2,200 Canadian troops stationed in the war-torn country and 40 have been killed since 2002.

The bodies of Sergeant Craig Gillam and Corporal Robert Mitchell of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, Ont., arrived home Friday night. The soldiers were killed on Oct. 3 in a series of rocket and mortar attacks near Kandahar.

The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan began Oct. 7, 2001 with the goal of ousting the Taliban regime for hosting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

But the group, which was once thought to be down and out, has returned, causing violence and bloodshed and has taken control of large parts of the country over the last year.

Opium production in the country has also skyrocketed. Afghan farmers grew enough opium in 2005-06 to make more heroin than all the world’s addicts consume in a year – about 610 tons.

  • Two German journalists were also killed by unidentified gunmen Saturday in a village in Tala Wa Barfak district in northern Afghanistan. The man and woman are the first international reporters to be killed in the country since 2001. The pair reportedly worked for the German news agency Deutsche Welle and were travelling on their own and were not embedded with a military unit.

Since 2002, 40 Canadian soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan. Here is a list of the deaths:

2006

Oct. 7 — Trooper Mark Andrew Wilson was killed when his armouored vehicle was hit by a roadside explosion in the Panjwaii distict.

Oct. 3: Sergeant Craig Gillam and Corporal Robert Mitchell of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, Ont., killed in series of mortar, rocket attacks.

Sept. 29: Pte. Josh Klukie, 23, was killed when he stepped on an insurgent’s explosive device while on foot patrol in Kandahar province.

Sept. 18: Private David Byers and Corporals Glen Arnold, Shane Keating, and Keith Morley killed in suicide bicycle bomb attack on foot patrol in Panjwaii.

Sept. 4: Pte. Mark Graham who was based at CFB Petawawa killed when two NATO planes accidentally strafed Canadian troops in the Panjwaii district. About 30 others wounded, five seriously.

Sept. 3: Sgt. Shane Stachnik, Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, Pte. William Cushley and Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan, all based at CFB Petawawa, Ont., killed in fighting in Panjwaii district.

Aug. 22: Cpl. David Braun, who was based at Shilo, Man., killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kandahar City.

Aug. 11: Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom, 23, of Comox, B.C., stationed with 1st Field Ambulance, based in Edmonton, killed in suicide attack.

Aug. 9: Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, 33, of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man., killed by apparent accidental discharge of rifle.

Aug. 5: Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt, 31, of Loyal Edmonton Regiment, killed when large truck collided head-on with his G-Wagon patrol vehicle.

Aug. 3: Cpl. Christopher Reid, 34, of 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, killed by roadside bomb. Three other members of same battalion killed in rocket-propelled grenade attack by Taliban forces west of Kandahar: Sgt. Vaughan Ingram, 35, Cpl. Bryce Keller, 27, and Pte. Kevin Dallaire, 22.

July 22: Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44, of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29, of Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, based in Montreal, killed when car packed with explosives rammed their armoured vehicle.

July 9: Cpl. Anthony Boneca, 21, reservist from Lake Superior Scottish Regiment based in Thunder Bay, Ont., killed in firefight.

May 17: Capt. Nichola Goddard, artillery officer based in Shilo, Man., with 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, killed in Taliban ambush during battle in Panjwaii region. She was first Canadian woman to be killed in action while serving in combat role.

April 22: Cpl. Matthew Dinning of Richmond Hill, Ont., stationed with 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade in Petawawa, Ont., Bombardier Myles Mansell of Victoria, Lieut. William Turner of Toronto, stationed in Edmonton, and Cpl. Randy Payne, born in Lahr, Germany, stationed at CFB Wainright, Alta., all killed when their G-Wagon destroyed by roadside bomb near Gumbad.

March 29: Pte. Robert Costall of Edmonton, machine-gunner, killed in firefight with Taliban insurgents in Sangin district of Helmand province.

March 2: Cpl. Paul Davis of Bridgewater, N.S., and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson of Grande Prairie, Alta., killed when their armoured vehicle ran off road in Kandahar area.

Jan. 15: Glyn Berry, British-born Canadian diplomat who had served with Foreign Affairs Department since 1977, killed in suicide bombing near Kandahar.

2005

Nov. 24: Pte. Braun Woodfield, born in Victoria and raised in Eastern Passage, N.S., killed when his armoured vehicle rolled over near Kandahar.

2004

Jan. 27: Cpl. Jamie Murphy, 26, of Conception Harbour, Nfld., killed in suicide bombing while on patrol near Kabul.

2003

Oct. 2: Sgt. Robert Short, 42, of Fredericton, and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger, 29, of Ottawa, killed in roadside bombing southwest of Kabul.

2002

April 17: Sgt. Marc Leger, 29, of Lancaster, Ont., Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, 24, of Montreal, Pte. Richard Green, 21, of Mill Cove, N.S., and Pte. Nathan Smith, 27, of Tatamagouche, N.S., all killed when U.S. F-16 fighter mistakenly bombed Canadians on pre-dawn training exercise. Eight other Canadians wounded in friendly-fire incident.

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