[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

RIP Sgt. Martin Goudreault

Canadian soldier killed by IED in Afghanistan


CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Mon. Jun. 7 2010 7:39 AM ET

A Canadian Forces sergeant died Sunday while on a mission to find a stockpile of insurgent weapons southeast of Kandahar.

Sgt. Martin Goudreault was near the village of Nakhonay, in the Panjwaii district, when an improvised explosive device went off about about 6:30 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Goudreault, 35, was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. A member of the Edmonton-based 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, his latest deployment in the Afghan theatre began only one month ago.

At a press conference at Kandahar Airfield, Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance described Goudreault as a brave soldier and natural leader.

"Sgt. Goudreault died doing what he loved doing best: leading his section from the front," Vance said Monday.

"If your way of life was in peril, you would want someone like Sgt. Martin Goudreault to show up and help."

Vance said Goudreault was "a model soldier, someone the soldiers in his section could look up to and emulate."

"His subordinates and superiors alike will remember him as a tireless leader who was passionate about his work."

Offering his condolences to the fallen soldier's family and friends, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said "the lives of the Afghan people are better due to the efforts of Canadians like Sgt. Goudreault who provide security and stability."

"These are the cornerstones that will allow the country to rebuild and grow into the future," Harper said in a statement.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Goudreault was an example of the risks Canadian soldiers face when serving in Afghanistan.

"Sgt. Martin Goudreault's sacrifice will not be forgotten and it will not deter us from continuing to help Afghans rebuild their country," he said in a statement.

Goudreault had served 15 years in the Canadian Forces at the time of his death.

The native of Sudbury, Ont., is the 147th Canadian soldier killed during the Afghan mission.

Figures from Canada's Department of Defence indicate that Goudreault is the 88th Canadian soldier to be killed by an IED in Afghanistan.