Goddard died in Taliban ambush: commander
Updated Fri. May. 19 2006 11:46 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The commander who led Canadian troops into one of the biggest and fiercest battles they've faced in Afghanistan described Friday how Capt. Nichola Goddard met her death in a Taliban ambush.
"We were in the process of doing final searches in the village when one of our call signs came in 'ambush,'" said Lt.-Col. Ian Hope, commander of Task Force Orion's battle group.
"A well co-ordinated Taliban ambush which unfortunately resulted in the death of one of our soldiers."
Hope confirmed that Goddard was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, or RPG, on Wednesday while riding in a light-armoured vehicle during an intense firefight with Taliban insurgents near Panjwai -- 24 kilometres west of Kandahar city.
As crew commander, Goddard was exposed from the shoulders up. "She was our eyes and ears," said Hope.
"She was standing in the hatch of that vehicle," CTV's Middle East Bureau Chief Janis Mackey Frayer reported from Kandahar on Friday. "She apparently ducked her head, but was hit with the shrapnel from the impact of the grenade on the vehicle's turret."
Canadian troops returned fire from LAVs and 155-millimetre M777 howitzers. Hope then called in an air strike from a U.S. B-1B bomber, which dropped a 225-kilogram bomb on the compound sheltering enemy forces.
"That ended the engagement," said Hope.
After about 45 minutes, Afghan forces were able to go in and clear out the area, which included mud-walled compounds, a complex of farms houses and a mosque in which armed Taliban were hidden.
"It was very canalized terrain -- a series of connected compounds and villages with orchards,'' said Hope."You can't see behind every wall and into every compound."
Military officials said by Thursday about 40 Taliban were killed, another 40 wounded and 17 captured.
The operation involved 200 Canadian soldiers, and another 200 from the Afghan army and police. Intelligence sources said the Taliban were planning an attack against government offices in Kandahar.
"We have detailed reports that there were as many as 300 Taliban fighters from three different provinces concentrating in the Panjwai area with the intent of operating in Kandahar city against the Afghan government, against the provincial governor himself," said Hope.
Casket begins journey home
Meanwhile, Goddard's casket began the long journey home from Kandahar Friday, after eight pallbearers carried her remains aboard a waiting Hercules transport aircraft.
Goddard's coffin, draped in the Canadian flag, first passed long lines of soldiers from countries around the world, including Afghanistan's own national army.
"Go forth upon your journey, Nichola, go forth from this world," a chaplain said in prayer.
The casket is expected to arrive at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario on Saturday, before being flown back to Goddard's family in Calgary, Alta.
The pallbearers, all from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery where Goddard served, will stay with her body for the duration of the journey.
Goddard's fellow soldiers in Afghanistan remembered her Thursday as a strong leader who inspired in them loyalty and courage.
Her contribution to the mission in Afghanistan was noted during a musical revue put on by some of Canada's top performers, including country singer-songwriter Michelle Wright.
Goddard was the 17th Canadian to be killed in Afghanistan since the current mission began in 2002, and Canada's first female combat death since the Second World War.
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