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  #1  
Old 04-05-10, 14:09
Brian Gough Brian Gough is offline
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Default KIA, Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake

Canadian killed by IED in Afghanistan

A Canadian senior non-commissioned officer in Afghanistan was killed Monday by an improvised explosive device near Kandahar city.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake, 37, was killed while working in the Panjwai district, approximately 25 kilometres southwest of the city.

Brig-Gen. Dan Ménard, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, said the Simcoe, Ont., native was returning to camp Monday afternoon after successfully disposing of another IED when the blast went off.

Blake was serving with the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic. He had only been in Afghanistan for a few weeks when he was killed.

"A navy clearance diver, Craig was most comfortable working under water, yet he effortlessly adapted to the rigours of land operations," Ménard said in a statement.

"Incredibly fit, with a backbone of steel, Craig put 100 per cent into everything he did."

Blake, married with two children, was a hockey coach and triathlete, Ménard said.

His death brings to 143 the number of Canadian troops who have died in the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

"On behalf of all soldiers, airmen, airwomen, sailors and special operators of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, I offer my sincere condolences to his friends and family," Ménard said.



With files from The Canadian Press
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  #2  
Old 04-05-10, 19:49
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)'s Avatar
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) is offline
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Clearance Divers in the CF have about the biggest Brass Ones of any I know. Not only can they swim and dive like the much-touted US Navy SEALS, but they are all EOD experts as well, on land as well as at sea. That takes a courage which few have.

Unfortunately, PO2 Blake's luck ran out. I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes.

I tip my hat to Petty Officer Craig Blake and all his comrades, and extend my deepest condolences to his family.

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  #3  
Old 09-05-10, 15:07
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John McGillivray John McGillivray is offline
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Canadian troops will take lead in Panjwaii offensive: General
By Ethan Baron, Canwest News Service May 5, 2010

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Despite a massive U.S. troop buildup in southern Afghanistan, Canada will take the lead in securing the Taliban stronghold in western Panjwaii district, according to the commander of all Canadian troops overseas.
"Definitely Canada will have the major role in that area," Lt.-Gen. Marc Lessard said during a visit to the region. "The Canadian troops are there."
Canadian soldiers in western Panjwaii operate primarily out of two heavily fortified bases, Masum Ghar and Sperwan Ghar.
Lessard's comments came as 1,500 Canadian and allied troops gathered on the tarmac at Kandahar Airfield to honour Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake, killed Monday by a Taliban bomb.
Although NATO's offensive planned to kick off this summer will involve "massive, massive activities," it will focus not just on security operations but on building governance, Lessard said, and while Canadians will undertake combat missions, their main priority will be applying the same tactics they've been using to secure a village area to the east.
"Think about the slow, painstaking tactical activities occurring right now in eastern Panjwaii — Nakhonay — where you have outposts close to the population, you're doing patrolling, you're talking to the elders, you're trying to find out who's pro-(Afghan government), who's a fence sitter, and who's pro-Taliban, and why," Lessard said.
"Will there be tactical encounters? Of course there will be. But it is not a major operation, in fact (that's) the opposite of what we want to do."
The goal for Canada in the offensive will be to turn "fence-sitters" into government supporters, and turn Taliban supporters "at least" into fence-sitters, Lessard said.
As preparations continue, provincial Gov. Tooryalai Wesa insists the offensive will only go ahead only if the province's people wanted it, repeating a statement to Canwest News Service made last month and adding that in any case "it is not a military operation."
Early last month, tribal elders reported that villagers were already fleeing from rural areas into the city in anticipation of violence during the offensive, and that city residents were living in fear with nowhere else to go.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Can...854/story.html
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  #4  
Old 12-05-10, 01:20
John McGillivray's Avatar
John McGillivray John McGillivray is offline
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Report on CBS on the upcoming battle for Kandahar.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?...ag=mncol;lst;1
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  #5  
Old 14-05-10, 18:11
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)'s Avatar
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) is offline
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Default RIP Pte Kevin McKay

Another one falls...

Quote:
Canadian soldier killed by IED in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Fri. May. 14 2010 10:00 AM ET

A Canadian soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device Thursday, just a few days short of the end of his tour of duty in southern Afghanistan.

Pte. Kevin McKay, of the 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, died when an explosion erupted around his platoon while on patrol in a village just outside Kandahar City.

The 24-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., was on a "presence patrol" in the village of Nakhonay, about 15 kilometres west of Kandahar City, when the IED exploded.

The foot patrols are intended to demonstrate to local Afghans that NATO troops have pushed the Taliban out of the area, part of the volatile Panjwaii district that was the scene of fierce fighting in 2006 and 2007.

Col. Simon Hetherington, the deputy commander of Task Force Kandahar, said McKay embodied the spirit of the Canadian soldier.

"He was the type of soldier that Canadians might think of when they think of their army in Afghanistan -- the tough, courageous infantryman, living in austere conditions and doing incredibly difficult work," Hetherington said from the main coalition base at Kandahar Air Field.

"His platoon brothers and friends will remember Kevin, better known as 'Mickey' to his buddies, as a generous man, dependable, with a quick wit and a great sense of humour that was exemplified by his awesome moustache."

Hetherington, speaking on behalf of task force commander Brig.-Gen. Dan Menard, who is on leave, said that McKay was short in stature but not in the estimation of his comrades.

"While not a tall man, he had no difficulty in poking fun and taunting those less vertically challenged platoon mates," Hetherington said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that McKay served Canada valiantly, and deserves the gratitude and respect of his nation.

"Canadians are forever proud and grateful for his service and for the contributions of all our men and women in uniform to this UN-mandated, NATO-led mission."

McKay is the 144th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. Two civilians -- diplomat Glyn Berry and journalist Michelle Lang -- have also died.

McKay's death comes as hundreds gather in Halifax to remember the first Canadian sailor to be killed in the Afghan conflict.

A memorial service will be held for 37-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake, who was killed by an IED on May 3, also in the Panjwaii district.

About 1,000 people are attending the service at 12 Wing Shearwater, a huge aircraft hangar overlooking Halifax harbour.

Blake had 10 years' experience as a clearance diver for the Canadian Forces and was a member of Maritime Forces Atlantic Fleet Diving Unit.
Members of the diving unit carried Blake's remains into the memorial service.

His remains will be placed in the sea at a private ceremony.
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  #6  
Old 14-05-10, 19:54
meduffer meduffer is offline
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Default RIP Pte Kevin McKay

Pte Kevin McKay's dad is a Toronto Fire Services Acting District Chief and a couple of us who sometimes post on MLU have worked with him quite a bit. A good man. I've never met his son but it sure strikes home when you have a connection with one of the fallen.

Mike Snetsinger
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  #7  
Old 17-05-10, 02:28
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John McGillivray John McGillivray is offline
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Cool video on Think Defence about Canadian Armour in Afghanistan

http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/0...n-afghanistan/
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