Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan
In December 2003, PPCLI snipers Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale, Master Corporal Tim McMeekin, Corporal Dennis Eason, Corporal Rob Furlong and Master Corporal Arron Perry were awarded the Bronze Star by the U.S. Army for their actions in combat during Operation Anaconda, March 2–11, 2002.
On October 27, 2006, Sergeant Patrick Tower of the PPCLI became the first ever recipient of the Canadian Star of Military Valour. It came as a result of actions on August 3, 2006, where he assumed command of his platoon under fire, and escorted them to safety.
Sergeant Michael Thomas Victor Denine, PPCLI, was awarded the Medal of Military Valour for his actions as part of Operation Archer. On May 17, 2006, though under intense rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire, Sergeant Denine exited a light armoured vehicle and manned the pintle-mounted machine gun. In spite of being completely exposed to enemy fire, Sergeant Denine laid down such a volume of suppressive fire that he forced the enemy to withdraw.
On May 24, 2006, while under intense enemy fire, Master Corporal Collin Ryan Fitzgerald, PPCLI, entered and re-entered a burning platoon vehicle, driving it off the roadway and allowing the other vehicles trapped in the enemy's kill zone to break free, for which he was awarded the Medal of Military Valour.
On July 13, during Operation Archer Private Jason Lamont, PPCLI, ran across open ground through concentrated enemy fire in order to deliver first aid to a wounded comrade, for which he was also awarded the Medal of Military Valour .
Major William Hilton Fletcher, PPCLI, received the Star of Military Valour [8]. He was recognized for demonstrating extraordinary bravery during his service in Afghanistan from January to August 2006. He repeatedly exposed himself to intense fire while leading C Company, 1 PPCLI Battle Group, on foot, to assault heavily defended enemy positions.
Captain Derek Prohar, PPCLI, received the Medal of Military Valour. Assigned as liaison officer with the U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan during the battle at Sperwan Ghar, from September 5 to 12, 2006, Captain Prohar operated as the rear machine gunner on the battalion commander's vehicle. He was wounded by an improvised explosive device during an intense enemy ambush. Despite his injuries, he continued returning fire and assisted the commander with the control of the attack, which resulted in the successful seizing of key terrain.
Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Chris Hasler, a Canadian, was invested with the Distinguished Flying Cross personally by Queen Elizabeth II on 23 May 2007 for flying resupply missions under fire in Chinook helicopters in Afghanistan in 2006. He is the first Canadian to be decorated for bravery in the air since the Korean War.[9]
At the end of 2006, every Canadian soldier was selected by the Canadian Press as the Canadian Newsmaker of the Year due to the war in Afghanistan.[10]
[
Other missions
- Canada has assisted in the collection, storage and decommissioning of 10,000 heavy weapons left in Afghanistan including artillery, tanks and rocket launchers, used in decades of conflict in the country.[4]
- Canada has helped clear about one third of the estimated 10 to 15 million mines in Afghanistan.[4]
- Canada has loaned money to over 140,000 people in Afghanistan.[4]
- Canada has helped train the Afghan police and army.[4][11]
[
Fatalities
As of June 8, 2008, the Canadian forces have suffered 85 reported fatalities involving its soldiers in Afghanistan and one senior Foreign Affairs officer. Canada has suffered the third highest number of combat casualties of any nation in the Allied Force.[12]
[
Bases
[
Diplomatic ties
On January 25, 2002, Canada officially re-established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. This was followed by the opening of Canada's embassy in Kabul in September 2003. Canada's current serving representative is Ambassador Arif Z. Lalani.
[
Records
Corporal Rob Furlong, PPCLI, (Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan) holds the record for the longest recorded and confirmed sniper kill at 2,430 metres (1.51 miles) using a .50 calibre (12.7 mm) McMillan TAC-50 rifle.[5]
[
References
- ^ Canadian government website
- ^ acdi-cida website
- ^ CTV news.
- ^ a b c d e f CBC News.
- ^ More soldiers, tanks necessary to fight Taliban: Ottawa
- ^ Canada wants NATO help in Afghanistan - USATODAY.com
- ^ NDP website
- ^ Government House, "Military Valour Decorations," Canada Gazette, 24 Feb 2007, URL accessed 26 Mar 2008.
- ^ CBC news, The Journal, 23 May 2007 also CTV news story
- ^ Bill Graveland, "Canadian Soldier chosen as Newsmaker of 2006," Canadian Press, December 25, 2006, URL accessed 2 January 2007.
- ^ Canoe news article about Canadian training of Afghan forces
- ^ Coalition Military Fatalities as of April 4, 2008
[
See also
 |
| Military history of Canada: Wars since Confederation |
| Boer War |
| First World War |
| Russian Civil War |
| Spanish Civil War |
| Second World War |
| Korean War |
| Cold War |
| Vietnam War |
| Invasion of Afghanistan |
| Iraq War |
- War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- Afghanistan War order of battle
- Britain's role in the 2001-present Afghan war
- International Security Assistance Force
- Operation Altair
- Operation Apollo
- Operation Archer
- Operation Athena
- Operation Medusa
- Provincial Reconstruction Team
- Afghanada
[
External links
- Canada in Afghanistan: Military & Development Roles | Mapleleafweb.com
- Rebuilding Afghanistan
- Canadian American Strategic Review
- Peace Operations Monitor- Afghanistan
- MILNEWS.ca Canada in Kandahar News Page, MILNEWS.ca Background Information
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
For more information review our copyright contact and privacy policy.