'Friendly fire' Canadians honored

[Canadian Socialist]

May 23, 2005. 02:47 PM
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (CP) — Four Canadians killed by U.S. friendly fire in Afghanistan were honoured today by American soldiers in a service that left family members in tears.

"This is a brotherhood and this is proof," said a shaken Richard Leger, father of Sgt. Marc Leger, who died on April 18, 2002, when an American fighter pilot mistakenly dropped a bomb on Canadians conducting a military exercise.

"It's a family and we're part of that family."
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http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1116855908391&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

I'm tempted to be snarky and say, "Too little, too late." But if it helps the families of the men murdered, then so be it. YMMV.

[daleo]

1. I guess this is good

I believe Paul Martin has announced that another 1250 or so Canadian troops are headed to Afghanistan. One hopes these five won't be getting company. Bush supporters will still criticize Canada, I imagine.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/17/afghanistan-050517.html

[meganmonkey]

2. kick

for the fallen. :cry:

[NNN0LHI]

3. Army Honors Canadian Soldiers Killed by American Jets in Afghanistan

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBVFQXC39E.html

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - The names of four Canadians killed in an accidental American bombing in Afghanistan were added Monday to a memorial for slain members of the 101st Airborne Division.

Relatives of the soldiers wept during the annual ceremony to remember the more than 400 soldiers of the division's 187th Infantry Regiment that have been killed in battle since World War II. The Canadians were the first non-U.S. soldiers to have a place on the memorial, which reads "Let Valor Never Fail."

"When soldiers fight beside other soldiers, it doesn't matter what nationality, it doesn't matter what race. Soldiers are soldiers. And as soon as they step onto that battlefield, they become family," said Col. Michael Steele, commander of 101st's 3rd Brigade at Fort Campbell.

The Canadians - Cpl. Ainsworthy Dyer, Pvt. Richard Green, Sgt. Marc Leger and Pvt. Nathan Smith - were fighting alongside American forces outside Kandahar in April 2002 when an Illinois National Guard pilot mistook their live-ammunition exercises as a hostile attack and dropped a 500-pound bomb.

[Lisa]

4. I recall that the families of the dead and wounded still wanted an inquiry

A few months after the incident, when the US military decided to award medals to the casualties, some of the family members tried to explain that while they appreciated the gesture, they wanted to know what had happened and how it could be prevented, so that it wouldn't happen to anybody else. Anyone else remember this? Some of the Americans were astounded that the Canadians weren't showing more gratitude, and that it really wasn't their place, or the military way, to keep asking questions like that. Looking at the quotes from the family members, it seems they still wonder what happened, even though some of them have become resigned to it.

Perhaps they have drawn comfort from the ceremony -- who can blame them for trying so hard to see meaning in the loss of their loved ones? Nobody wants to believe that people close to them were killed or maimed for no good reason. But I know that many Canadians still have questions that weren't satisfied by the punishment of the lower-ranking personnel.

[blue northern]

5. These four men served with great honour.

Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer

Pvt. Richard Green

Sgt. Marc Leger

Pvt. Nathan Smith

My heart continues to go out to their respective families.

:cry: