Canadian soldier found dead at undisclosed Middle Eastern base

[grmpz1]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080705/world/cdn_soldier_killed

By The Canadian Press
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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A Canadian soldier was found dead in the sleeping area of a Middle Eastern military base.

The death of Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey, a military policeman based in Dundurn, Sask., had been declared non-combat-related even before investigators arrived at the base.

The Canadian base in the Arabian desert offers logistical support to the military operation in Afghanistan.

Counting Downey's death on Friday, 86 soldiers and one diplomat have died in the Afghanistan mission. His death is the 11th non-combat fatality.

The location of the base in the Persian Gulf has been previously reported but cannot be revealed under terms of the Canadian Forces embedding agreement for Canadian media.

The Canadian government avoids public mention of the base to keep from drawing attention to its presence.

Downey is the 12th Canadian soldier killed this year in Afghan-related operations.

"No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out," a military statement said.

"Cpl. Downey's immediate family has no comment at this time."

RIP

 

[The Bread Guy]

More details, shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.



Canadian military policeman dies in Persian Gulf
Graham Thomson ,  Canwest News Service, 5 Jul 08
Article link

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Military officials have launched an investigation into the death of a Canadian soldier in the living quarters at Camp Mirage - a base in the Persian Gulf that supports airlifts in and out of Afghanistan.

Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey, a military policeman from the Military Police Detachment in Dundurn, Sask., was discovered dead in an accommodation room.

"An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstance of this incident," said Maj. Jay Janzen. "No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out."

Upon the discovery of Downey's body, the accommodation room was immediately sealed off and officials have been called in from the military's National Investigation Service. They are not ruling out any of the possible causes of death which include foul play, accidental discharge of a weapon, and suicide.

(....)

This is the first death (....) in what is considered to be the safest location for soldiers taking part in Task Force Afghanistan. Camp Mirage is not in the war zone. It is located in a friendly Arab state that does not want to officially acknowledge it is helping a Western power in the Afghanistan conflict.

(....)

Even though Downey did not die in Afghanistan, military officials say he was a supporting member of the mission and he will be honoured with a ramp ceremony in Camp Mirage. His name will be added to the cenotaph at Kandahar Airfield, bringing the total number of Canadian soldiers who have died in the conflict to 86. One diplomat has also been killed.

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[Mike Baker]

RIP Cpl Downey


-Deadpan

 

[R933ex]

RIP Cpl Downey. 
It doesn't matter if its on the battlefield or in a support base your sacrifice is equal and your family must feel your loss tremendously and to the family I wish them strength to recover from this loss

 

[The Bread Guy]

CF Statement:

"At approximately 4:15 a.m. (EST) July 4, a Canadian Forces member was found dead in an accommodation room in the Theatre Support Element compound in the Gulf region.

Deceased is Corporal Brendan Anthony Downey, a Military Policeman from the Military Police Detachment in Dundurn, Saskatchewan.

An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this incident. No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Corporal Downey during this difficult time. Our focus over the next number of days will be to provide the best possible support to the family of our airman and to his colleagues.

Cpl Downey’s immediate family has no comment at this time. They are asking that the media please respect their privacy and they will provide a statement in due course."

 

[Rocketryan]

RIP Cpl Downey 

 

[Eye In The Sky]

RIP

 

[wildman0101]

rip cpl downey.. 
you will not be forgotten.. 
tis a sad day friends,,,
condolences to family,,comrades,, and friends..
in this sad time...
                             
                              scoty b

 

[King Elessar]

RIP Cpl Downey 

 

[fire_guy686]

Rest Easy Cpl Downey.

 

[manhole]

our condolences to the family and friends of Cpl. Downey.

 

[ENGINEERS WIFE]

Canadian soldier leaves behind son, pregnant wife

A Saskatchewan-based soldier who died last week while serving at a military base in the Persian Gulf has been described by his family as a "committed patriot" who joined the Canadian Forces in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The body of Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey was found early Friday in the living quarters of Camp Mirage, a secretive desert base which offers logistical support to Canada's mission in Afghanistan.


Officials have issued few details about Downey's death, but have said it was non-combat-related. Downey was born in Montreal and was a military police officer based in Dundurn, south of Saskatoon.


He leaves behind a pregnant wife, Cpl. Vanessa Downey, and a two-year-old son, Adam.


A statement released by his family on Sunday said he was overjoyed to hear of his wife's recent pregnancy and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.


"Cpl. Downey was a well-respected, extremely proud and tremendously professional member of the Military Police Branch," said Maj. Bob Barrett, commanding officer of the Dundurn detachment, in a news release.


"He was a great Canadian and will be missed dearly by our close-knit family at Detachment Dundurn."


Downey's death is the 11th non-combat fatality of Canada's mission in Afghanistan. Others have included fatal stumbles, suicide, an accidental shooting and traffic accidents.


With files from the Canadian Press

 

[ENGINEERS WIFE]

This is very sad news.  It is never good when something like this happens, especially with such a young family.

RIP Cpl Downey.  I wish the best of luck to his wife and children.

 

[Sheerin]

I knew Brendan several years ago, we both volunteered with St. John Ambulance in Toronto

He was a good man. 

RIP

 

[BernDawg]

RIP