Dead soldier's dad seeks answers
Told virtually nothing seven months after apparent accidental shooting
Mon Mar 12 2007 By Alison Auld
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HALIFAX -- The Winnipeg father of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan seven months ago in an apparent accidental shooting says the military has told the family virtually nothing about his death, leaving them frustrated and pleading with Defence officials for details.
Up until this past January, Ben Walsh knew only that his son, Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, had been killed when a gun went off during a routine patrol somewhere outside Kandahar on Aug. 9.
The father of three young children was based at Canadian Forces Base Shilo near Brandon.
Walsh said he repeatedly asked military officials probing the case to answer questions that tormented the family in the weeks after they were told of the death.
In particular, Walsh wanted to know three things: if his son had been shot twice, as he had heard; whether he was in or outside the vehicle; and whether the shot came from outside his military jeep.
For each query, the military's National Investigation Service, which was looking into the incident, said they could not reveal any more information.
"They have no concern about the families of fallen soldiers," Walsh said in an interview.
"They don't know how to deal with the families. It's terrible I have to bang on doors to get information, even (to) tell me that my son is dead. They should be treating families, especially grieving families, with a little bit of compassion and concern and they're not."
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Told virtually nothing seven months after apparent accidental shooting
Mon Mar 12 2007 By Alison Auld
Article Link
HALIFAX -- The Winnipeg father of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan seven months ago in an apparent accidental shooting says the military has told the family virtually nothing about his death, leaving them frustrated and pleading with Defence officials for details.
Up until this past January, Ben Walsh knew only that his son, Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, had been killed when a gun went off during a routine patrol somewhere outside Kandahar on Aug. 9.
The father of three young children was based at Canadian Forces Base Shilo near Brandon.
Walsh said he repeatedly asked military officials probing the case to answer questions that tormented the family in the weeks after they were told of the death.
In particular, Walsh wanted to know three things: if his son had been shot twice, as he had heard; whether he was in or outside the vehicle; and whether the shot came from outside his military jeep.
For each query, the military's National Investigation Service, which was looking into the incident, said they could not reveal any more information.
"They have no concern about the families of fallen soldiers," Walsh said in an interview.
"They don't know how to deal with the families. It's terrible I have to bang on doors to get information, even (to) tell me that my son is dead. They should be treating families, especially grieving families, with a little bit of compassion and concern and they're not."
More on link