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RIP Pte Graham our thoughts and prayers are with you, your loved ones and comrades and all those of the wounded. Get well soon to them
Pte. Mark Anthony Graham 1 RCR - 04 Sept 06
- Thread starter McG
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:'( Heaven needed another guardian to protect it.
C
Chewie
Guest
To the dead RIP, you will be remembered. To the injured get well soon you are missed.- Reaction score
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com//servlet/story/RTGAM.20060904.wgraham0905/BNStory/Front
Friendly fire claims former Olympic athlete
ALEX DOBROTA AND OMAR EL AKKAD
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
World-class runner and former Olympian Mark Anthony Graham was killed in Afghanistan yesterday, mistakenly hit by fire from a U.S. warplane.
"This is really sad news for his family and for the Olympic family as well," said Tim Bethune, who used to train with and compete against Private Graham, a sprinter who competed for Canada as part of the 4x400-metre relay team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He described the soldier as bright, determined and a hard worker. "He was a very tough competitor. You had to be at your very best to beat him," Mr. Bethune said.
"If anyone was not at their best, they'd suffer at the hands of Mark."
Related to this article
Private Mark Anthony Graham is seen in an undated Department of National Defence photo. (CP)
John Cannon, who was Pte. Graham's track coach during the early 1990s, described Pte. Graham as a formidable athlete plagued by a series of injuries.
"He also had a lot of problems with his hamstring but he had other problems that kept him from reaching his potential," said Mr. Cannon, a coach for the Calgary International Track Club. "I think he went to the military to . . . represent his country as opposed to being a runner and represent his country that way."
Pte. Graham, who was 33, won two silver medals during the 1993 and 1994 Canadian Track and Field Championships, but quit athletics in 1994, Mr. Cannon said.
Pte. Graham was the oldest of three brothers, one of whom has also joined the military. He leaves behind a young daughter.
His family gathered in their small Hamilton bungalow to mourn yesterday and asked for privacy.
"They're in a fog and just weeping," Rev. George Horton, of Hamilton's Stewart Memorial Church, told The Canadian Press. Pte. Graham's father has been a long-time parishioner and trustee at the church.
"They are still in shock."
It has been a bloody weekend for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Four other Canadian soldiers were killed in clashes Sunday with Taliban fighters. The identity of two of those soldiers was released Sunday. One remained unidentified at the family's request, but the military yesterday revealed the name of a third, Sergeant Shane Stachnik.
Sgt. Stachnik had proposed to his partner five months before boarding a plane to Afghanistan. She said yes, but they didn't get the chance to set the wedding date.
Struggling yesterday to come to terms with her fiancé's death, Darcy Mitton and the soldier's friends described him as a quiet man, a loving partner and a proud soldier.
"He was such a strong and sweet man," Ms. Mitton wrote in a statement. "He had strong morals, values, ethics and they showed in everything he did."
The couple had put off discussing a wedding date until February, when Sgt. Stachnik was scheduled to end the six-month tour of duty that he began three weeks ago.
He was planning to return home in October for a short leave to see Ms. Mitton. "We were just looking forward to seeing each other," she said through sobs in a telephone interview. Sgt. Stachnik joined the Canadian Forces in the 1990s. In 1997, he helped fight the Winnipeg flood that forced thousands from their homes. "He said it was times like this when it was worth serving your country," Ms. Mitton wrote.
The sergeant was a member of the 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont. He was driven by a strong desire to help others, his family and friends said yesterday.
Sgt. Stachnik completed at least two other tours of duty overseas, including a stint in Sri Lanka, where he brought relief to survivors of the 2004 tsunamis as a member of Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team.
One soldier recalled time spent with the sergeant in Sri Lanka. "He was a very quiet man," said the soldier, who didn't want his name used. "He liked to keep to himself."
But in a tense situation, while they were in territory held by Tamil separatist rebels, and when a little levity was needed, Sgt. Stachnik was the first to crack a joke, the soldier recalled.
"You're out there, you're unarmed and guys get a little bit worried," the soldier said. "He would try to lighten the mood."
On more than one occasion, he also displayed ingenuity and a knack for solving problems, the soldier said. He remembered how Sgt. Stachnik managed to free a truck stuck in mud when time was of the essence for the Canadian convoy trying to reach communities battered by the tsunamis.
Sgt. Stachnik used the truck's motorized loading arm to put the vehicle's cargo -- a machine used to purify water -- onto the muddy road. He then pushed the arm on the load to move the vehicle out of the mud.
"He was definitely a handyman," the soldier said.
Sgt. Stachnik was based at Petawawa but lived in Chalk River, a town north of the military base. His friend from Sri Lanka said he liked living in the country.
One of his neighbours remembered how Sgt. Stachnik was often milling about his garage, working on a truck, lawn mower or motorcycle, and that he enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson.
He was "the nicest guy I've ever met," said Doug Donnelly. "As soon as I would call him here, he would be coming over and having a beer."
Mr. Donnelly was still in shock yesterday about Sgt. Stachnik's death. "I can't believe that."
Deadly mission
The five deaths this weekend are the most sustained by Canada in a 24-hour period since troops first arrived in Afghanistan in early 2002. Since then, 33 Canadians -- one diplomat and 32 soldiers -- have died, 25 of them since Canadians moved into southern Afghanistan in force early this year.
Friendly fire claims former Olympic athlete
ALEX DOBROTA AND OMAR EL AKKAD
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
World-class runner and former Olympian Mark Anthony Graham was killed in Afghanistan yesterday, mistakenly hit by fire from a U.S. warplane.
"This is really sad news for his family and for the Olympic family as well," said Tim Bethune, who used to train with and compete against Private Graham, a sprinter who competed for Canada as part of the 4x400-metre relay team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He described the soldier as bright, determined and a hard worker. "He was a very tough competitor. You had to be at your very best to beat him," Mr. Bethune said.
"If anyone was not at their best, they'd suffer at the hands of Mark."
Related to this article
Private Mark Anthony Graham is seen in an undated Department of National Defence photo. (CP)
John Cannon, who was Pte. Graham's track coach during the early 1990s, described Pte. Graham as a formidable athlete plagued by a series of injuries.
"He also had a lot of problems with his hamstring but he had other problems that kept him from reaching his potential," said Mr. Cannon, a coach for the Calgary International Track Club. "I think he went to the military to . . . represent his country as opposed to being a runner and represent his country that way."
Pte. Graham, who was 33, won two silver medals during the 1993 and 1994 Canadian Track and Field Championships, but quit athletics in 1994, Mr. Cannon said.
Pte. Graham was the oldest of three brothers, one of whom has also joined the military. He leaves behind a young daughter.
His family gathered in their small Hamilton bungalow to mourn yesterday and asked for privacy.
"They're in a fog and just weeping," Rev. George Horton, of Hamilton's Stewart Memorial Church, told The Canadian Press. Pte. Graham's father has been a long-time parishioner and trustee at the church.
"They are still in shock."
It has been a bloody weekend for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Four other Canadian soldiers were killed in clashes Sunday with Taliban fighters. The identity of two of those soldiers was released Sunday. One remained unidentified at the family's request, but the military yesterday revealed the name of a third, Sergeant Shane Stachnik.
Sgt. Stachnik had proposed to his partner five months before boarding a plane to Afghanistan. She said yes, but they didn't get the chance to set the wedding date.
Struggling yesterday to come to terms with her fiancé's death, Darcy Mitton and the soldier's friends described him as a quiet man, a loving partner and a proud soldier.
"He was such a strong and sweet man," Ms. Mitton wrote in a statement. "He had strong morals, values, ethics and they showed in everything he did."
The couple had put off discussing a wedding date until February, when Sgt. Stachnik was scheduled to end the six-month tour of duty that he began three weeks ago.
He was planning to return home in October for a short leave to see Ms. Mitton. "We were just looking forward to seeing each other," she said through sobs in a telephone interview. Sgt. Stachnik joined the Canadian Forces in the 1990s. In 1997, he helped fight the Winnipeg flood that forced thousands from their homes. "He said it was times like this when it was worth serving your country," Ms. Mitton wrote.
The sergeant was a member of the 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont. He was driven by a strong desire to help others, his family and friends said yesterday.
Sgt. Stachnik completed at least two other tours of duty overseas, including a stint in Sri Lanka, where he brought relief to survivors of the 2004 tsunamis as a member of Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team.
One soldier recalled time spent with the sergeant in Sri Lanka. "He was a very quiet man," said the soldier, who didn't want his name used. "He liked to keep to himself."
But in a tense situation, while they were in territory held by Tamil separatist rebels, and when a little levity was needed, Sgt. Stachnik was the first to crack a joke, the soldier recalled.
"You're out there, you're unarmed and guys get a little bit worried," the soldier said. "He would try to lighten the mood."
On more than one occasion, he also displayed ingenuity and a knack for solving problems, the soldier said. He remembered how Sgt. Stachnik managed to free a truck stuck in mud when time was of the essence for the Canadian convoy trying to reach communities battered by the tsunamis.
Sgt. Stachnik used the truck's motorized loading arm to put the vehicle's cargo -- a machine used to purify water -- onto the muddy road. He then pushed the arm on the load to move the vehicle out of the mud.
"He was definitely a handyman," the soldier said.
Sgt. Stachnik was based at Petawawa but lived in Chalk River, a town north of the military base. His friend from Sri Lanka said he liked living in the country.
One of his neighbours remembered how Sgt. Stachnik was often milling about his garage, working on a truck, lawn mower or motorcycle, and that he enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson.
He was "the nicest guy I've ever met," said Doug Donnelly. "As soon as I would call him here, he would be coming over and having a beer."
Mr. Donnelly was still in shock yesterday about Sgt. Stachnik's death. "I can't believe that."
Deadly mission
The five deaths this weekend are the most sustained by Canada in a 24-hour period since troops first arrived in Afghanistan in early 2002. Since then, 33 Canadians -- one diplomat and 32 soldiers -- have died, 25 of them since Canadians moved into southern Afghanistan in force early this year.
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My Heart is very heavy today, even with my unit all home i still know someone there that died. Mark and I went to the same HS back in Hamilton, played football and ran track together, I knew he wanted to join because everytime i went home to Hamilton he would ask me about the Army. RIP my Brother!
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RIP and Speedy Recovery
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in the papers this morning..............
Pilot fears U.S. hasn't learned friendly-fire lesson
Retired major faced criminal charges in deaths of four Canadians in 2002
As investigators probe the friendly fire incident in Afghanistan that killed a Canadian soldier Monday, Major Umbagh a fighter pilot involved in a similar tragedy in 2002 says he fears that the U.S. air force may have never properly addressed the communication problems ................
Pilot fears U.S. hasn't learned friendly-fire lesson
Retired major faced criminal charges in deaths of four Canadians in 2002
As investigators probe the friendly fire incident in Afghanistan that killed a Canadian soldier Monday, Major Umbagh a fighter pilot involved in a similar tragedy in 2002 says he fears that the U.S. air force may have never properly addressed the communication problems ................
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Of all people, he should know when to STFU until all the facts are known.
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From a fella sitting on the outside, looking in, he's probably looking to show how lousy the USAF is doing it's job, show that he got a bum deal & possibly launch an appeal.
He doesn't have to prove he's right at this (or any) time.... he just has to insinuate that they're wrong.
He doesn't have to prove he's right at this (or any) time.... he just has to insinuate that they're wrong.
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http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2048
Statement
Private Mark Anthony Graham's Family Issues Statement
September 6, 2006
The family of Mark Graham was devastated to learn of his death in Afghanistan. Mark joined the Canadian Forces in 2004 and was posted to Afghanistan in August 2006.
Mark was a fierce, competitive athlete and a personable friend, son, brother and father. Mark enjoyed a successful career in track and field starting at Chedoke Middle School and on into Sir Allan McNab High School. He attended the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, running in the 4 x 400 relay - running the fastest leg of the Canadian Team. Mark attended university in the United States and returned to work in the fitness industry.
Mark inspired many people by his enthusiasm.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends at a later date.
Please respect the family's request for privacy during their time of grief.
Albert, Linda, Jason and Daniel Graham.
- 30 -
Note to editors: For media queries, please contact family spokesperson Bill Dilesser at (905) 387-5861
Statement
Private Mark Anthony Graham's Family Issues Statement
September 6, 2006
The family of Mark Graham was devastated to learn of his death in Afghanistan. Mark joined the Canadian Forces in 2004 and was posted to Afghanistan in August 2006.
Mark was a fierce, competitive athlete and a personable friend, son, brother and father. Mark enjoyed a successful career in track and field starting at Chedoke Middle School and on into Sir Allan McNab High School. He attended the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, running in the 4 x 400 relay - running the fastest leg of the Canadian Team. Mark attended university in the United States and returned to work in the fitness industry.
Mark inspired many people by his enthusiasm.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends at a later date.
Please respect the family's request for privacy during their time of grief.
Albert, Linda, Jason and Daniel Graham.
- 30 -
Note to editors: For media queries, please contact family spokesperson Bill Dilesser at (905) 387-5861
- Reaction score
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From Forces.gc.ca
Media Advisory
Memorial Service for Fallen Soldiers
MA- 019.06 - September 7, 2006
CFB PETAWAWA, Ont. - A Memorial Service for Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, Warrant Officer Richard Nolan, Private Mark Graham and Private William Cushley of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment and Sergeant Shane Stachnik of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment will be held Friday, September 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in building Y-101.
To maintain the dignity of the Memorial Service we ask that a media pool be arranged. All media are asked to arrive no later than 10:00 a.m. at the front gate parking lot, from where they will be escorted to the Memorial Service.
Media will be located at the back of the room and will not be allowed movement during the Memorial Service. To respect the family and military members grieving through this difficult time, no interviews will be granted. Media inside the Memorial Service will be restricted to a designated area.
Media wishing to attend should wear appropriate attire for a Memorial Service.
- 30 -
Note to the editors: Please ensure that you have coordinated and picked a representative to be inside the Memorial Service. Space will allow for one camera crew, one print and one radio.
For more information please contact 2nd Lieut. Krzysztof Stachura, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer, at (613) 687-5511 extension 6351, or (613) 639-9107 (cell).
Media Advisory
Memorial Service for Fallen Soldiers
MA- 019.06 - September 7, 2006
CFB PETAWAWA, Ont. - A Memorial Service for Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, Warrant Officer Richard Nolan, Private Mark Graham and Private William Cushley of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment and Sergeant Shane Stachnik of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment will be held Friday, September 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in building Y-101.
To maintain the dignity of the Memorial Service we ask that a media pool be arranged. All media are asked to arrive no later than 10:00 a.m. at the front gate parking lot, from where they will be escorted to the Memorial Service.
Media will be located at the back of the room and will not be allowed movement during the Memorial Service. To respect the family and military members grieving through this difficult time, no interviews will be granted. Media inside the Memorial Service will be restricted to a designated area.
Media wishing to attend should wear appropriate attire for a Memorial Service.
- 30 -
Note to the editors: Please ensure that you have coordinated and picked a representative to be inside the Memorial Service. Space will allow for one camera crew, one print and one radio.
For more information please contact 2nd Lieut. Krzysztof Stachura, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer, at (613) 687-5511 extension 6351, or (613) 639-9107 (cell).
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http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060908/soldier_memorial_060908/20060908?hub=TopStories
Memorial at CFB Petawawa honours fallen soldiers
Updated Fri. Sep. 8 2006 11:08 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Throws an interesting spin.
Memorial at CFB Petawawa honours fallen soldiers
Updated Fri. Sep. 8 2006 11:08 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Throws an interesting spin.
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