Sgt.'s Miok & Taylor, Cpl. McCormack, Pte. Chidley and Michelle Lang-Dec 30/09

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Private Chidley was a member of this forum and has been added to the Fallen list.

 

[wildman0101]

rest in peace soldiers (salute)
michelle rest in peace (salute)
you will not be forgotten (canada flag)
a true canadian daughter who had the moxie
to report on world events... forever in our hearts
when things conclude on gods events
we will see you all again
condolences to family,,,comrades,friends
with tears in my eyes we will meet again
              scoty b

 

[The Bread Guy]

President Karzai Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Khost and Kandahar

Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that killed foreign civilian and military personnel in the provinces of Khost and Kandahar.

Reports indicate that eight American non-military citizens were killed and several others were wounded in a suicide bombing at their base in the southeastern province of Khost.

Separately, four Canadian soldiers and a Canadian journalist were killed after a roadside bomb blast hit a military convoy in the southern Kandahar province.

President Karzai shares the grief and extends prayers and deepest condolences to families and friends of the victims and to the people of the United States and Canada and emphasizes that, “Your sons and daughters have lost their lives for protecting the Afghan people and the humanity against the threat of terrorism. Afghans will never forget your sacrifices.”

The President also offers heartfelt condolences to the families and to the Canadian media community on the death of Michelle Lang, the Canadian journalist, who was among those killed in Kandahar.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from CanWest:

As thousands of soldiers saluted and a lone piper played a sad lament on New Year's Day, the flag-draped caskets of journalist Michelle Lang and four Canadian soldiers were solemnly borne to C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to begin the 10,000 kilometre journey back to Canada.

( .... )

It was an usually warm and sunny winter's day, as the caravan of five Canadian armoured vehicles crept silently across the tarmac to a point from which 8 pallbearers carried each of the caskets.

Lang's casket was followed by those of the soldiers, whose berets were laid on the top alongside the Sacrifice Medals that they were awarded posthumously.

Lang's pallbearers were four soldiers from the military's Public Affairs branch, two public affairs officers from the department of Foreign Affairs and a sergeant from U.S. military public affairs who is attached to the Canadians because several thousand American troops serve under Canadian command in Kandahar.

Other pallbearers were from the units that those soldiers who died had served with.

There was a private memorial service before the ramp ceremony in the small park by the Canadian task force headquarters where a marble monument carries an etched image of those who have fallen in Canada's first major military conflict since the Korean War.

During that informal gathering, Lang's casket was adorned with her photo, a black scarf and a note pad and pencil that was a poignant tribute to her craft ....

 

[Loachman]

Heroic journalist became the story

Reporters used to covering others doing brave things

By JOE WARMINGTON

The Toronto Sun   

She wouldn't have wanted all of the attention.

In fact Michelle Lang was in Afghanistan to document the bravery of the troops.

The fact is she was also brave. The fallen Canwest journalist died representing something her killers don't understand -- freedom.

She was free to write what she saw and was gutsy enough to go right into the heart of the danger zone to get it.

She knew that dying herself, or covering others who did, was part of the risk.

She was doing her job and, as fellow embedded reporter in Afghanistan Colin Perkel of The Canadian Press said, she did it very well.

That is what she would be most proud of.

Her death is no more tragic than all who die in war. But it does represent just how dangerous it is for real reporters and their quest to tell the real story.

I already admired the heck out of her for having the courage to be there.

My colleague, Tamara Cherry, was a friend of hers and told me what a special person she was.

TOOK RISKS

It takes a special person to be a reporter who would take those kinds of risks to tell a story. Reporters are not heroes but people who cover them.

The classiest and perhaps most appropriate gesture of the kind of respect the troops had for her is that they want her to receive the same repatriation ceremony that the soldiers she was covering will receive.

"That's the way we look at it," said Capt. Wayne Johnston, who as repatriation officer had one of the most difficult jobs not only in the military but anywhere.

The information he has is that her family will be offered the courtesy of her remains being escorted with the troops when they return home, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday but subject to change.

It's the right thing to do in this unique circumstance.

She was embedded with the troops on this patrol mission and subsequently becomes part of the mission.

It's the troops themselves who make you feel this way. They really are special -- as I have experienced myself while covering HMCS Iroquois and Regina in the Persian Gulf.

It's an amazing experience.

But at all times we as reporters realize we are that. It's the men and women in uniform who are the story.

Still, whether she would think so or not, Michelle's death is a major news story. She's the first Canadian journalist killed in the Afghan conflict.

OTHER DEAD

But I am sure she would want me to say it -- she's no more a story than the others killed on this mission:

- Sgt. George Miok, 28, of Edmonton.

- Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, of Yarmouth, N.S.

- Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, of Edmonton.

- Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21, of Cambridge.

They are all brave Canadians.

I suspect Sunday, if all goes according to the preliminary plans and she is in a fifth hearse in the procession on the Highway of Heroes, there will be huge numbers out to pay their respects.

The people are always out there anyway. Same goes for on Grenville St. at the last turn into the coroner's building.

This time Canadians will be saying thanks for both the soldiers who provide freedom of speech and a reporter who was not afraid and was prepared to die to ensure it.

It would be nice if journalists could put together a memorial to one of our own and perhaps that might happen.

But I suspect Michelle's legacy will be the fact that the men and women she was covering had so much respect for her that they flew home together to a country grateful, appreciative and supportive of their sacrifice.

 

[40below]

I was wondering how the CF would handle Lang's repatriation as she was not military, nor a representative of the federal government as Glyn Berry was. It's actually quite touching and appropriate that PAOs would carry her casket.

 

[fire_guy686]

Rest Easy. 

 

[NL_engineer]

RIP troops

CHIMO

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Media Advisory
Fallen Canadian Soldiers And Journalist Return Home
LFCA MA 10-01 - January 2, 2010

OTTAWA – Our fallen comrades, Sergeant George Miok of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Edmonton, Alberta; Sergeant Kirk Taylor of 84 Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; Corporal Zachery McCormack of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (Fourth Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), based in Edmonton, Alberta; Private Garrett William Chidley of The Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta; and Michelle Lang, a Canwest journalist from Calgary, Alberta, embedded with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, return home to Canada tomorrow.

Where:  8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When:  Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
What:  At the request of the families, media will be permitted on the tarmac.

Present to pay their respects will be Her Excellency The Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter MacKay, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Robert Fonberg, Chief of Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk and other dignitaries.

All were killed, and four other Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official injured in an improvised explosive device attack on an armoured vehicle during a patrol 4 kilometres south of Kandahar City on Wednesday, December 30, at approximately 4:00 pm Kandahar time.

-30-

Note to Editors/News Directors:
Interested media may contact Captain Mark Peebles, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Public Affairs Officer, who can be reached at (613) 392-2811, ext. 2041, or mobile 613-243-6358, or at: peebles.m@forces.gc.ca

For general queries, please contact the Media Liaison Office at 1-866-377-0811 or 613-996-2353. For flight information, please contact the Air Passenger Terminal at 1-800-487-1186.

 

[gaspasser]

Again, I will do my part to make the ramp ready for thier arrival tomorrow. 

Stand Down Lads and Lassie.  You've done your duty for Freedom.  :yellow:

 

[FutureMP101]

I had the privilege to have Sgt Miok as an instructor on my BMQ course. He was a great man and an awsome leader. May he and his comrades rest in peace.

 

[RadicalJack]

Bravo Loachman, you have so eloquently phrased what i had wanted to say.My heart felt tears and prayers for all the families involved. 

 

[armyvern]

Watching the Repatriation Ceremony in Trenton; a glum, snowy and dreary day marking another sad occasion for our Fallen - brightened by the hounour, dignity & respect being shown to Them. May their families find comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones gave their lives voluntarily in service to their Country while working diligently to better the lives of others less fortunate.

 

[brandon_]

watching the ramp ceremoney now, very sad. RIP soldiers & journelist.v

 

[Armynewsguy]

A cold windy wintry day greeted our fallen comrades today as they arrived at CFB Trenton.

Highway 2 and RCAF Road were packed with many shivering people waiting to show their support to the families of the deceased.

For those of you who have never had the honour of viewing a repatriation it is truly an amazing and emotional experience. One cannot help but feel for the families and friends of the fallen, but when they go past in their long line of black limos and they take the time to roll down a window, wave and mouth the words thank you to those along the roadway it really does break your heart.

Here are a few pictures from today's repat for those who could not join us along the Highway of Heroes

Armynewsguy

 

[mariomike]

Arrival at the Coroner's Office:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3DlX-JCdGE

 

[leroi]

A cold windy wintry day greeted our fallen comrades today as they arrived at CFB Trenton.

Highway 2 and RCAF Road were packed with many shivering people waiting to show their support to the families of the deceased.

For those of you who have never had the honour of viewing a repatriation it is truly an amazing and emotional experience. One cannot help but feel for the families and friends of the fallen, but when they go past in their long line of black limos and they take the time to roll down a window, wave and mouth the words thank you to those along the roadway it really does break your heart.

Here are a few pictures from today's repat for those who could not join us along the Highway of Heroes

Armynewsguy

Nice photos.

Agree ... I attended at the Coroner's Office in TO ... it is heartbreaking!

There was a very large crowd of supporters in Toronto today--people from all walks of life with hearts full of grief.

 

[colt]

i too was there and was touched by the amount of people that came out to show there support.It honestly gives me a renewed sence of pride to head back after my leave is up and to get on with the rest of my training.

 

[pbi]

I was originally against this whole public repatriation thing.


Today, having attended ten ramp ceremonies in Trenton and one in KAF, I am a huge believer. It is a struggle to see the pain and deep grief of these average, everyday Canadians as they greet their loved ones' caskets, but our struggle as observers is nothing compared to what these families face, or the ultimate risk faced by the dead a few days before.

The display of public support in Trenton and all along the Highway of Heroes truly must be seen to be believed. Even in big bad T.O., which we like to imagine as a hive of indifference or anti-militarism, the demonstrations of support are very touching.

As the PPCLI regional representative for Ontario, I had the chance to write letters of thanks to all of the police, fire and EMS services from Trenton to Toronto who come out so faithfully to mark the way and honour the fallen and their families each time we lose a soldier. Particular amongst these are the various volunteer fire depts whose members must take time off their normal daily civilian occupations to take part. What touched me very deeply were several of the replies we received from various service Chiefs: these men strongly believed that it was their duty to be present along the Highway. They saw a sort of comradeship in sharing in the moment. It was very reassuring to read these words.

We have come a very, very long way in Canada from the days when the country paid little or no attention to its soldiers, living or dead. This change of heart began before Afghanistan started, but that war has had a huge effect on how our fellow citizens see us (or the fact that they see us at all). Younger soldiers serving today probably see this support as normal: I hope we never forget that it isn't normal, and isn't automatically permanent.

Cheers

 

[mariomike]

The City of Toronto always provides an official Honour Guard at the Coroner's Office. There are always high ranking Chiefs on scene, and the arrival of each family is taken very seriously. When we get to shake hands with the soldier escorts, with sand still on their boots, and sometimes on crutches,...it's difficult not to become emotional. Because you realize that in a very short period of time that they themselves will be back in the war zone.