Just saying - because it needs saying...

English/Anglais
AR2006-G020-013
05 Sept 2006
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Canadian soldiers pay tribute to fallen comrades, WO Frank Mellish, WO Richard Nolan, Sgt Shane Stachnik and Pte Mark Graham during a Ramp Ceremony held at the Kandahar Air Field.

Task Force Afghanistan is part of Canada’s contribution to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. This mission is about Canadians and their international partners helping Afghans rebuild their lives, their families, their communities and their nation. Canadian operations will work to improve the quality of life of Afghans by providing a secure environment in which Afghan society can recover from more than 25 years of conflict.

The Canadian Forces (CF) contribution in Afghanistan comprises about 2,000 soldiers, most of whom serve with Task Force Afghanistan at Kandahar Airfield and Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City. Additional personnel are assigned to Kabul, various military headquarters, and civilian organizations.

Photo by: Sgt Lou Penney
TFA OP ATHENA
Imagery Technician

Damian, speaking at The Torch, sends us to Bruce, at Flit, who has an interesting analysis of who is paying the price in the GWOT. You should go visit both sites, for the comments are instructive, and I'll not snatch and publish Bruce's figures here, you should go look yourself - why? As Bruce notes:

I suspect most Americans would not reflexively rate Canada, Bulgaria, and the pusillanimous Spanish as their greatest allies after Britain. I do wish they'd start.

Bruce isn't speaking to me, this being the most Canadian-flavored US milblog I'm aware of - but I rather suspect he's right. Though... I'll still give the Spanish government a pass.

A commenter at Damian's notes:

cynical joe said... You make a good point about guarding against boasting about death totals, but I do wish some American commentators would stop mentioning how great an ally Australia is without at least mentioning our larger role and larger sacrifice. Of course I mean no disrespect to our Australian allies and friends just an awareness that Canada is doing its share and more.

Word.

Private Graham we've already mentioned here..

Let's put some more faces to some recent names.

Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ontario was killed on September 3, 2006 fighting against Taliban insurgents approximately 15 km west of Kandahar City. Warrant Officer Mellish’s unit was part of Operation MEDUSA, a significant combined effort between the Afghan National Security Forces, Canada and our other NATO partners in the International Security Assistance Force aimed at removing armed militants from the Panjwayi and Zhari district region so that displaced villagers can return to their homes and re-establish their livelihoods without living in constant fear of the Taliban.
Le 3 septembre 2006, l’adjudant Frank Robert Mellish, membre du 1st Bataillon du Royal Canadian Regiment basé à Petawa en Ontario, a perdu la vie dans les combats contre les insurgés talibans qui se sont déroulés à environ 15 km à l’ouest de la ville de Kandahar. L’unité de l’adjudant Mellish participait à l’opération MEDUSA, une opération d’envergure entre les forces afghanes de sécurité nationale, le Canada et autres partenaires de l’OTAN qui font partie de la Force internationale d’assistance à la sécurité, qui visait à chasser les militants armés de la région des districts de Panjwayi et Zhari, afin que les villageois déplacés retournent chez eux et refassent leurs vies sans avoir constamment peur des Talibans.

Sergeant Shane Stachnik, a member of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ontario was killed on September 3, 2006 fighting against Taliban insurgents approximately 15 km west of Kandahar City. Sergeant Stachnik’s unit was part of Operation MEDUSA, a significant combined effort between the Afghan National Security Forces, Canada and our other NATO partners in the International Security Assistance Force aimed at removing armed militants from the Panjwayi and Zhari district region so that displaced villagers can return to their homes and re-establish their livelihoods without living in constant fear of the Taliban. Le Sergent Shane Stachnik, un membre du 2e Régiment de génie de combat, basé à Petawawa, Ontario, fut tué le 3 septembre 2006, pendant un engagement contre des insurgés Talibans à environ 15 km à l’ouest de Kandahar. L’unité du Sergent Stachnik faisait parti de l’opération MEDUSA, une opération de stabilisation à grande échelle de la FIAS visant à chasser les militants armés de la région des districts de Panjwayi et Zhari pour que les villageois déplacés poussent retourner chez eux et reprendre leurs vies sans craindre constamment les Talibans.

Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ontario was killed on September 3, 2006 fighting against Taliban insurgents approximately 15 km west of Kandahar City. Warrant Officer Nolan’s unit was part of Operation MEDUSA, a significant combined effort between the Afghan National Security Forces, Canada and our other NATO partners in the International Security Assistance Force aimed at removing armed militants from the Panjwayi and Zhari district region so that displaced villagers can return to their homes and re-establish their livelihoods without living in constant fear of the Taliban. Le 3 septembre 2006, l’adjudant Richard Francis Nolan, membre du 1st Battalion du Royal Canadian Regiment basé à Petawa en Ontario, a perdu la vie dans les combats contre les insurgés talibans qui se sont déroulés à environ 15 km à l’ouest de la ville de Kandahar. L’unité de l’adjudant Nolan participait à l’opération MEDUSA, une opération d’envergure entre les forces afghanes de sécurité nationale, le Canada et autres partenaires de l’OTAN qui font partie de la Force internationale d’assistance à la sécurité, qui visait à chasser les militants armés de la région des districts de Panjwayi et Zhari, afin que les villageois déplacés retournent chez eux et refassent leurs vies sans avoir constamment peur des Talibans.

Private William Jonathan James Cushley, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ontario was killed on September 3, 2006 fighting against Taliban insurgents approximately 15 km west of Kandahar City. Private Cushley’s unit was part of Operation MEDUSA, a significant combined effort between the Afghan National Security Forces, Canada and our other NATO partners in the International Security Assistance Force aimed at removing armed militants from the Panjwayi and Zhari district region so that displaced villagers can return to their homes and re-establish their livelihoods without living in constant fear of the Taliban.
Le Soldat William Jonathan James Cushley, un membre du 1er Bataillon, The Royal Canadian Regiment, basé à Petawawa, Ontario, fut tué le 3 setempbre 2006, au cours de combats contre des insurgés talibans à environ 15 km à l’ouest de Kandahar. L’unité du Soldat Cushley faisait parti de l’opération MEDUSA, une opération de stabilisation à grande échelle de la FIAS visant à chasser les militants armés de la région des districts de Panjwayi et Zhari pour que les villageois déplacés poussent retourner chez eux et reprendre leurs vies sans craindre constamment les Talibans. Photo Sgt Ron Hartlen

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.