Canadian Military Police Bravery In Afghanistan: A Human Cost

Canada's involvement in the war in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014 resulted in the deaths of 158 Canadian soldiers and 7 civilians. This was Canada's longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War (1950-1953). The conflict resulted in the largest number of Canadian Forces fatalities for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean War.

Canadian military deaths in Afghanistan include Captain Nichola Goddard, the first female soldier to die in combat

The war in Afghanistan (2001-2014) was Canada's longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War (1950-1953). It resulted in the largest number of fatalities for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean War. A total of 159 Canadian Forces personnel and 7 civilians died in the conflict.

Captain Nichola Goddard was the first female Canadian soldier to die in combat. Her death shocked the nation and was widely covered by Canadian news media. Goddard's death challenged the belief held by many Canadians that military combat was a job for men, revealing the commitment, service, and sacrifice of women in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Goddard was born in Papua New Guinea on May 2, 1980, to Canadian and British teachers. She spent the first three and a half years of her life in a rural village on the Trobriand Islands before moving to Canada. By the age of 18, she had lived in seven different communities across Canada. Goddard chose to join the military in her senior year of high school in 1997, attracted by the promise of free education and a guaranteed job after graduation. After graduating from high school, she completed a Basic Officers Training Course and then attended the Royal Military College, graduating with an honours degree in English and bilingual certification. She was posted to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo, Manitoba, and excelled in her training and domestic deployments. She was promoted to captain and deployed to Afghanistan in January 2006.

On May 17, 2006, Goddard was killed during a firefight in the Panjwayi District as part of a joint two-day operation with Canadian and Afghan troops. She was serving as a forward observation officer, responsible for calling in indirect fire from artillery guns and coordinating airstrikes. During the operation, Goddard and her team were ambushed by militants while moving into a mosque. As the commanding officer, Goddard was standing in the turret of her Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV), with her head and shoulders exposed. The vehicle was hit by rocket-propelled grenades, and shrapnel struck Goddard in the back of the head, killing her instantly. She was 26 years old.

Goddard was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Sacrifice Medal. Her memory has been honoured in various ways, including a school, a coast guard ship, a lake, and a charity named after her. The story of Captain Nichola Goddard stands as a testament to the bravery and dedication of Canadian women serving in the military and their invaluable contributions to the nation's armed forces.

The Canadian Virtual War Memorial lists the names of fallen soldiers, including 2002's Christian Joseph Thomas André

The war in Afghanistan was Canada's longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War. The Canadian Virtual War Memorial lists the names of fallen soldiers, including Master Corporal Christian Joseph Thomas André Duchesne, who died on 22 August 2007. André Duchesne was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1972 and was the husband of Gina Bourque and father of Camille, Ariane and Justine Duchesne. He was awarded the Sacrifice Medal posthumously.

The first Canadian casualties in Afghanistan occurred during the Tarnak Farm incident, in which four Canadian soldiers were killed when a United States warplane dropped a bomb on a training exercise. The four servicemen were honoured at a tribute ceremony in Edmonton, Alberta, which included personal messages from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Premier of Alberta and the Premier of Manitoba, and the Mayor of Edmonton.

In total, 158 Canadian soldiers and 7 civilians died during the war in Afghanistan. More than 2,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces were wounded or injured during the war. The first Canadian woman to die in combat was Captain Nichola Goddard, who was killed during operations against insurgents on 17 May 2006.

Canada's role in Afghanistan began in October 2001, when Canadian ships began patrolling the waters off Southwest Asia in support of the international fleet operating there. Canadian soldiers soon followed, with commandos from the elite Joint Task Force 2 arriving in December 2001, followed by other Canadian soldiers in January 2002 who were initially based in Kandahar. Canada's combat role in the country ended in 2011, and the last of its service members left Afghanistan in March 2014.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were the leading cause of Canadian casualties in Afghanistan

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been a significant concern in Afghanistan, causing civilian casualties and posing a grave threat worldwide. Between August 15, 2021, and May 30, 2023, a United Nations report documented 3,774 civilian casualties, with three-quarters resulting from indiscriminate IEDs in populated areas. These included places of worship, schools, and markets. The self-identified Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) carried out most of these attacks, with suicide attacks as the leading cause of IED-related harm.

IEDs are bombs constructed and deployed outside of conventional military action. They are commonly used as roadside bombs or homemade bombs and have been extensively employed by insurgent groups in Afghanistan. IEDs have caused significant casualties among coalition forces, with over 66% of casualties in the 2001–2021 Afghanistan War attributed to these devices. They are designed to cause maximum damage to civilian and military personnel and are among the deadliest terrorist acts.

The use of IEDs in Afghanistan has had severe consequences. They have hindered political, social, and economic development and blocked life-saving humanitarian aid. IEDs have become the primary weapon for non-state armed groups and have caused ten times more civilian casualties than landmines in the country. The impact of these devices extends beyond physical injuries, as they also inflict dire psychological harm and spread fear within affected communities.

The availability of military and commercial explosives, as well as the ease of construction, has contributed to the widespread use of IEDs. Their use in populated areas has increased, with 62% of attacks occurring in such locations. This has restricted the ability of security forces to patrol rural areas and allowed insurgents to establish control over territories.

The nature of IEDs as tools of asymmetric warfare presents challenges in combating their manufacture and use. However, initiatives by governments and international organizations aim to address the issue through improved information sharing, regulation of components, and enhanced training for experts in detection and neutralization.

The first Canadian casualties occurred during a US friendly fire incident

The first Canadian casualties in Afghanistan occurred during a US friendly fire incident on April 17, 2002, near Kandahar. Four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight others were injured when a US warplane dropped a bomb during a training exercise, mistaking the Canadians for enemy soldiers. This incident, known as the Tarnak Farm incident, marked the first combat zone deaths of Canadian soldiers since the Korean War.

The four servicemen who lost their lives were Sergeant Marc Daniel Léger (age 29), Corporal Ainsworth Dyer (age 24), Private Richard Green (age 21), and Private Nathan Lloyd Smith (age 27). The eight injured soldiers included Sergeant Lorne Ford (age 33), Corporal René Paquette (age 33), Corporal Brett Perry (age 26), Private Norman Link (age 24), Corporal Brian Decaire (age 25), Master Corporal Curtis Hollister (age 29), Master Corporal Stan Clark (age 35), and Corporal Shane Brennan (age 28).

The incident had a significant impact in Canada, as it was widely mourned and seen as a turning point in rebuilding public support for the Canadian military, which had declined due to scandals and loss of trust in the 1990s. The event also prepared the nation for the challenges and losses that lay ahead during the lengthy war in Afghanistan.

The US Air National Guard pilots involved in the incident faced charges, with Major Harry Schmidt, the pilot who dropped the bomb, found guilty of dereliction of duty and fined. Schmidt expressed remorse and apologised to the families of those killed and injured, stating that he believed his actions were necessary for self-defence at the time.

Canada's war in Afghanistan lasted from 2001-2014, resulting in 158 soldier deaths and over 2,000 wounded

Canada's war in Afghanistan lasted from 2001 to 2014. The conflict resulted in 158 soldier deaths and over 2,000 wounded. It was Canada's longest war and its first significant combat engagement since the Korean War (1950-1953).

Canada joined an international coalition to destroy the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban regime that harboured it in Afghanistan. This came in response to the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States. Canadian soldiers served alongside American and British troops, fighting to topple the Taliban regime, eliminate terrorist operations, and establish the basis for lasting peace.

The conflict in Afghanistan proved to be a challenging and dangerous mission for Canadian forces. They faced a constant risk of suicide attacks and roadside bombs, with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) causing the most casualties. The volatile Kandahar region was particularly perilous, as Canadian soldiers engaged in open combat against Taliban guerrilla fighters.

Canada's combat role in Afghanistan ended in 2011, but a small contingent of soldiers remained to train the Afghan army and police force until March 2014. The war took a significant toll, with more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers wounded or injured and many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The conflict also resulted in the deaths of seven Canadian civilians.

Canada's involvement in Afghanistan was a costly and controversial engagement that sparked debates about its success and legacy. Despite tactical victories, the overall war effort faced setbacks, and the Taliban remained a persistent threat. The war in Afghanistan highlighted the complexities of counter-insurgency warfare and the need for political solutions to complement military strategies.

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