2 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | September 7, 2009 at 02:54 am

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Major Yannick Pepin, 36, and Corporal Jean-Francois Drouin, 21, members of 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, Valcartier, Quebec are the 128th and 129th Canadian in killed in Afghanistan.

Major Pepin and Corporal Drouin became the victims of a roadside bomb while five others received various injuries.

The two were travelling in their armoured vehicle on road in Dand district southwest of Khandahar City.

"Today, the entire task force is mourning our fallen comrades," Lacroix said, with the cenotaph marking each of Canada's fallen soldiers clearly visible in the background. "Saying goodbye to Yannick and Jean-Francois so prematurely is hard for me, it is hard for their friends, and it's hard for their families."

He said the military's engineers "put in a great deal of effort in Afghanistan where they're denying the ability of the insurgents to kill innocent victims on a large scale or simply reconstructing a bridge, roads, schools with their Afghan partners."

Two more Canadian soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb explosion Sunday in southern Afghanistan, the military said.

Since 2002, 129 Canadian soldiers now have been killed serving in the Afghanistan mission. One Canadian diplomat and two aid workers have also died in action.

The latest victims were identified as Maj. Yannick Pepin, 36, and Cpl. Jean-Francois Drouin, 21, who were killed around noon local time. Both were members of the 5 Combat Engineer Regiment and were stationed in Valcartier, Que.

Five others were injured. The two soldiers were riding in an armoured vehicle as part of a military convoy travelling on a road in the Dand district southwest of Kandahar city.

Deputy task force commander Col. Roch Lacroix said both men embodied "patience and determination."

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Amitjha

at 03:23 on September 7th, 2009

What Canada will gain in this whole mission?

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 03:42 on September 7th, 2009

Amitjha, I guess we were hopeful that we could assist in providing a better life to the Afghanistan people. Soldiers quoted building of schools, educating women as progress being made there.

The whole mission started as a resolve to drive Al Quaeida out of Afghanistan and quickly turned into a battle with the Taliban. This is really the subject of another article and post.

Thanks for recommending and commenting.

Amitjha

at 03:54 on September 7th, 2009

We don't learn from history, This zone is in turmoil since time immemorial so how many sacrifices.

Well the question was GAIN? What is exactly in the mind Cnadian government? Geoplitical gain or just tail of American Diplomacy?

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 03:58 on September 7th, 2009

Initially it was a commitment to support the "War on Terror". Canada is a member of NATO and such fulfilled it's commitment as a member state. The Canadian Parliament has voted to end its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2011.

Regarding just a tail of American Diplomacy, I think that is a little unfair. Canada refused carte blanche to participate in the action in Iraq.

Amitjha

at 04:03 on September 7th, 2009

"NATO" on peace mission..........BIG ideological shift? It has got a pseudonym, "north American terror outfit"

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:08 on September 7th, 2009

Thanks for you opinion Amitjha.

Barry ORegan

at 05:00 on September 7th, 2009

That certainly sucks to see my regiment in the news, when a loss of 2 soldiers get killed trying to help those who are unable to help themselves. Friggin Tragic,I hope they find the bastards and take em out big time.

Rory Cripps

at 05:35 on September 7th, 2009

Thanks for this story ACP. I agree with Barry. I'm deeply sorry to hear about the loss of these two Canadian soldiers.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:40 on September 7th, 2009

I think they were within two weeks of coming home.

Rory Cripps

at 06:01 on September 7th, 2009

From what I understand, that short time stuff is no cakewalk.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:34 on September 7th, 2009

That's normally the worst time. Soldiers focus on going home. In this case they go to Cyprus now to decompress. I guess that has caused some problems too with alcohol abuse. But what do you expect when u don't let a guy have a beer once in a while to decompress in theatre.

Rory Cripps

at 07:20 on September 7th, 2009

ACP: I sure as hell wouldn't sign up if I knew that I wasn't allowed to drink beer! JEEZ! What has the military come to? HA! I can understand it though. Some of the straightest guys I knew turned into pot heads in Vietnam.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:25 on September 7th, 2009

Yep people have to unwind somehow. But even political correctness has crept into the armed services.

lounsbury

at 06:52 on September 7th, 2009

My deepest condolences for Canada and the families of Canada's fallen heroes.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:21 on September 7th, 2009

Thank you lounsbury, this is very personal for both myself and Barry Artist. He served in the R22eR (Vandoos) and I served in the Airborne Regiment and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. I also am an Operator Analyst at the Canadian Maneouvre Training Centre that put this Battle Group through pre-deployment training. Thank you for your comments.