Happy Canada Day!!!
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BOSS
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Yea...what Da Rock said....Rock said:
Oh and Happy Independence Weekend to all the US members too :musical:
No oohs and aahhhs over the "fireworks" for our troops.
V
Canadian troops in Kandahar long for simple things often taken for granted
By John Cotter
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - For thousands of soldiers, celebrating Canada Day in the sweltering emptiness of the Afghanistan desert is at best a wistful experience of compare and contrast.
In the sprawling warren of dusty tents where 2,200 Canadian troops temporarily live, even the everyday things that people at home take for granted are nothing but memories here.
But framed by the bleak international coalition base, they become cherished memories.
"I miss the colours of Canada," says Maj. Sheila MacLean of Petawawa, Ont., a nurse at the base hospital. "The green trees. Flowers. Just colour. This country is too many shades of brown."
The harsh sun bathes everything in a white-hot light in Kandahar. Even the bright reds and blues of proud national flags hang limply in surrender to the bleaching power of its rays.
The military's romance with camouflage doesn't help. The coalition base is a kaleidoscope of khaki. There's British beige, Canadian crud, Dutch drab, French frump, U.S. utility and Romanian rust.
The military has even leached the colour out of the friendly red-white Canadian flags troops wear on their shoulders in favour of a greyish-green version.
The new ones apparently show up better on infrared gunsights to help the troops tell friend from foe at night.
For Cpl. Melanie Goudreaux of Trois-Rivieres, Que., the thing she misses most about Canada is plentiful cold, fresh, healthy drinking water.
Like other coalition soldiers on base, every drop of water Goudreaux has consumed since she arrived in Afghanistan has been poured out of a sealed plastic bottle imported from abroad.
And in plus-45-degree temperatures, the troops go through the half-litre tepid bottles by the pallet-load.
"I miss fresh water," Goudreaux says. "I want to drink water from out of the tap."
The threat of stomach disorders is so acute that soldiers are warned to keep their mouths closed when bathing to avoid getting sick from the non-potable water that sprays from the shower heads.
No brushing teeth with the tap water either.
After five months in country, Master Cpl. Luc Dratschmidt dreams of walking on green grass in the park with his family and friends in Quebec City. And to slowly savour a cold beer.
There is not a blade of grass to be seen on the base. The entire landscape is covered with a thick layer of grey gravel to keep the dust down and soak up the blast of old Soviet-made 107-mm rockets the Taliban occasionally lob into the compound.
"I just want peace. Not to worry about being hit with anything," Dratschmidt said as ever-present helicopters drone overhead. "Just some peace and quiet in my backyard at home."
Enjoying a cold one will also have to wait until he rotates back home this fall, although there are rumours the top brass may issue each soldier with two beers on Canada Day.
Kandahar is a "dry" base out of deference to Muslim laws against drinking alcohol, although enterprising individuals have been known to smuggle the odd bottle of "Old Sandstorm" into the wire for medicinal purposes just in case someone gets bitten by a rabid camel.
Simple everyday rituals are also missed.
"The thing I miss the most is walking down the lane in the evening after work and getting my mail," said, Lt.-Col. John Conrad from Edmonton.
"E-mail just isn't tangible. You just can't anticipate it as much. I love mail."
The old-style military mail-call where a grizzled sergeant shouts out names while handing out Dear John letters to the troops is still a part of army life, but is slowly being eclipsed by e-mail.
The base is hard-wired with what some people call high-speed Internet. It's not unusual to see troops sitting outside their tents at night tapping away in the pale glow of their laptops.
Of course, the one thing everyone misses most about Canada is loved ones.
Spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, moms, dads and kids are always on the minds of the troops here.
A young private in C Company has a laminated picture of his lover taped inside his helmet so he can gaze at her smiling face during breaks in the action when he is out on patrol, the image bolstering his spirit with an extra layer of hope and confidence.
For Capt. Christine Bruce, the one thing she will miss most about Canada while in Afghanistan is celebrating Canada Day with her family.
Every year the Bruce clan gathers together in St. Albert, Alta., on July 1 to oooh and ahhh at the fireworks.
"The whole family goes down with the absolute throngs and crowds of people. It is set on a backdrop of four hills and the fireworks are spectacular," Bruce says with a sigh. "It is family time."
V
Canadian troops in Kandahar long for simple things often taken for granted
By John Cotter
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - For thousands of soldiers, celebrating Canada Day in the sweltering emptiness of the Afghanistan desert is at best a wistful experience of compare and contrast.
In the sprawling warren of dusty tents where 2,200 Canadian troops temporarily live, even the everyday things that people at home take for granted are nothing but memories here.
But framed by the bleak international coalition base, they become cherished memories.
"I miss the colours of Canada," says Maj. Sheila MacLean of Petawawa, Ont., a nurse at the base hospital. "The green trees. Flowers. Just colour. This country is too many shades of brown."
The harsh sun bathes everything in a white-hot light in Kandahar. Even the bright reds and blues of proud national flags hang limply in surrender to the bleaching power of its rays.
The military's romance with camouflage doesn't help. The coalition base is a kaleidoscope of khaki. There's British beige, Canadian crud, Dutch drab, French frump, U.S. utility and Romanian rust.
The military has even leached the colour out of the friendly red-white Canadian flags troops wear on their shoulders in favour of a greyish-green version.
The new ones apparently show up better on infrared gunsights to help the troops tell friend from foe at night.
For Cpl. Melanie Goudreaux of Trois-Rivieres, Que., the thing she misses most about Canada is plentiful cold, fresh, healthy drinking water.
Like other coalition soldiers on base, every drop of water Goudreaux has consumed since she arrived in Afghanistan has been poured out of a sealed plastic bottle imported from abroad.
And in plus-45-degree temperatures, the troops go through the half-litre tepid bottles by the pallet-load.
"I miss fresh water," Goudreaux says. "I want to drink water from out of the tap."
The threat of stomach disorders is so acute that soldiers are warned to keep their mouths closed when bathing to avoid getting sick from the non-potable water that sprays from the shower heads.
No brushing teeth with the tap water either.
After five months in country, Master Cpl. Luc Dratschmidt dreams of walking on green grass in the park with his family and friends in Quebec City. And to slowly savour a cold beer.
There is not a blade of grass to be seen on the base. The entire landscape is covered with a thick layer of grey gravel to keep the dust down and soak up the blast of old Soviet-made 107-mm rockets the Taliban occasionally lob into the compound.
"I just want peace. Not to worry about being hit with anything," Dratschmidt said as ever-present helicopters drone overhead. "Just some peace and quiet in my backyard at home."
Enjoying a cold one will also have to wait until he rotates back home this fall, although there are rumours the top brass may issue each soldier with two beers on Canada Day.
Kandahar is a "dry" base out of deference to Muslim laws against drinking alcohol, although enterprising individuals have been known to smuggle the odd bottle of "Old Sandstorm" into the wire for medicinal purposes just in case someone gets bitten by a rabid camel.
Simple everyday rituals are also missed.
"The thing I miss the most is walking down the lane in the evening after work and getting my mail," said, Lt.-Col. John Conrad from Edmonton.
"E-mail just isn't tangible. You just can't anticipate it as much. I love mail."
The old-style military mail-call where a grizzled sergeant shouts out names while handing out Dear John letters to the troops is still a part of army life, but is slowly being eclipsed by e-mail.
The base is hard-wired with what some people call high-speed Internet. It's not unusual to see troops sitting outside their tents at night tapping away in the pale glow of their laptops.
Of course, the one thing everyone misses most about Canada is loved ones.
Spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, moms, dads and kids are always on the minds of the troops here.
A young private in C Company has a laminated picture of his lover taped inside his helmet so he can gaze at her smiling face during breaks in the action when he is out on patrol, the image bolstering his spirit with an extra layer of hope and confidence.
For Capt. Christine Bruce, the one thing she will miss most about Canada while in Afghanistan is celebrating Canada Day with her family.
Every year the Bruce clan gathers together in St. Albert, Alta., on July 1 to oooh and ahhh at the fireworks.
"The whole family goes down with the absolute throngs and crowds of people. It is set on a backdrop of four hills and the fireworks are spectacular," Bruce says with a sigh. "It is family time."
Speaking of our troops , the Royal Newfoundland Regiment returned to Beaumont Hamel in France for remembrance services held for the battle of the Somme , 801 Newfoundlanders went over the top July 1, 1916, next morning we had 68 at roll call, first time the regiment has been back in 90 years . Give these poor souls a thought while you enjoy your weekend , if it wasn't for them we might not be enjoying it now.
If anything, our soldiers can now have fresh Tim Hortons coffee, bagels and donuts, a little taste of home. As of yesterday, Tim Horton was open to all troops in Kandahar.
Gigi
Gigi
Canadian troops don't let Taliban rocket attack ruin their Canada Day break
Sat Jul 01, 12:15 PM EST
By John Cotter
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - With barbecued burgers, beer and big smiles, troops of the Princess Patricia's battle group refused to allow a Taliban rocket attack to ruin their Canada Day.
Only hours after the rocket exploded in a tent complex on the Kandahar base, wounding 10 people including two of their own, Canadian soldiers were making the most of their one-day holiday under a roasting 55-degree C sun.
Troops put away their grimy combat uniforms for awhile and donned shorts, T-shirts and red Canada ball caps. One woman walked around draped in a Canadian flag.
Rifles and machine-guns were set aside as makeshift teams squared off to play volleyball in the desert sand and take part in a 10-kilometre charity run for the Children's Wish Foundation.
"Everyone is coming out to enjoy this. Last night's events were unfortunate. The attack ruined our sleep a little bit, but that is not going to ruin our day," said Master Cpl. Murray Clark of Morinville, Alta.
"It's Canada Day; we're going to have a good time."
Some people just chilled out in the shade with friends. Other jammed call centres to phone loved ones at home.
The rocket attack wounded two Canadian soldiers, one critically, as well as five American troops and three civilian employees.
One Canadian, Master Bombardier Bounyarat Tanaphon Makthepharak of 30 Field Regiment Ottawa, was to be flown to hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, for more extensive medical care along with one American soldier.
The others received minor wounds.
It wasn't rest-relaxation for all of the 2,300 Canadian troops Saturday in southern Afghanistan.
As their comrades were having fun, troops from B Company, 1 Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, crawled into their armoured vehicles and rolled outside the wire on patrol for Taliban.
Inside the base hospital, Sgt. Kevin Colwill, Makthepharak's section leader, spent Canada Day watching over his wounded buddy.
It was hard to see his friend lying sedated in bed with intravenous lines running out from his battered body.
"He couldn't hear me. I still had a chance to see him and say what I had to say," said Colwill, a reservist with the Brockville Rifles.
"Our hopes and prayers are with him. But everyone's chins are up. We realize we still have five months here on our tour. We want to do our jobs like Mac would want us to do."
The Canadian troops refused to be intimidated by the explosion.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the Canadian commander of the multinational brigade, drew cheers from hundreds of soldiers as he cut the ribbon on the new Tim Hortons franchise on base.
Fraser was clearly moved by the spirit of his troops.
"The Taliban have under-estimated the will and the determination of Canadians and the international community here," he said. "Rocket attacks are not going to take away from what we are doing."
Throughout the day construction workers toiled in the heat to tear down the tents that were shredded with shrapnel and stained with blood from the rocket explosion .
At the same time, crews of soldiers were laying out tables and chairs for a barbecue within site of the disaster.
Troops and base employees hung strings of Canadian flags and red balloons on the walls of tents and trailers, red the only cheerful colour among all the dust and khaki.
Metal tubs were filled with ice and glistening cans of beer. Hamburgers and sausages sizzled on charcoal grills.
Hundreds of troops cheerfully socialized together like a giant outdoor kitchen party as the East Coast band Great Big Sea blared from giant speakers.
Canada Day was great fun for most of the troops, but on Sunday it will be back to reality as more soldiers head back outside the wire.
The Taliban rocket attack was just par for the course, said Cpl. Sean Kay of Edmonton.
"Today it is two cold ones and time to relax," Kay said. "Every day we are out there we are exposed to even more dangerous things."
Sat Jul 01, 12:15 PM EST
By John Cotter
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - With barbecued burgers, beer and big smiles, troops of the Princess Patricia's battle group refused to allow a Taliban rocket attack to ruin their Canada Day.
Only hours after the rocket exploded in a tent complex on the Kandahar base, wounding 10 people including two of their own, Canadian soldiers were making the most of their one-day holiday under a roasting 55-degree C sun.
Troops put away their grimy combat uniforms for awhile and donned shorts, T-shirts and red Canada ball caps. One woman walked around draped in a Canadian flag.
Rifles and machine-guns were set aside as makeshift teams squared off to play volleyball in the desert sand and take part in a 10-kilometre charity run for the Children's Wish Foundation.
"Everyone is coming out to enjoy this. Last night's events were unfortunate. The attack ruined our sleep a little bit, but that is not going to ruin our day," said Master Cpl. Murray Clark of Morinville, Alta.
"It's Canada Day; we're going to have a good time."
Some people just chilled out in the shade with friends. Other jammed call centres to phone loved ones at home.
The rocket attack wounded two Canadian soldiers, one critically, as well as five American troops and three civilian employees.
One Canadian, Master Bombardier Bounyarat Tanaphon Makthepharak of 30 Field Regiment Ottawa, was to be flown to hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, for more extensive medical care along with one American soldier.
The others received minor wounds.
It wasn't rest-relaxation for all of the 2,300 Canadian troops Saturday in southern Afghanistan.
As their comrades were having fun, troops from B Company, 1 Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, crawled into their armoured vehicles and rolled outside the wire on patrol for Taliban.
Inside the base hospital, Sgt. Kevin Colwill, Makthepharak's section leader, spent Canada Day watching over his wounded buddy.
It was hard to see his friend lying sedated in bed with intravenous lines running out from his battered body.
"He couldn't hear me. I still had a chance to see him and say what I had to say," said Colwill, a reservist with the Brockville Rifles.
"Our hopes and prayers are with him. But everyone's chins are up. We realize we still have five months here on our tour. We want to do our jobs like Mac would want us to do."
The Canadian troops refused to be intimidated by the explosion.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the Canadian commander of the multinational brigade, drew cheers from hundreds of soldiers as he cut the ribbon on the new Tim Hortons franchise on base.
Fraser was clearly moved by the spirit of his troops.
"The Taliban have under-estimated the will and the determination of Canadians and the international community here," he said. "Rocket attacks are not going to take away from what we are doing."
Throughout the day construction workers toiled in the heat to tear down the tents that were shredded with shrapnel and stained with blood from the rocket explosion .
At the same time, crews of soldiers were laying out tables and chairs for a barbecue within site of the disaster.
Troops and base employees hung strings of Canadian flags and red balloons on the walls of tents and trailers, red the only cheerful colour among all the dust and khaki.
Metal tubs were filled with ice and glistening cans of beer. Hamburgers and sausages sizzled on charcoal grills.
Hundreds of troops cheerfully socialized together like a giant outdoor kitchen party as the East Coast band Great Big Sea blared from giant speakers.
Canada Day was great fun for most of the troops, but on Sunday it will be back to reality as more soldiers head back outside the wire.
The Taliban rocket attack was just par for the course, said Cpl. Sean Kay of Edmonton.
"Today it is two cold ones and time to relax," Kay said. "Every day we are out there we are exposed to even more dangerous things."
Yes they were , but would there be that many today who would have the faith in our institutions governing us to place their lives in those hands? `Victoria said:
Audra
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