Four Canadian Soldiers, One Reporter Killed in Bomb Attack Afghanistan

Sergeant George Miok of the 41 Combat Engineer Regiment unit. (Photo courtesy of Fallen Canadians Web site)

Four Canadian soldiers and one Canadian reporter were killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan Wednesday.

The roadside bomb attack on their armoured vehicle occurred during a patrol in Kandahar province, 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Kandahar City Dec. 30.

Four other Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were injured, a Canadian Nation Defense statement said.

“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of our fallen comrades and our prayers go out to the family and friends of our fallen civilian reporter during this sad time, but we are determined to continue working with our Afghan and international partners towards a better future for the people of Afghanistan,” the Canadian Defense statement said.

Those killed are listed on the Fallen Canadians web site, they are: Sergeant George Miok a member of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Edmonton, Alberta and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Sergeant Kirk Taylor a member of 84 Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Corporal Zachery McCormack a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Private Garrett William Chidley a member of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Manitoba and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Michelle Lang, a Canwest journalist for the Calgary Herald, embedded with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan was killed in the same incident, the statement said.

Lang’s death has been a focus in Canadian media. She was the first Canadian reporter killed in Afghanistan and was both respected and well-liked by her fellow journalists.

“I’ve cried Afghan tears before, at the funerals of fallen Calgary soldiers Capt. Nichola Goddard and Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, but it was never like this. Hell, I can barely see the keyboard through the tears,” wrote on co-worker, Robert Remington, also of the Calgary Herald.

Four Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were also seriously wounded in the incident, the statement said. All of the injured were evacuated by helicopter to the Multi-National Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield. The injured soldiers and civilian are reported to be in stable condition.

“Members of Task Force Kandahar are committed to improving security and increasing development in Kandahar Province,” reads the statement.