For all the attention that has been given the tragedy of the four Canadian soldiers who died in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan, could we just stop once in a while to also remember Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy, Sgt. Robert Alan Short, and Cpl. Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger ?
True, they didn’t go out at the hands of Americans, so there isn’t any political milage to be gained, but still…
Yes, total tragedy that the Government would give them paper Jeeps in a war zone. There possibly could have been less casualties if they were walking.
Thanks for the reminder. We shouldn’t forget about them. Particularly the two that, had they been in an armored vehicle, may have survived the blast.
Canadian troops from 3PPCLI and American troops from the “Rakashans” fought together. In one action Canadian sniper teams likely saved American lives by taking out Al Qaeda machine gun and mortar positions that were firing on U.S. troops. The American unit wanted to honor the four members of 3PPCLI killed in the friendly fire incident and PPCLI in general.
This was a U.S. unit honoring a Canadian unit that had fought together. It it no way diminishes the sacrifice or bravery of the three Canadian troops who died serving near Kabul with the ISAF.
Bart, I wasn’t dismissing the memorial to the four – it’s just that in this country, they are the only ones we ever hear about. The other three are by and large forgotten.
For those who are interested, the original (and still current) Peacekeepers’ Monument is in Worthington Park at CFB Borden, Ont. It is part of the grave site and memorial to MGen FF Worthington, father of the Royal Canadian Armour Corps.
Pictures of the monument are on Page 8 of the PDF available here: http://www.strathconas.ca/pdf_files/newsletters/lord_strathcona_revised_spr04.pdf
Cheers
JMH
RIP Brothers. You are not forgotten.
AIRBORNE