Four Canadian soldiers
killed and eight injured
in two IED strikes
CEFCOM NR 09.007 -
March 20, 2009
OTTAWA –
Four Canadian soldiers
were killed and eight
were injured in two
separate IED incidents
in Kandahar province.
At approximately 6:45
a.m., Kandahar time, 20
March 2009, two Canadian
soldiers were killed and
five others were injured
when an improvised
explosive device
detonated in the
vicinity of a dismounted
patrol in Zhari
District, west of
Kandahar City.
At approximately 8:45
a.m., Kandahar time, 20
March 2009, two more
Canadian soldiers were
killed and three others
were injured when their
vehicle struck an
improvised explosive
device in Shah Wali Khot
district, north-east of
Kandahar city.
In the first IED
incident, killed in
action was Master
Corporal Scott Francis
Vernelli, from November
Company, 3rd Battalion,
The Royal Canadian
Regiment Battle Group.
Master Corporal Vernelli
is a member of the 3rd
Battalion, The Royal
Canadian Regiment based
at Canadian Forces Base
Petawawa.
Also in the first IED
incident, killed in
action was Corporal
Tyler Crooks, from
November Company, 3rd
Battalion, The Royal
Canadian Regiment Battle
Group. Corporal Tyler
Crooks is a member of
the 1st Battalion, The
Royal Canadian Regiment
based at Canadian Forces
Base Petawawa.
In the second IED
attack, killed in action
was Trooper Jack
Bouthillier, from the
Reconnaissance Squadron,
3rd Battalion, The Royal
Canadian Regiment Battle
Group. Trooper
Bouthillier is a member
of The Royal Canadian
Dragoons based at
Canadian Forces Base
Petawawa.
Also in the second IED
attack, killed in action
was Trooper Corey Joseph
Hayes from the
Reconnaissance Squadron,
3rd Battalion, The Royal
Canadian Regiment Battle
Group. Trooper Hayes is
a member of The Royal
Canadian Dragoons based
at Canadian Forces Base
Petawawa.
The Injured soldiers
were evacuated by
helicopter to the Role 3
Multi-National Medical
Facility at Kandahar
Airfield. They are all
reported to be in good
condition, and their
names will not be
released.
All members of Task
Force Kandahar are
thinking of the family
and friends of our
fallen comrades during
this sad time. We will
not forget their
sacrifice as we continue
to bring security and
hope to the people of
Kandahar Province.
Trooper Jack
Bouthillier
|
Corporal Tyler
Crooks |
Trooper Corey
Joseph Hayes |
Master Corporal
Scott Francis
Vernelli |
Our Fallen Soldiers
Return Home
LFCA MA 09-10 - March
22, 2009
OTTAWA – Our fallen
soldiers, Master
Corporal Scott Francis
Vernelli and Corporal
Tyler Crooks, of The 3rd
Battalion, The Royal
Canadian Regiment, based
at Canadian Forces Base
Petawawa and Trooper
Corey Joseph Hayes and
Trooper Jack Bouthillier
of the Royal Canadian
Dragoons based at
Canadian Forces Base
Petawawa, will return
home to Canada on
Monday, March 23, 2009.
Where:
8 Wing, Canadian Forces
Base Trenton, Ontario.
When:
Monday, March 23, 2009
at 2:00 p.m.
What:
At the wishes of the
families, media will be
permitted on the tarmac.
Present to pay their
respects will be Her
Excellency The Governor
General of Canada, The
Right Honourable
Michaëlle Jean, Minister
of National Defence, The
Honourable Peter MacKay,
Vice Chief of the
Defence Staff,
Vice-Admiral Denis
Rouleau and other
dignitaries.
Master Corporal Vernelli
and Corporal Crooks were
killed and five other
soldiers were injured
when an improvised
explosive device
detonated in the
vicinity of a dismounted
patrol in Zhari
District, west of
Kandahar City at
approximately 6:45 a.m.
Kandahar time on March
20, 2009.
One local national
interpreter was killed
and one was injured in
this attack.
Trooper Hayes and
Trooper Bouthillier were
killed and three other
soldiers were injured
when their vehicle
struck an improvised
explosive device in Shah
Wali Khot District,
north-east of Kandahar
City at approximately
8:45 a.m. Kandahar time
on March 20, 2009.
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