In a candid New Year's eve talk with Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan, Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson told troops they are making a difference by "doing what's right."

Clarkson, on a four-day visit to Afghanistan, stopped by the smaller of the Canadian Forces bases in Afghanistan on Wednesday, telling troops at Camp Warehouse they are similar to bravery award recipients.

"People do the most unbelievable things to save somebody else's life ... somebody that they're passing on the highway," explained the governor general.

"Until those things happen you don't know how you're going to react, and that's true in your case as well," Clarkson told the soldiers.

Clarkson, who is travelling with husband John Ralston Saul, is in Afghanistan to boost morale among the soldiers who are a large part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Reporting from Canadian Forces' New Year's celebrations in Kabul, CTV's Matt McClure said the mood was very upbeat. The troops with cheered their commander-in-chief as she helped them count down to midnight, he said from a crowded mess tent at Camp Julien.

Earlier in the evening, the bar was doing a brisk business as soldiers cheered Canada to victory at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

"A lot of them, of course, are missing their families at the holiday season and the ones I talked to today said, 'Listen, we understood this was part of the job we would be away from our families at times like these," McClure said.

Major General Andrew Leslie told CTV News it's all part of the job.

"It's always an emotional drag to be away from loved ones... but as most of the soldiers -- if not all of them - - will tell you, they're doing great work over here keeping people alive. Holding the line against those who want to prey on the innocent citizens of Kabul and the environs."

Earlier, during a stop by a luncheon table in an army tent, Clarkson reflected on why Canadians are so good at peacekeeping missions.

"It's for the idea that you really think that something you did once was important," Clarkson said. "You're not in a superior position to the people who live here, who've lived through a quarter-century of war.

"You are part of them because you are part of the human race. As Canadians, I think we are very conscious of how we do that."

There are 2,000 Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Their job, as part of the multi-country ISAF, is to provide stability and security for Afghanistan's civilian government.

Matt McClure told CTV Newsnet that mission is continuing, even as many celebrate the New Year.

"In fact Major General Leslie, the Canadian commander, told me he was heading on the night parole with an armored vehicle group... headed to the mountains and trying to keep the city safe."

On Tuesday, the first day of her trip, Clarkson paid tribute to the six Canadian soldiers who died while serving in Afghanistan.

"There are losses when you are keeping peace, and we think of Sgt. Robert Short and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger," she said.

In October, Sgt. Short and Corp. Beerenfenger, were killed when their unarmoured vehicle hit a landmine as they conducted a routine patrol outside Kabul.

"We also think of the four who were killed at Kandahar in friendly fire."

In April 2002, a U.S. pilot mistakenly dropped a bomb on soldiers in training, killing four and wounding eight.