Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan

As the fighting intensified on the battlefields of Afghanistan, Canada lost another Canadian soldier during a military operation in Khandahar. Private Sebastien Courcy is the fifth Canadian to be killed in Afghanistan in the space of one month.

CTV News Channel: Retired Col. Michel Drapeau on the changing mission

The influx of U.S. NATO soldiers has changed the nature of the Afghan mission from a defensive mission to an offensive one, Drapeau said. This makes the mission more dangerous but is resulting in more Taliban deaths as well.

CTV Toronto: Soldier killed in combat operation

July has been a deadly month for Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Pte. Sebastien Courcy died during an operation in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.

CTV News Channel: Mercedes Stephenson, analyst

Winning the loyalty of the Afghan people is difficult because they've been threatened by the Taliban, Stephenson said. Once NATO leaves, the Taliban has promised to return making co-operation with foreign forces difficult. The latest NATO push has taken forces into new territories are the Taliban are reacting violently.

CTV News Channel: The Canadian Press' Dene Moore at Kandahar base

A correspondent for The Canadian Press gives details surrounding the death from the Canadian base in Kandahar.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Jul. 16 2009 8:23 PM ET

Another Canadian soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, making July the deadliest month ever for coalition troops in the country.

Pte. Sebastien Courcy died Thursday during a counterinsurgency mission in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.

Reporting from the Canadian base at Kandahar, Dene Moore of the Canadian Press told CTV News Channel the circumstances surrounding Courcy's death were unusual.

"He fell from his position, it was a high position on a cliff. He fell and was killed," Moore said, "there were no other soldiers injured."

It is not clear whether Courcy was involved in a firefight at the time.

Courcy, 26, was a member of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment, also known as the Van Doos.

Courcy was described as a "fine soldier" by his commander Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance.

"Sebastien gave his life for Canada. Such is the price soldiers must sometimes pay to honour their obligation to their country and to the missions set before them," Vance said during a news conference.

Vance said Courcy arrived in Afghanistan in April.

"Rest in peace Sebastien. We will remember you," Vance said in a traditional farewell to a fallen soldier.

Courcy is survived by his mother, Ginette, and his sister Julie.

His death brings to 125 the number of Canadian soldiers who have died as part of the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

It also makes July the deadliest month on record for coalition forces in Afghanistan since the war began 8 years ago.

There have been at least 47 deaths among NATO nations this month, including five Canadian deaths.

Cpl. Nick Bulger was killed July 3 by a roadside bomb, Master Cpl. Pat Audet and Cpl. Martin Joannette were killed July 6 in a helicopter crash, and Master Cpl. Charles-Phillippe Michaud died July 4 from injuries suffered during a foot patrol in June.

Audet's funeral was held today at CFB Valcartier, where he served as a member of 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Canadian Soldier.
said

May you rest in peace, You payed the worst price of us all. I will miss seeing you around. On courses, In class's. In mornings. I pray for you and your family. For the rest of your troop I pray, that they can push on and think of you everynight. The next time I step out on the ground Ill think of you, and say a prayer.
May angels welcome you in open arms, for you have done more then you no
. .
Canadian soldier.

Val
said

My condolances to the family. They have sacrificed greatly for what most of us take for granted, day by day.

If the powers that be, ever try to remove my freedoms, I would stand gladly, beside Sebastien, defending the cause.

judy t
said

We care, thank you.

Surrey Daniel
said

RIP Pte Courcy and my deepest condolences to the family.

Please do not say whether or not you support our actions in Afghanistan, that is not relevent when these stories come out and is often just disrespectful to the deceased soldier who just gave his life doing what he loves.

It is not the job of a civilian to understand why a soldier does the job that we do, we just do it with pride and honour.

Mac
said

My condolences to the family. RIP, brother of arms. Your mission is not over, nor will ours in remembering you and everyone that has given themselves to the protection of rights, happiness, and freedom (pasted or yet to come) of living in a country that everyone is not treated equal and has to fear what comes in the night. We sign the dotted line to protect those who can�t do so or don�t have the skills do so, but sometimes that line takes us far from home and our love ones. The sadness that we have for our love ones is sometimes replaced with the happiness of those we help. It brings a smile to their face and then to ours in a mission well done. Those who don�t believe in our missions should really go there or other parts of the world to see for themselves the way people have to live, and just for a moment in time, imagine that it was them or their young children living that way. Once again, Pte. Sebastien Courcy, you can stand down, you are homeward bound now to celebrate your life with your family and the rest of the CF, with all the great things you have done with it.

gerald
said

..sad..but a few kids live to see tommorw....

soldier's mom N.L.
said

Another Hero pays the ultimate price. Thank-you for your work and your sacrifice. God bless you and your family. R.I.P.

Retired in NB
said

Repose en paix mon frere tu es un vrai hero. Mes condonliences et mes prieres vont a la famille et a tous ses amis et vous etes dans nos penses.

ADM Saskatchewan
said

My condolances to the family! I know many do not agree but I will be glad once all our brave Canadians are back safe and sound.

Ann
said

Condolences to the family of Pte. Courcy. Be proud of your son for choosing to do what he thought was the right thing. Another fine young Canadian will be forever remembered for making the ultimate sacrifice. You and he will be in our prayers.

Jean Pierre in North saanich BC
said

Another Canadian HERO
RIP

We must all write the Canadian Government and National Defence in Ottawa and request that a monument be build in Ottawa to all those who have served and left us!!!!!
A nice one where separate plaques can be place for each who have left us.

GOD BLESS
OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN

A Peacekeeping Veteran and Father of a serving service man

Bev McMullan-Kungl
said

So sad...so very sad. My son is one year younger than this young man and my heart aches for his parents and family.

Kim in Oshawa
said

The Highway of Heroes will, unfortunately, have another soldier travel its' route. We will salute as you pass. R.I.P.

Filled with sadness
said

My heart goes out the Family and Friends of Pte Sebastien Courcy.

God Bless you and your family and you can now rest in peace amongst your brothers in arms.

Please pray that all our sons (including mine), daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters who are overthere serving and honoring their country, and us Canadians, come back home safely.

Carlos-Montreal
said

RIP and my condolences to his family and friends. My hearts shrinks every time I hear a Canadian soldier has died specially, when they are so young. I admire them and will be forever grateful for their sacrifices.

Rob
said

RIP Brother in Arms.

marlene-Peterborough
said

My condolences to his family.R.I.P.

Joanne Ware
said

My thoughts and prayers are with Sebastien's family, friends and comrades. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Rob in NB
said

Pte Sebastien, your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Rest in Peace, buddy.

Rick
said

"We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us."

RIP Soldier

steve sand
said

as a former canadian soldier i feel for him and my thoughts and prays are with the family welcome home pte.

Steven
said

Repose en paix ! tu as fais ton devoir avec honneur !

Je me souviens

Capt Usher
said

Pte Courcy,
Your sacrifice was not in vain. My prayers are with you and your family. Stand Down Soldier you are coming home. God Bless.

Gaston Soucy
said

Mes condol�ances � la famille Courcy; si jeune. Mes pens�es et pri�res pour toute la famille, que Dieu vous viennent en aide afin de passer au travers cette �preuve.

Je me souvien

Mark Bossi
said

"� They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. �"
(For the Fallen - By Laurence Binyon - Originally published in The Times on 21 September 1914.)

Sherry Katrina
said

All our thoughts and prayers go to Pte Courcy's Mother and sister - as well as his buddies who knew him so well. RIP Bro...

Ex-RAF
said

We join all thinking Canadians to offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Pvte. Courcy. We add also our heartfelt thanks to him and his comrades for their ongoing commitment to Freedom and Democracy and the defence of all we hold so dear in this country.

Rest in Peace Comrade, and may God hold your family in his arms during their grief.

Toune
said

RIP Brave Soldier - Thank you for all your sacrifices, God bless your efforts.

Larry I Ontario
said

We MUST get out now. Mr. Harper, how many more mustget killed in a war we will never win? Every time there is a death my heart bleeds for these young men. GET OUT NOW!!

Paul from Saskatoon
said

To those of you asking, "what are we doing there?". A simple search of the Canadian government site dedicated to the Afghan mission, (I'd include the link here if CTV allowed) would clearly show you the goals of the mission, the benchmarks, the legal status, and just about anything you want to know. By asking, "what are we doing there?" you demonstrate incredible ignorance and a lack of being able to carry out basic internet research. Before you blurb, please educate yourself and save your condemnations of this mission for an appropriate time ... this is a time to remember a fallen soldier who believed in what he was doing. There is no greater insult you can give a soldier, than to treat him/her like a victim or a felon.

Elias Nasrallah
said

They help us, they protect us, they fight for our freedom. To the men and women of our Canadian Military: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You make us proud.

Pte. Sebastien Courcy, rest well. You deserve a good rest in the heavens for all your hard work that you have done for our Country and for the world. I salute you Private Courcy.

Baloch N
said

I hope :

1- the casuality stop as soon as possible.

2- canada find some ways fight against IED

3-PUSH THE AFGHANS FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT AND FAIR NESS TREAT OF THEIR OWN CITIZENS BASED OF HUMAN RIGTHS AND DEMOCRACY to reduce the casualities and get more publid supports...

4-manage to take the war out of boarders of afghanistan.

Sarge
said

REPATRIATION ROW

We Will
Never Forget
Your Ultimate
Sacrifice

Stand Down
Soldier
You Are Now
Homeward Bound.

RIP

Rod
said

Re: Don Fierro.

I completely disagree that other countries value the lives of their people more than we do. If we didn't value the lives of our soldiers, then the Canadian government would not have spent billions of dollars to upgrade their equipment so they could be safer on the ground.

The politicians of these other countries value their political careers more than world peace and stability.

R.I.P Pte. Sebastien Courcy

Righteous: Afghanistan Vet
said

Rest in peace brother, your with friends now.

Ex Coelis
said

"You've never lived until you've nearly died. For those who have fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the Protected will never know"(author unknown). My deepest condolences to Private Courcy's family and my profoundest thanks to Private Courcy for your sacrifice.

Repos doucement, mon ami. Repos doucement... Voyez-vous le matin.

David in NB
said

to gar:
I salute your service in Korea, but I also remind you that *that* war isn't over: the fighting stopped due to an amistice, but the Koreas are still, officially, at war. In fact, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continues to make the news almost daily due to its policies.
Wars take time, and as we see so unfortunately today, lives. Pte Courcy is the latest to lay down his or her life in the name of Canada. Irrespective if they died at the hands of the enemy, or by accident, they all served with honour.

RIP

Sarah Paige
said

RIP Private, your one of Canada's heros. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thoughts and prayer with your family and brothers in arms

Toune
said

RIP Brave Soldier and Thank you for all your sacrifices

Terry & Joan Maloney
said

We grieve for you Sebastien. Our Prayers fo out to your family, for they will surely miss you.

Another Canadian Hero. God Bless Him.

MCpl In Ottawa
said

Dormez bien mon ami, vous avez gagn�

Don Fierro
said

WWI; WWII; Korea; Vietnam;
Desert Storm; Afghanistan...

How many lives have Canadians given for world peace?

How many more until our politicians realize that enough is enough?

How many could have been saved if our NATO "allies" that do not allow their soldiers to go to the frontlines, would have done so to help our soldiers?

It seems to me that politicians in other countries value the lives of their people more than ours do.

Chris in Kingston
said

For all of you anti-war types... remember that he could have just as easily fallen off a cliff in Canada on a training exercise. He died doing a job he wanted to do, and probably had a great time doing it.

Rest in Peace, Sebastien!

Shawn, Ottawa
said

How can some of you people give a thumbs down to the comments about prayers and condolences to this great man and his family. You make me sick.

Dav e
said

My condolences to Pte Courcy's family and Regiment. Je me souviens.

Henry Kahrs
said

For the life of me I can not understand what we are doing over there. We are spending ourself silly for what the moment we leave it will be back to the old way. Al we are doing is raising a big morgage on our country and having our joung boys killed I say get out now

Moment of Truth
said

Its a lesson for Canada not to follow thru with whatever the US says. Thanks God we had a brainer like Chr�tien & we didn't go to Iraq, otherwise we would have vanished !

Sandra from Montreal
said

It is always sad to hear of a fellow Canadian being killed.

My prayers go out to his family and comrades.

R.I.P.

Greg from Port Hope
said

Port Hope will be there to welcome you home brother.

Our thoughts, prayers and support are with your family.

Dont start the bad poetry yet again.
said

Mourn for the next Canadians you will have killed for the TAPI pipeline project.

Cpl in Ottawa
said

Rest Well brother, take peace in knowing the end of war. To his Family I am sorry foryour loss.

Bobbi
said

To All Of Our Service Men and Women:
May your sacrafices never be minimized nor forgotten.
God Bless You All.

Frank H
said

May you rest in peace.
At the going down of the sun, We will remember you.
Condolences to the family

Wanda
said

Another one of our soldiers has fallen. Once again I will stand along the Highway of Heros to remember you soldier.
My deepest condolences to your family and friends.
Rest in peace soldier.

James
said

Know that the support for Canadian and coalition troops is high. It has been a deadly month and I think support for the troops is very high.

As always, thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the latest Canadian casualty.

Sam in NS
said

Completely and utterly sad. I support the troops and their mission but will be glad when they come home. Canada has done its part. There are valuable learnings to be taken from this and as a country we will.

gar
said

As a Korean veteran this war seems to have no ending.We are losing young lives for what. We are not fighting a war than can be resolved with a treaty because we are dealing with insurgents and not a country and its government. If we can not win lets get to hell out

RRL
said

RIP brother...

God Bless you and your family.

bunny
said

God bless you sir, and thank you for all you are doing over there. This could of beeen my son.

Remarkable
said

Thank you for your service to your country. I will honour your memory always.
God bless and comfort his family while during their time of mourning.
I ask that people who put their comments here, to not make this political, but to remember one of our native sons, who has just laid down his life.

Edmonton John
said

I feel a bitter sense of loss and pain every time I read such headlines.

The last is as painful as the first. It's a feeling I can never get used to. Complete sadness.

The sorrow felt by his family must be many orders of magnitude greater than mine.

I can only offer my condolences to his family and comrades.

David in NB
said

RIP Pte Courcy

Condolences to his friends and family.

Gabi
said

my condolences to the Family

Sam Jackson
said

My thoughts and prayers are with friends and family of Pte. Sebastien Courcy. May you find comfort in knowing how much your sacrifice means to our nation. Lest we forget. Rest In Peace Pte. Courcy.