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Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan
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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
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.








Comments are now closed for this story
Sam Jackson
said
Gabi
said
David in NB
said
Condolences to his friends and family.
Edmonton John
said
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.
Remarkable
said
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.
bunny
said
RRL
said
God Bless you and your family.
gar
said
Sam in NS
said
James
said
As always, thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the latest Canadian casualty.
Wanda
said
My deepest condolences to your family and friends.
Rest in peace soldier.
Frank H
said
At the going down of the sun, We will remember you.
Condolences to the family
Bobbi
said
May your sacrafices never be minimized nor forgotten.
God Bless You All.
Cpl in Ottawa
said
Dont start the bad poetry yet again.
said
Greg from Port Hope
said
Our thoughts, prayers and support are with your family.
Sandra from Montreal
said
My prayers go out to his family and comrades.
R.I.P.
Moment of Truth
said
Henry Kahrs
said
Dav e
said
Shawn, Ottawa
said
Chris in Kingston
said
Rest in Peace, Sebastien!
Don Fierro
said
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.
MCpl In Ottawa
said
Terry & Joan Maloney
said
Another Canadian Hero. God Bless Him.
Toune
said
Sarah Paige
said
David in NB
said
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
Ex Coelis
said
Repos doucement, mon ami. Repos doucement... Voyez-vous le matin.
Righteous: Afghanistan Vet
said
Rod
said
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
Sarge
said
We Will
Never Forget
Your Ultimate
Sacrifice
Stand Down
Soldier
You Are Now
Homeward Bound.
RIP
Baloch N
said
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.
Elias Nasrallah
said
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.
Paul from Saskatoon
said
Larry I Ontario
said
Toune
said
Ex-RAF
said
Rest in Peace Comrade, and may God hold your family in his arms during their grief.
Sherry Katrina
said
Mark Bossi
said
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.)
Gaston Soucy
said
Je me souvien
Capt Usher
said
Your sacrifice was not in vain. My prayers are with you and your family. Stand Down Soldier you are coming home. God Bless.
Steven
said
Je me souviens
steve sand
said
Rick
said
RIP Soldier
Rob in NB
said
Rest in Peace, buddy.
Joanne Ware
said
marlene-Peterborough
said
Rob
said
Carlos-Montreal
said
Filled with sadness
said
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.
Kim in Oshawa
said
Bev McMullan-Kungl
said
Jean Pierre in North saanich BC
said
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
Ann
said
ADM Saskatchewan
said
Retired in NB
said
soldier's mom N.L.
said
gerald
said
Mac
said
Surrey Daniel
said
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.
judy t
said
Val
said
If the powers that be, ever try to remove my freedoms, I would stand gladly, beside Sebastien, defending the cause.
Canadian Soldier.
said
May angels welcome you in open arms, for you have done more then you no
. .
Canadian soldier.