RESERVIST WENT DOWN FIGHTING

Cpl. Anthony Joseph Boneca was killed as troops pursued insurgents near the village of Pashmol, a hotbed of Taliban activity.

The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group, with which Boneca was fighting, and the Afghan National Army combed through the region of mud-hut villages and lush fields of grapes, marijuana and other crops in search of the insurgents.

Infantry and armoured vehicles soon made contact with the Taliban, sparking the firefight. The coalition later called in air strikes and artillery support.

U.S. Apache assault helicopters buzzed over the area like angry dragonflies, smashing targets. A-10 Warthog jets roared in, dropping bombs. A battery of Canadian heavy guns pounded the insurgents with shells.

A few hours after Boneca was hit, two other Canadian soldiers were wounded in battle.

Both were flown by helicopter to hospital at the international coalition base.

WORD SPREAD

Their injuries were described as non-life threatening. Two other Canadians were wounded Saturday, one seriously, in a firefight in the same area. None of their names have been released.

Word of Boneca's death spread quickly among troops at the coalition base.

Master Cpl. Will Emsle, a fellow reservist who trained with Boneca, said the reality of losing his friend hadn't sunk in.

"I was surprised. I was really shocked," said Emsle, who is from Calgary. "He was a real joker. He loved to joke around. He was a good guy."

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser said Boneca's death will not have any impact on the operation to sweep the region of Taliban.

"We are going to carry on operations as they are," the general said. "We are not pulling back at all, we are leaning into this. We are going to push right through for as long as it takes."

Coalition troops are to assemble for a ceremony this morning at Kandahar airfield to pay tribute to Boneca, the 17th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan.

Boneca's flag-draped coffin will then be loaded onto an air transport for the flight back to Canada.

PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Sun
DATE: 2006.07.10
SOURCE: BY JOHN COTTER, CP