For the 30th time since the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group arrived in the southern Afghan theatre four months ago, a critically injured soldier was to be rushed 5,100 kilometres by air ambulance to a U.S. army combat hospital in Germany for specialized medical care.
The Canadian - identified by the Defence Department as infantryman Corp. Christopher Klodt - was seriously wounded yesterday during one of several violent firefights between the Princess Patricia's and the Taliban in the neighbouring districts of Zharei and Panjwei, two notorious hotbeds of the insurgency in farming country about 30 kilometres west of Kandahar. Klodt was first treated at the Canadian combat hospital at the Kandahar Airfield, where surgeons decided that he should be sent on to the facility at Landstuhl, Germany, which treats many of the most seriously wounded coalition troops from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Defence Department did not release any other details about Klodt, including his age or his hometown or province. However, it's believed he is in his early 20s and has a girlfriend in Manitoba.
Another Canadian soldier who was less seriously wounded in one of Saturday's battles was to continue being treated at the hospital at the Kandahar Airfield. He is expected to return to duty before the Patricia's rotate back to Canada next month. The PPCLI are to be replaced by a similar battle group from the Ottawa Valley-based Royal Canadian Regiment.
The second soldier, according to Defence Department policy, will not be identified because he has been released from hospital and is returning to duty.
Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of Land Force Western Area, discussed the Afghanistan firefight while attending a celebration honouring the military at Calgary's Spruce Meadows on Saturday.
His thoughts went out to the families of the injured officers.
"The greatest challenge I have is taking care of the families during this particular deployment. There is no doubt the risks of this deployment, the dangers of this deployment, are very real," Grant said.
"Regardless of the challenges that have been faced with the casualties that have been brought home, their friends are totally supportive of the choices they have made as individuals and the work they've done as soldiers."
Grant declined to elaborate on Klodt's injuries, saying: "All I can say is that he was seriously injured in an engagement with the Taliban. He is receiving the best medical treatment that can be offered to him. He will likely return to Canada when his medical condition will allow it."
Fighting with the Taliban was so intense yesterday that the Patricia's, who had flooded the area with a large number of troops, called in air strikes by coalition assault helicopters and fighter jets and dozens of rounds from the new M-777 155-mm guns of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. The battles raged during a day when temperatures reached into the high 50s C.
"Obviously, the fighting is fierce," Major Marc Theriault said of Operation Zahar (or Operation Sword, in English), which was launched two days ago as a result of intelligence received by the Canadian battle group and their Afghan army and police allies. "This is an ongoing effort that we expect to last several days.
"We have a robust capacity. Despite the fact that we are seeing small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, we have the tactical advantage."
At least five Taliban were killed in yesterday's exchanges, which occurred near the village of Pashmol. Three Taliban were captured. Two of the Enemy Prisoners of War were handed over to the Afghan government. The third EPW was being treated for battle wounds at the hospital at Kandahar Airfield.
PUBLICATION: Montreal Gazette
DATE: 2006.07.09
BYLINE: MATTHEW FISHER
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