ALL 4 SOLDIERS IDENTIFIED: 'We will commit ourselves to their memory'

Officials have identified three more Canadian soldiers who were killed with a colleague in Afghanistan, as one of the grieving mothers described her son Tuesday as "very much a soldier."

Cpl. Glen Arnold, one of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Monday, was married and had four children. (Sgt. Ron Hartlen/DND/CP)

Pte. David Byers, 22, was identified after a suicide bomber attacked the soldiers in Kandahar on Monday. On Tuesday, the Department of National Defence said the attack also killed Cpl. Glen Arnold, reportedly based in Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, northwest of Ottawa; and Cpl. Shane Keating of Saskatoon and Cpl. Keith Morley, based at CFB Shilo in Manitoba.

Leona Arnold, who spoke from her home in McKerrow, Ont., said her 32-year-old son was "very much a soldier." She said she would not comment further until after his funeral.

The corporal was married and had four children another relative said earlier in the day. Arnold's parents live only a few kilometres from the home of Byers.

Byers, Keating and Morley were with the second battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo.

"All three of these men were proud citizens and exceptional examples of the men and women who serve this country, both at home and abroad," said Maj. Stephen Joudrey, acting commanding officer for 2PPCLI at CFB Shilo, on Tuesday.

"They were highly regarded friends and comrades. We will commit ourselves to their memory, and never forget they fell in the service to their country while trying to make the world a better place."

Joudrey said Keating worked as one of his subordinates, describing him as a "very pleasant, a very honest person."

"His peers have said that he was a sergeant in a corporal's body. He was far more mature than his age and his experience would tell you," Joudrey added.

The three Shilo-based soldiers were single, and their families did not live on the base, Joudrey said. They had been in Afghanistan since the end of July and in operations since the beginning of August.

Joudrey said the military is still discussing repatriation of the soldiers' bodies to Canada. As well, the base will hold a memorial service for the three men at a later date.

"For the 2nd Battalion, our efforts now focus on returning Shane, Keith and David to their families with dignity and honour," he said. "They have earned this, and they deserve this. This is our task."

Joudrey said he cannot confirm or deny reports that the men were handing out candy to local children when the attack occured, only saying that they were "conducting patrols in and around with the local population."

'Really good kid' among the victims

Cpl. Shane Keating, along with slain colleagues Pte. David Byers and Cpl. Keith Morley, was with the second battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man. (Sgt. Ron Hartlen/DND/CP)

Late Monday, Byers's uncle said the family is grieving the loss of a "good kid."

Ian McKay described his nephew as a dedicated soldier, and said the news of his death has left his family overwhelmed with grief in the northern Ontario town of Espanola, west of Sudbury.
"I can't think straight," McKay told the Canadian Press by telephone from his home. "David was a really good kid. He was far too young to die."

McKay said Byers knew the dangers he faced when he was deployed to Afghanistan.
"That's what he went in for. He was prepared for it," he said.

Neighbours said Byers is survived by his parents and two brothers.

Bicyclist bomber got past security perimeter

Cpl. Keith Morley also died, while a number of Canadian troops and Afghan civilians were injured by the suicide bomber. (Sgt. Ron Hartlen/DND/CP)

The four soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber on a bicycle set off an explosive device near troops west of Kandahar. The troops were on foot when the attack occurred.
Canadian military officials told CBC News on Tuesday that there was a security perimeter around the area where the soldiers were mingling with Afghan civilians, but the bomber managed to get past it.

The soldiers who survived said the attacker was much older than the typical suicide bomber in Afghanistan. According to the military's profile of suicide bombers, they apparently tend to be younger men.

A ramp ceremony, in which the bodies of the four soldiers will be loaded onto a Canadian military transport plane for the journey home, is scheduled for Wednesday.

A number of Canadian soldiers were injured in Monday's attack, as well as dozens of Afghan civilians. The Canadian military said 10 of the injured soldiers were to be airlifted to Landsthul, Germany, for medical treatment.

With the latest deaths, 36 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since Ottawa began the mission in early 2002. Canada currently has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Last Updated Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:41:09 EDT
CBC News