This came in an e-mail from Bez. Unfortunatly the picture didn't make it thru. This is the text that he sent for all to read...
some of this is Bez's thoughts but I can't get it to post correctly.
Place this info with the pic if you can find the time.
"Captain Goddard
Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard was killed in an incident that
occurred approximately 24 kilometres west of Kandahar at about 6:55 p.m.
Kandahar time (10: 25 a.m. EDT) on 17 May. Captain Goddard was serving with
Task Force Afghanistan as part of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) Battle Group. Captain Goddard was
stationed with the1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo,
Manitoba."
She was young, she was pretty and she was a rarity. A female combat
soldier. Her troop, her husband, her family and her friends will miss her.
Before any start off on a tirade - she also publicly BELIEVED in the
mission.
Says lots for her if you ask me. More balls than most men in today's
Canada.
-------------------------------------------------
What the news had to say -
Canadian female soldier killed in Afghanistan
Last Updated Wed, 17 May 2006 15:45:26 EDT
CBC News
A female soldier from Canada was killed while fighting Taliban insurgents
in Afghanistan on Wednesday, said military officials.
Capt. Nichola Goddard, who was serving with the Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry in Afghanistan, died in a military operation
against Taliban forces. (Department of National Defence)
INDEPTH: Canada in Afghanistan
Capt. Nichola Goddard, 26, had been serving in Afghanistan with the
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. She was a member of the Royal
Canadian Horse Artillery, based in Shilo, Manitoba.
She is the first Canadian female combat soldier to be killed in action
since the Second World War.
RELATED: BQ, NDP to oppose extending Afghan mission
Goddard died around 6:55 p.m. local time (10:25 a.m. EDT) in a military
operation against Taliban forces near Kandahar, where the majority of the
country's 2,300 soldiers in Afghanistan are serving.
Canadian soldiers had been called in to support Afghan troops fighting in
the Panjwai region, about 24 kilometres west of Kandahar.
RELATED: FROM CBC ARCHIVES: Women in Second World War
Goddard was from Calgary and lived with her husband, Jason Bean, at the
Canadian Forces Base in Shilo. She had no children.
Bean, whom she had been married to since 2002, was also a soldier. He told
CBC News that Goddard joined the forces eight years ago, enlisting in the
military right out of high school.
He said he last spoke with her Tuesday, and she was excited about the
mission that, in the end, claimed her life.
Goddard was serving as a forward artillery observer, helping to target the
artillery guns by observing where the shells fell. She was supposed to be
home in September.
'It's a hard day'
Maj. Liam McGarrey said that Goddard was marked for rapid advancement.
Word of Goddard's death slowly filtered through the base as soldiers
attended a morale-boosting concert featuring Canadian musicians.
Goddard's remains are to be sent by plane to Canada on Friday during a ramp
ceremony at the main Kandahar base.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, who commands Canadian and coalition forces in
Kandahar, offered his sympathies to Goddard's family.
"It's a hard day, but it's also a day of achievements here," said Fraser,
who stood in front of a Canadian flag at half-mast. "The government of
Afghanistan and the Afghan national security forces have had a good
successful day. There was significant Taliban casualties both killed and
captured.
"Unfortunately, the cost today was the life of Nichola."
PM salutes soldier's contribution
In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged Goddard's
contribution.
"Capt. Goddard died while helping to bring peace, stability and democracy
to a troubled region of the world. She, and the other men and women who
serve in Afghanistan, are involved in a difficult and dangerous mission."
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said the province will fly its flag at half-mast
in Goddard's honour.
"I just want to say, on behalf of the people of Manitoba, we respect her
life of bravery and honour on behalf of Canada, and we offer our
condolences to the family and to the community of Shilo," he said.
Goddard's death raises Canada's toll in Afghanistan to 16 soldiers and one
diplomat since the mission started in 2002.
-----------------------------------------------------
It is sad but at the same time it is good to know there are people out
there - exactly like her. May God take her home.
Your Thanks and recognition of our small efforts are much appreciated.
