Roy Batty
12-21-2005, 08:48 AM
Two Canadian soldiers wounded in a blast that shattered their vehicle in Afghanistan are willing to return to the country.
Pte. Ryan Crawford and Capt. Manuel Panchana-Moya appeared before reporters in wheelchairs and hospital garb in Edmonton on Tuesday.
They both suffered broken bones when a bomb exploded under their light military vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Gelaendewagen (known as a G Wagon) on Dec. 12 near Kandahar.
Both men were in good spirits and said "I'd go back" when asked if they would serve in Afghanistan again.
Crawford was calm as he described what happened.
"We got blown up," said Crawford, who had just turned 24 at the time. "It was my birthday. My life pretty well flashed before my eyes."
Speaking French, Panchana-Moya said he was angry, but not afraid.
After the explosion, "it was very dark and very dirty" as dust and oil obscured his vision.
He was in a lot of pain, but was able to crawl out when the door opened.
Other people in the G Wagon helped them about 50 metres away, and a U.S. helicopter picked them up about 30 minutes later and took them to get their first medical care.
They were flown to Germany and then Edmonton, where their unit – 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry – is based.
Both soldiers spoke well of their vehicle. "I believe the G Wagon did take care of us very well," Ryan said.
Panchana-Moya said the armour helped protect them, although he was not sure it was the best vehicle available.
"We consider ourselves very, very lucky."
About 250 Canadian soldiers are part of a provincial reconstruction team operating near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
As many as 1,250 Canadian soldiers will be serving in Afghanistan by February.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/12/20/soldiers-talk051220.html
Bravo Zulu guys
Pte. Ryan Crawford and Capt. Manuel Panchana-Moya appeared before reporters in wheelchairs and hospital garb in Edmonton on Tuesday.
They both suffered broken bones when a bomb exploded under their light military vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Gelaendewagen (known as a G Wagon) on Dec. 12 near Kandahar.
Both men were in good spirits and said "I'd go back" when asked if they would serve in Afghanistan again.
Crawford was calm as he described what happened.
"We got blown up," said Crawford, who had just turned 24 at the time. "It was my birthday. My life pretty well flashed before my eyes."
Speaking French, Panchana-Moya said he was angry, but not afraid.
After the explosion, "it was very dark and very dirty" as dust and oil obscured his vision.
He was in a lot of pain, but was able to crawl out when the door opened.
Other people in the G Wagon helped them about 50 metres away, and a U.S. helicopter picked them up about 30 minutes later and took them to get their first medical care.
They were flown to Germany and then Edmonton, where their unit – 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry – is based.
Both soldiers spoke well of their vehicle. "I believe the G Wagon did take care of us very well," Ryan said.
Panchana-Moya said the armour helped protect them, although he was not sure it was the best vehicle available.
"We consider ourselves very, very lucky."
About 250 Canadian soldiers are part of a provincial reconstruction team operating near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
As many as 1,250 Canadian soldiers will be serving in Afghanistan by February.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/12/20/soldiers-talk051220.html
Bravo Zulu guys