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15 Jan 06 Glyn Berry Killed, 3 Others Injured in Afghanistan

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060119/afghanistan_soldiers_060119

Injured Canadian soldiers 'expected to survive'
CTV.ca News Staff

The three Canadian soldiers wounded in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan are all expected to survive, doctors confirmed today.

Speaking from the U.S. military hospital in Germany, where the three men were airlifted, Canadian medical officer Major Nick Withers said they "showed incredible stamina and strength" and "seem to be doing very well."

Although two of the men -- Corporal Jeffrey Bailey and Private William Salikin -- remain in critical condition, Withers said Salikin could be off a respirator in about a day, and that doctors are also pleased with the progress of Bailey.

Bailey has a brain injury and has had fluid drained from his skull. He condition is now stable and Withers said he hoped that surgery would not be necessary.

"The swelling around his brain is the most significant issue at this point ... but we're getting towards day five, which is when we usually see the peak of the swelling," Withers told reporters.

"We are certainly hoping that he will not require surgery."

Withers said Master Corporal Paul Franklin was in the best shape of the three, though he lost his lower left leg in Sunday's attack which killed Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry, 59.

Franklin's lower right leg is badly shattered, but so far there has not been a need to amputate it, Withers said.

Franklin is now out of intensive care and in a surgical ward.

"I think it is safe to say that at this point we don't think we're going to have anybody die from these (injuries)," added Withers.

The families of the three soldiers arrived at the hospital, in Landstuhl, early Wednesday.

Franklin, the only soldier not to be heavily sedated after the attack, recounted his story of survival to Canadian officers, CTV's Tom Kennedy reported from Germany.

"It's quite an extraordinary story," Kennedy said. "He woke up after this explosion happened, came to, noticed he was missing part of one of his legs, and he was able to apply medical treatment to himself, stop the bleeding. In effect, as doctors here are saying, he saved his own life."

Withers told the Canadian Press Wednesday that Franklin described the pain of losing his leg as "absolutely excruciating."

"He'd thought about what it would feel like before, but he never imagined that it could be so severe," said Withers.

Emotional farewell

Meanwhile in Kandahar on Tuesday, hundreds of soldiers lined a dusty tarmac to bid an emotional farewell to Glyn Berry, the ranking Foreign Affairs official who headed Canada's provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar.

The flag-draped coffin bearing his body rode atop an armoured vehicle past a long line of soldiers at Kandahar airport before being placed aboard the C-130 Hercules transport plane for its final voyage, to his family living in London.

"There were a lot of soldiers there, from all the coalition nations, paying their respects to him," Maj. Dany Laferriere, a spokesman for the Canadian provincial reconstruction team, told CP. "It was a very emotional ceremony."

A piper played as six Canadian soldiers carried Berry's coffin up the rear ramp of the plane, led by David Sproule, the Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan.

Berry, a 28-year veteran of the diplomatic corps, was killed Sunday when the vehicle in which he and the three soldiers were travelling was struck by a car bomb, just a kilometre outside the Canadian base in Kandahar.

An autopsy is required before Berry's remains are released to his family and he is buried in his native Britain.

 
I was wondering if anyone has gotten any news about the condition of the soldiers wounded other than what the CBC tells us. So far all I have been able to understand i one soldier with a part of his leg missing and two others with serious head injuries. Other than this general information can anyone pitch anything in. I am also wondering how effective is the ballistic armour of the G-wagon (i.e. IED, mines, 7.62 rounds etc..). Would a Nyla have been safer? Thanks for any feedback

UBIQUE!!!

p.s. Hopes and prayers to the soldiers and their families  :cdn:
 
My thoughts and prayers are with all the injured soldiers and to Mr. Berry and their families at this time.  I have the privilage of knowing one of the injured soldiers and he is in great spirits and cannot wait to come home. 


Stay safe...and can't wait to see you when you get back home!

Elisha
 
Physical shape probably saved troops' lives, helping recovery: doctor 
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  Font: * * * *  Stephen Thorne, Canadian Press
Published: Thursday, January 19, 2006
OTTAWA (CP) - The excellent physical condition of three soldiers wounded by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan probably saved their lives and is contributing to their recoveries, says a doctor monitoring their progress.

All three were expected to survive the Sunday attack despite daunting wounds that may ultimately affect their quality of life, said air force Maj. Nick Withers, one of two Canadian military doctors posted in Europe.

"The physical condition of the three soldiers is going to assist in the recovery," Withers said in an interview Thursday from Landstuhl, Germany.

"They are in very good shape. It's going to allow them to fight things like infection and other problems a little better. It will serve them well with respect to their recovery and their survival."

Canada's senior diplomat attached to the mission, Glyn Berry, was killed in the blast. His remains were returned to his native Britain on Thursday, where he will be buried after an autopsy.

While Canadian troops in Kandahar foiled another bomber Thursday, families of the wounded were at the bedsides of their loved ones in the U.S. military hospital where the bulk of casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan are taken.

Withers said they were grateful for the interest and concern Canadians had for the soldiers and had granted him permission to release the first details of their medical condition:

-Master Cpl. Paul Franklin lost his left leg at the knee joint, requiring an above-knee amputation. Still medicated, he had been moved out of intensive care and his spirit was "remarkable." Doctors, however, were concerned for his right leg. "Although the nerve and blood supply is intact, he sustained a lot of soft-tissue damage and has a bad fracture through the tibia and fibula. It's quite smashed, so there are some concerns as to how well that will heal. We're doing all that can be done to preserve the function of that leg. There is a chance that he could lose that or have a limb that is not as functional as he would want it to be."

-Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey was the most seriously wounded, sustaining a fractured skull and brain injuries. He remained in intensive care in a medically induced coma and paralysis Thursday with bleeding and a large bruise on the left side of his brain. His brain was denied oxygen for an undetermined period after the explosion. Doctors were medicating him and draining blood to relieve pressure inside his skull. Brain swelling was going down. Both his lungs were damaged in the blast and require tubes to prevent their collapse. He also has other minor fractures. His temperature was up and doctors were giving him antibiotics to prevent pneumonia. "We're not looking at a 100-yard dash here; we're looking at a marathon recovery."

-Pte. William Salikin also had a head injury and remained in a medically induced coma in intensive care, though doctors were easing the medication and allowing him to move. He had opened his eyes briefly and fought his breathing tubes as the effects of the medication wore off. "His CT scan was initially quite worrisome but now he's starting to wake up a little bit (and) he's starting to recover nicely." Doctors hoped to remove his breathing tube within 24 to 48 hours. He had bruising to the brain. Two broken bones in his right forearm were repaired during a three-hour operation Wednesday. One lung was also damaged, possibly by treatment.

Meanwhile, in Kandahar on Thursday, Canadian quick-reaction troops attached to the same reconstruction team that was attacked Sunday found a parked vehicle loaded with explosives. They had been summoned by Afghan police. No shots were fired, military officials said, and the devices were dismantled.

Military doctors have said in the past that physical condition has been a significant contributor to the survival and recovery of other Canadian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan.

Withers said it's too soon to say what long-term effects the wounds might have on either Bailey or Salikin.

Authorities have assembled a specialized team in Canada of nurses and doctors and still hoped to bring the three wounded home early next week.

"We will not move anybody until it's absolutely safe to do so," said Withers, adding the soldiers have received excellent care at the U.S. facility.

Bailey and Franklin are from Edmonton, while Salikin is from Grand Forks, B.C.


 
http://www.recorder.ca/cp/National/060122/n012219A.html

OTTAWA (CP) - One of three soldiers wounded in a Jan. 15 suicide attack in Afghanistan took a turn for the worse over the weekend, likely delaying his return to Canada, an official said Sunday.  A specialized team of Canadian military doctors and other medical staff who arrived in Germany on Sunday were leaving to the last minute a decision on whether to move Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey with his wounded comrades on Tuesday.  "He had a very difficult night," said Maj. Nick Withers, the Canadian air force doctor who has been monitoring the progress of the wounded at a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl for almost a week.  "He's a challenge. He remains critically ill."  Withers could not say more Sunday because Bailey's family had not given him permission to provide the latest details of the soldier's condition.  Bailey suffered massive head injuries in the explosion that killed a senior Canadian diplomat, Glyn Berry, and wounded two other soldiers.  Bailey remained in a coma with paralysis - both conditions medically induced - Sunday while swelling in his bruised brain continued to concern his doctors.  Withers said Saturday the combat engineer from Edmonton was not recovering as well as doctors had hoped.  A CT scan had indicated bleeding inside Bailey's skull was abating, but doctors found that the swelling increased whenever they tried to move him.  Bailey was also fighting a fever and infection, likely related to the tubes and lines plugged into his body. He was also on antibiotics.

Pte. William Salikin of Grand Forks, B.C., also suffered head injuries in the attack near Kandahar, while Master Cpl. Paul Franklin, a Halifax native, lost his left leg above the knee.

Family members were at their bedsides "showing incredible strength despite extremely stressful circumstances," Withers said.

Berry's funeral with military honours is scheduled for Thursday at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London, England. A reception will follow at Canada House, home of Canada's high commission.

Withers said Salikin was responding well Sunday as doctors continued easing the medication that has kept him in a coma since the blast.  "Pte. Salikin had a good day," he said. "His condition has improved. He was able to hold up two fingers on command. He's opening his eyes spontaneously. He's still on a very long road to recovery but we're encouraged by the early signs."

Franklin, meanwhile, was recovering from his first reconstructive surgery on Sunday. Doctors operated on his badly smashed right lower leg in efforts to try to save it. The surgery went "quite well," Withers said.  "He is resting comfortably in the surgical ward."  The fate of his right leg, however, remained uncertain, the doctor added.  "We're trying to remain optimistic."
 
Wounded soldiers return home safely to start long road to recovery 
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Canadian soldier Pte. William Salikin, one of three injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan, is taken off a Millitary Airbus aircraft at the Edmonton International Airport on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 after flying from hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, where he and the other two soldiers have been recovering.
Photograph by : CP PHOTO/ John Ulan   
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  Font: * * * *  Jim Farrell, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2006
EDMONTON - All three Canadian soldiers injured by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan arrived home safely Tuesday, surrounded by family members and a watchful military medical team.

They were greeted on the tarmac under cloudy skies by Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada’s chief of the defence staff, and Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of military forces in Western Canada, as well as Capt. Manuel Panchana-Moya who was himself injured in an Afghan roadside bombing in December.

The soldiers arrived at their home base following a nine-hour flight from Germany, where they’d been treated for their injuries at a U.S. military hospital since the Jan. 15 attack.

Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey, who took a turn for the worse over the weekend, was able to make the journey after all.

Last week, medical staff had warned his precarious condition might mean he’d miss the chance to come home Tuesday. Of the soldiers injured, the 26-year-old of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment was the most critically injured with a skull fracture and extensive bruising on the left side of his brain.

Over the weekend, he underwent surgery to remove a portion of his skull in order to relieve pressure caused by swelling.

Pte. William Salikin, 22, of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and Master Cpl. Paul Franklin, 38, of 1 Field Ambulance, were also wounded in the suicide car bombing in Kandahar, Afghanistan that hurled the enclosed Mercedes "G Wagon" patrol jeep in which they were traveling across a busy road, lined with trucks, cars, pedestrians and donkey carts.

Their flight home Tuesday was delayed by almost three hours.

Maj. Nick Withers, a spokesman for the military, said moving the men from intensive care to the aircraft was more complicated than originally anticipated.

In Edmonton, a military lift vehicle next to their plane carefully lowered each of the soldiers’ gurneys down to a plywood ramp where they were rolled onto ambulances and taken to hospital. They were followed by a police and military escort carrying their family members.

Salikin, who is originally from Grand Forks, B.C., and suffered serious head injuries in the blast, was the first taken off the A310 military Airbus surrounded by medical staff. He was followed by Bailey, of Edmonton, who was then placed in the same ambulance.

Franklin, also from Edmonton, was the last of the injured to be removed. The medic, who was the least seriously injured, lost a leg in the blast but managed to administer first aid to the others wounded. His other leg was also badly smashed.

As his gurney rolled down the ramp, he lifted his head up and appeared to look around and possibly speak to those around him. Obviously awake and alert, he was even wearing his glasses.

The attack killed diplomat Glyn Berry, 59, the region’s senior Foreign Affairs officer with the 250-member provincial reconstruction team that is conducting liaison and humanitarian work around Kandahar.

His funeral, with military honours, is set for Thursday in England.

Laurie Hawn, the newly elected Tory MP for Edmonton Centre and a former air force fighter pilot, joined the military dignitaries on the tarmac for the soldiers’ arrival.

"I have not met Gen. Hillier yet but I think it was good to get involved," he said shortly before trotting 200 metres to where the Airbus was parked.

The Jan. 15 attack has been attributed to remnants of the radical Taliban movement that ruled Afghanistan until it was toppled by America-lead forces in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Earlier this week, another armoured patrol narrowly avoided disaster after a wired artillery shell went off in front of their lead G-wagon in Kandahar. No one was injured.

Just days before, Canadian soldiers had discovered another vehicle laden with 100 kilograms of explosives about 10 kilometres from their base.

There have been 13 suicide blasts since November in Afghanistan. Some believe the increase in attacks may be a way for insurgents to try and keep NATO members from expanding their peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan.

The return of the three wounded men to Edmonton serves as a sobering reminder to the base, which is the jumping-off point for Canada’s next rotation of troops to that troubled region.

Also on Tuesday, more than 100 Canadian combat troops arrived in southern Afghanistan.

By the end of February, Canada will have about 2,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, triple the former level. Most soldiers will serve six to nine months before returning home.

© CanWest News Service 2006
 
"Laurie Hawn, the newly elected Tory MP for Edmonton Centre and a former air force fighter pilot, joined the military dignitaries on the tarmac for the soldiers’ arrival.

"I have not met Gen. Hillier yet but I think it was good to get involved," he said shortly before trotting 200 metres to where the Airbus was parked"

hopefully this forshadows a cabinet postion, say Min of Def
 
one of the soldiers isnt doing too well...

The medical outlook for one of the three Canadians wounded in Afghanistan is "very, very guarded," a military surgeon said Thursday.. Jeffrey Bailey of Edmonton is relatively stable right now but "could pass away from his head injury," Lt.-Col. Ron Brisebois told reporters at the University of Alberta hospital where the three men are being treated.

Bailey's brain is swelling, and every time doctors cut the drugs he's taking, the swelling increases. Swellings usually peak 72 hours after the injury, but the three were wounded 11 days ago, Brisebois said.

Bailey also has an infection that's resistant to drugs, a blood clot caused by lying in bed, minor fractures and burns on his hands.

"His overall outcome remains very, very guarded," Brisebois said.

He is not conscious.

Pte. William Salikin of Grand Forks, B.C., who also has a head injury, is using a breathing machine less and is responding to people.

He also has an infection, but overall, "he continues to make progress," Brisebois said.

Master Cpl. Paul Franklin of Halifax lost his left leg above the knee. "He's in very good spirits," although he is facing a possible amputation of his right leg, or "a fairly long reconstructive surgery process."

That decision has not been made yet.

He will get skin grafts on both hands next week.

A suicide bomber drove into the vehicle the soldiers were in on Jan. 15, killing Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry

from: www.cbc.ca
 
This has been on my mind so I thought I would put it out for discussion. I find that our Governor General has done and said little in her role as Commander in Chief in regards to this incident. She did issue a statement following the death of Mr Berry and regrets the lose of life and the injuries to our heroes. Here is her statement:

Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, on a terrorist attack in Afghanistan causing the death of Glyn Berry
January 15, 2006

“My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death today of Glyn Berry in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan, which also left three of our Canadian soldiers wounded. Mr. Berry, a Political Director from Foreign Affairs, had been posted to the Provincial Reconstruction Team working in the Kandahar region. This incident is a tragic reminder of the insecurity that continues to plague the Afghan population and of the enormous risks facing the dedicated and courageous Canadian civilian and military personnel working in that country.

"Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Glyn Berry, whose commitment to the cause of peace in this part of the world knew no bounds. We wish to express to them our deepest sympathies. We also wish Private William Edward Salikin, Corporal Jeffrey Bailey and Master Corporal Paul Franklin a speedy recovery. We know how worried their friends, parents and colleagues must feel at this time.”

It can be found here : http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4652

I realize stepping into Adrienne Clarkson shoes, a person that won the respect and admiration across the Forces for the respect and admiration she displayed to us.

I feel the Governor General needs to step up to the plate in her new found role and start acting like a Commander and Chief.  :salute:

How do you feel?

 
I'd wager the last GG would have been in Germany with this incident.  Hopefully the current one's tenure is short and sweet.
 
CFL said:
I'd wager the last GG would have been in Germany with this incident.  Hopefully the current one's tenure is short and sweet.
My sentiments exactly...
Well, as some members have posted in the past "maybe we should give her a chance", sure I agree whole heartedly.
She has an enormous task as the Governor General of Canada, and the CiC of the CF (if only in name), its only been 4 months since her Installation, and 7 CF casualties....
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/39037/post-326999/topicseen.html#new
 
Kudos to Hyundai Auto Canada for being a good corporate citizen.  Remember them lads when you're car shopping.  They support the Troops so we should at least give them a look see.  It might encourage other corporations to get into the act and support our Troops.
 
Good on them to lend support. The Corporate community should take note and indeed stand by our troops, just like Hayundi did here. I hope that all of Canada will support the Conservatives when they implement the promises made with regards to Defence. Individually we may not be heard, but collectively we will be.

Gnplummer :salute:
 
The Rules of War

1)The first rule of war is that young men and women die

2)The second rule of war is that surgeons cannot change the first rule.

3)The third rule of war should be that we never forget the sacrifices made by our young men and women, and we always honor them. We honor them by finishing what they came to accomplish. We remember them by never quitting and having the backbone and the guts to never bend to the yoke of oppression.

Source: Col. Brett Wyrick C/O
            154th Medical Group,
            Hawaii Air National Guard

Presently serving as a surgeon in Balad with the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group.

Choo
 
He stole the first two from Lt. Col Henry Blake   CO. of the 4077th MASH unit.........
 
A bit of progress to report....

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1138834251656&call_pageid=970599119419

"A Canadian soldier whose life was in jeopardy last week after being severely injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan is now expected to survive.  A spokesman for National Defence said yesterday Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey is no longer in a medically induced coma. His condition remains serious and he has not yet been able to speak to his loved ones."

 
A letter from Pte. Salikin's mom to the troops in K'Har (as published online at the Hamilton Spectator web page):

http://tinyurl.com/8sez3

January 23, 2006

Provincial Reconstruction Team, Kandahar:

"My name is Colleen, and this is written to you from Landstuhl, Germany from the Fisher House, a place similar to Ronald McDonald House in North America.

I am with my son Will, or as you so fondly call "Sal."

It has been in my heart these past days to sit down and write you, to try and express in words of what I feel.

Will is OK and will be back in Edmonton soon. He is one pretty tough kid, and I know with no hesitation that he will be just fine. He has given us several good signs and he continues to improve with time, even if it is slow.

Even though he has a biological family, Will has another family -- a much larger one full of caring brothers and sisters, you -- his comrades. Over the past two years, Will has often spoke of how strong the bond has grown between everyone, how proud he is to be serving with you, and the pride to be a Canadian.

During the last few days, I have had the honour of knowing that I am a part of this awesome Armed Forces family. The incredible caring, support and protection that has been given to my family is like nothing I have ever experienced in my entire life time. I am so blessed, thank you. Also the unbelievable skills, kindness and support of all the Canadian and American doctors and staff, our Assisting Officers, escorts and others, that I will always appreciate and never forget. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for the gift of my son.

It is good to know that more Canadians are starting to speak up for their support of our Armed Forces. It is so good to feel this country uniting under a common bond. Many churches have been holding you up in prayer and your families since your departure from Canada, and have committed to continue until you are all home.

I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart, and to tell you of how proud I am of you, and that you are most dear to me. Down the road I look forward to meeting with you and promise a hug to each and every one regardless of rank. I guess that is one good thing of being a citizen.

When you get back to Canada, pop by and say hi to Will. It will cheer him a lot and probably yourselves as well. Bless you all, and when it is time -- safe journey home.

Blessings,

Colleen Salikin,

Greg Salikin, Dan Salikin & Desirae Hansen"
 
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060224/salikin_release_060224/20060224?hub=Canada

Soldier hurt in Afghanistan released from hospital
Updated Fri. Feb. 24 2006 9:02 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Pte. William Salikin, one of three soldiers injured in the suicide bombing that killed diplomat Glyn Berry, was released from hospital Thursday.

Salikin, from Grand Forks, B.C., was receiving medical treatment at the University of Alberta Hospital.

Medical authorities have confirmed that Salikin is free of the drug-resistant bacteria known as the "Iraqi Superbug" that is plaguing troops in Iraq, Land Force Western Area headquarters said in a written statement on Friday.

Salikin will be treated as an outpatient at a local facility while he undergoes routine physiotherapy as part of his rehabilitation program.

Salikin, Master Cpl. Paul Franklin, and Corporal Jeffrey Bailey were injured in a suicide bombing in Kandahar on Jan. 15, while heading to their home base in enclosed armoured jeeps.

Franklin, who lost his left leg at the knee, has also had to have his lower light leg amputated.

"This decision was made as a family and at no point was taken lightly," Franklin said in a statement earlier this month.

"We felt that the recovery time, plus the end result of what the leg would be like after surgeries, was not to our satisfaction."

Bailey, who is still in hospital, is expected to survive. He remains in critical condition and a reduced state of consciousness, but has been moved out of intensive care.

Nine Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

Rising violence in the country's south, particularly an increase in suicide bombings, has bolstered fears more attacks are forthcoming as Canada increases its presence in Kandahar.

By early March, approximately 2,200 Canadian troops will have been deployed to the volatile region.

 
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