Re: LAV Rollover Kills Two Canadians- January 6 2008

[Nfld Sapper]

Article Link

Families of killed soldiers dealing with loss
Updated Tue. Jan. 8 2008 9:44 AM ET

The Associated Press

MONTREAL -- The families of the two latest Canadian soldiers to die in Afghanistan are beginning to deal with their loss.


Forty-one-year-old Warrant Officer Hani Massouh and 31-year-old Corporal Eric Labbe were killed Sunday when their armoured vehicle rolled over southwest of Kandahar city.


Both were members of the Second Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment -- the Van Doos -- based out of C-F-B Valcartier in Quebec.


Labbe's family in Rimouski is trying to avoid the spotlight as they try to come to terms with Eric's death.


Gaetan Labbe, Eric's uncle, says "there is a lot of emotion right now.''


He says, "We'll get over it, but it's very difficult.''


Labbe says the family is also dealing with the recent death of Eric's aunt.


Labbe's only other overseas posting during a six-year career with the military was a 2002 rotation in the former Yugoslavia.


He reportedly thought about leaving the Forces during a trip back to Rimouski last month.


Massouh, who was born in Alexandria, Egypt, was a career soldier, having served in the Forces for more than 17 years.


He was a veteran of several overseas missions.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

DND Media Advisory

Media Advisory
TWO FALLEN SOLDIERS RETURNING HOME
MA 08-001 - January 8, 2008

OTTAWA, Ont. — Our fallen soldiers, Warrant Officer Hani Massouh, 41, and Corporal Éric Labbé, age 31, both of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, Quebec, are scheduled to return home to Canada tomorrow.

Where:  8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.

When:  Wednesday January 9, 3:30 p.m.

What:    Media are invited to view the arrival; however the families do not wish to interact with the media and no interviews will be given.

Present to pay their respects will be Her Excellency, the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and other dignitaries.

The two soldiers were killed at approximately 6:30 p.m. Kandahar time on January 6, when their Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III) rolled over during a tactical move across difficult terrain. The incident occurred in Nalgham, in the Zhari District, 40 km south-west of Kandahar. 

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Note to the Editor/News Director:


CFB Trenton Public Affairs Officer, Major Isabelle Robitaille, can be reached at (613) 392-2811 ext. 4565, or at: robitaille.mji@forces.gc.ca
For all other queries, please contact the Media Liaison Office at (866) 377-0811.
For flight information, please contact the Air Passenger Terminal at 1-800-487-1186.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Media Adivsory


Media Advisory
Funeral of Gunner Jonathan Dion
SQFT AM 08.001 - January 10, 2008

MONTREAL – The funeral of Gunner Jonathan Dion, killed in Afghanistan the 30th of December 2007, will be held on January 12th at 11 am. The designated spokesperson for the Dion family and Jonathan’s uncle, Mr. Ronald Marcil, will be available for interview at the end of the ceremony.

PLACE : Jean XXIII Church, 1194 blvd. St-René West, Gatineau.

From the Town of Gatineau, Gunner Jonathan Dion joined the Canadian Forces January 21st, 2005. Proud gunner, Jonathan was a member of 5 Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada, based in Valcartier, Qc. Jonathan was 27 years old and he was on his first NATO mission.

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At the family’s request, the media is asked to please respect their privacy during this time of grief. Media will not be allowed inside the church.

Point of contact: Captain Marie-Noelle Blanchet, Public Affairs Officer, (514) 252-2777 extension 4280 or pager (514) 423-4044.