Posted on 12/14/2008 2:41:18 PM PST by fanfan
C.F.B. GAGETOWN, N.B.–Just over a week before a roadside bomb ended his young life, Justin Jones was at home in Newfoundland, celebrating a trio of events with his family and eagerly awaiting his return to Afghanistan.
The rookie soldier was back in Baie Verte for two weeks to mark an early Christmas, his 21st birthday and his beloved grandparents' 50th anniversary.
It was a brief respite from his first tour in Afghanistan, where he had deployed in August with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick. He was expected to stay until March or February.
When friends and family saw him off last Friday, they anxiously bid him well and made plans for his return.
But those plans were shattered Saturday when they received word that he was killed alongside two other Canadian comrades when a roadside bomb tore through their vehicle on a road just west of Kandahar.
"He was looking forward to going back," Alice Jones, his great aunt, said from Baie Verte, referring to his excitement for the mission. "He loved it, I think. It was an adventure for him. That was his dream to join the military."
Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton and Pte. John Michael Roy Curwin were also killed in the blast, which occurred on the same stretch of road where three other Canadian soldiers died in a similar incident just eight days earlier.
Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton, left, Pte. John Michael Roy Curwin, centre, and Pte. Justin Peter Jones were killed in an explosion during a patrol in the Arghandab District Dec. 13, 2008.
The commander of the New Brunswick base said morale was good, but friends and comrades of the three fallen soldiers were deeply saddened by a loss that raises Gagetown's death toll in Afghanistan to 10 since 2005.
"It has certainly hit us very hard," Col. Ken Chadder told a news conference at the base Sunday. "Our priority will be make sure that we look after the families in this very sad and difficult time for them."
A member of Hamilton's family said they were shocked and saddened at the news.
"Thomas was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, father and friend," his mother, Cindy Higgins, said in a statement.
She said her son, 26, was born in Truro, N.S., and grew up in Upper Musquodoboit, about 30 minutes outside Halifax on the province's eastern shore.
"Thomas was a kind and loving man who loved to tease," Higgins said. "He enjoyed fishing, camping and golfing. Thomas was a professional soldier, who strongly believed in the mission and volunteered for his third tour in Afghanistan."
A memorial on Facebook, a popular social networking site, described the father of a young daughter as playful and game for fun.
"The thing I will always remember is his smile and tons of energy," said one friend.
His commanding officer in the 2nd Battalion, Lt.-Col. Geoff Parker, said the soldier was proud to be part of the mission that has seen 103 Canadians killed since 2001.
"There was no hesitation in his mind that that was the place for him...happy to do what was required of him in theatre," Parker said Sunday.
In Newfoundland, Alice Jones said Justin Jones grew up as an only child in the community of about 1,200 people, joined the military a year ago and was excited by the prospect of heading overseas.
Neighbours were shocked by the developments and were considering ways to mark his death.
"We're all very proud of Justin," Baie Verte Mayor Gerald Acreman said. "He was a really nice young man."
Curwin was from Mount Uniacke, N.S., but his wife lives in Oromocto, N.B.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean offered their sympathies to the friends and families of the soldiers.
"This tragic incident demonstrates the considerable risk faced by the exceptional men and women of the Canadian Forces as they work to promote freedom, security and democracy in Afghanistan," Harper said in a statement from Ottawa.
Harper, MacKay and Jean also wished a quick recovery to the other soldier injured in the blast, whose name had not been released.
"Canada will remain eternally grateful for the sacrifices made by Cpl. Hamilton, Pte. Curwin and Pte. Jones. They will not be forgotten," said MacKay.
Jean said the soldiers put their lives on the line for Afghans.
"Not only were they courageous, they were proud to serve their country with all their skills and might to help the people of Afghanistan, torn by decades of war and profound misery," she said.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams also expressed his condolences and said sympathies and prayers go to the colleagues and loved ones of "these brave individuals."
"Words cannot express our sorrow for this tragic loss, especially for the families and friends of those who have sacrificed their lives in selfless service to others," said Williams.
In Oromocto, N.B., which is home to CFB Gagetown, members of the close-knit military community gathered for church services to pray for the families.
"We'll get through it, but it's difficult," said Oromocto Mayor Faye Tidd.
"It's the worst news you could ever hear at any time of the year, but I think for families it's especially bad near Christmas because they'll remember every Christmas as a casualty."
The soldiers deaths came just eight days after Warrant Officer Robert Wilson, Cpl. Mark McLaren and Pte. Demetrios Diplaros died when their armoured vehicle hit an roadside bomb on the same stretch of highway, 14 kilometres west of Kandahar city.
My wife’s family is from Fleur de Lys, Newfoundland, about a 20 minute drive from Baie Verte. God bless these young men.
I don’t know how to post an actual link to the video itself.
Ping.
I tried and failed — sob!!! I wanted to Help.
Oh, you are so sweet Sandy!
Thank you for trying! *HUGS*
Man, same stretch of road as the other recent incident. No up-armor?
He was from Newfoundland and he and I hit it off immediately when we discovered we both enjoyed hunting. What a nice man! He was ultimately transferred back to our Kitchener, Ontario plant then was forced to retire. I am sure he was glad to have that happen. He then headed back home to Newfoundland.
Some day I want to visit the Eastern provinces of Canada and stop by his house and say hi............
That would be nice.
:-)
If you go, I highly recommend that you have a few beers before you get "screeched in." If you don't know what that means, I'll leave it for another (perhaps American?) FReeper to explain.
I just looked up its history....... I think I'm a little too old for that tradition........LOL!
Do not drink the screech.
:-0
LMAO! Can it be avoided without insulting your host?
Yes. Pour it in to a planted pot.
It won’t dies until a day or two after you have left.
;-)
It won’t die.
Not dies.
God Bless Canada and her troops.
-
Thanks LiberConservative.
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