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touch with us daily by telephone. It has been a very busy period for Iain's unit
ISTAR, and of course, our Afghanistan operation has been very much in the news.
soldier in Afghanistan, and three were injured.
Names had not been released pending notification of next-of-kin.
The first news reports of the suicide bombing told us that it had happened just outside
Camp Julien, on Darulaman Road, which is frequently travelled by all of our troops
stationed at the camp. In fact, Iain had brought home a video of one of his typical days
driving in Kabul, and the video began with a ride along Darulaman Road.
We were quite sure from the television, Internet news reports and on-line pictures that the
patrol involved in this incident was from the Royal Canadian Regiment, and not from Iain's
unit. But we couldn't really be certain until we heard from Iain.
in early December, showing the area near
what would be the site of the January 27
suicide bombing.
in January. One of their unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was missing and
assumed to have crashed. Major Cross, the officer in charge of ISTAR, was
quoted in the national press. The news articles noted that this was the
fourth and last UAV available to ISTAR, the other three having either
crashed or suffered hard landings.
The press articles revealed that ISTAR had a role in the raid by Canadian
soldiers on a suspected terrorist group.
The missing UAV was located the next day, but in the middle of a minefield.
We saw no further press reports, but Iain was able to let us know that the
UAV was recovered from the crash site without further incident.
of his UAV photos can be seen here.
See this page for more on ISTAR's
involvement with the UAV program.
names of the soldiers killed and injured by the suicide bomber.
From: Clark, David
To: Kelly Clark Tranquilli ; Fred Tranquilli
Cc: Jennifer Clark
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:25 AM
Subject: News from Kabul
When we heard the news this morning, it looked as if the soldiers involved in the incident this
morning were from the RCR, and not from Iain's unit.
As I arrive at work this morning, this was on the Globe and Mail Website:
The National Defence department said the deceased soldier is Corporal Jamie Brendan Murphy.
The injured soldiers are Lieutenant Jason Matthew Feyko, Corporal Richard Michael Newman and
Corporal Jeremy Gerald MacDonald.
Love,
Dad
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Clark
Sent: January 27, 2004 9:14 AM
To: Clark, David
Subject: Re: News from Kabul
I tried to call you this am because when I woke up there was a message from
Iain simply stating that he was okay.
I didn't answer the phone because Jordan was up vomiting every hour last
night and this is still the case this morning.
Jennifer took Jordan to the Pembroke Hospital, Anne went to Pembroke to be with Jennifer and Jordan. Jordan
was assessed to be dehydrated and was admitted to the hospital. At the end of the day, David went to Petawawa
to look after Colin, relieving one of Jennifer's friends from the regiment who had come in to be with Colin for the
afternoon.
Later that evening, Jordan was released from the hospital and brought home, just in time for us all to receive a
most welcome call from Iain.
Iain told us that he had been in a briefing at Camp Warehouse when the attack occurred. He had driven along
Darulaman Road about an hour before the attack.
slowed down to go over a bump in the road:
Canwest News
The attack occurred when the two jeeps slowed to drive over a dug-up section of road -
such trenches are common on roads in Kabul. They look and act a lot like big, rocky
speed bumps.
Iain's video clearly shows such a trench in Darulaman Road.
An article later in the week gives an Afghan perspective, not only on the attack, but also
on the positive difference that the Canadian presence has made to the security of the
local residents along Darulaman Road.
On Wednesday, ISAF made some changes in the conduct of patrols.
video. The trench can be seen as a line
in the road ahead of Iain's SUV.
at 18:02 on January 28, 2004, EST. (excerpt)
KABUL (CP) - Facing an apparent suicide bombing offensive from Taliban insurgents, Canadian
troops were examining Wednesday everything they do, from the vehicles they drive to the tactics
they use.
A British soldier died in a suicide car bombing Wednesday, even as a memorial service was
underway for Cpl. Jamie Murphy, the Canadian who was killed Tuesday by another bomber. In the
face of an unfamiliar method of attack that is nearly impossible to defend, soldiers from corporals
patrolling in jeeps to Canada's top general in Afghanistan are finding few answers to assure troop
safety.
"It's really tough to stop someone who is willing to die to kill you," Canadian NATO deputy
commander Maj.-Gen. Andrew Leslie said in an interview.
"We believe the attacks are linked and that they represent a trend. The risks have gone up, mind you
it's a risk we were always aware of. But we will not retreat to our camps. We have to get out and
do our jobs."
Canada and the other NATO countries stopped using their fleet of light vehicles Wednesday,
limiting missions to heavier armoured vehicles for now.
Canada's idle Iltis jeeps and Nissan Terrano sport utility vehicles sat under a blanket of snow several
centimetres deep in a parking lot at Camp Julien.
Leslie said the jeeps and SUVs will roll again soon, but leaders want to make sure they break the
streak of attacks by putting out heavier armour.
ctv.ca January 29, 2004 (excerpt)
Canadian soldiers have started patrolling in heavier armoured vehicles instead of the open Iltis jeeps
they have been using.
One of those vehicles, a Coyote, flipped Thursday. Two of the four Canadians inside suffered neck
and back injuries, while two others received minor injuries.
Iain's report on the telephone recording January 30, 2004 (excerpt)
We did have the vehicle rollover yesterday, but I'd like to reassure everyone that the crew is okay.
Although our folks did go and get checked out, they are all able to return to their duties.
Good news from Iain - January 31
Iain told Jennifer that his replacement has arrived!
vehicle, used by
Iain's unit as a utility
transport (video
capture from Iain's
video)
alongside one of
ISAF's Iltis jeeps
(video capture from
Iain's video)
capture from Iain's
video
video, showing the rough terrain that
their vehicles encounter
photo by Iain)
