Saying Goodbye to a Hamilton Hero

Private Mark Graham, 33, was killed in Afghanistan by an American pilot who fired on Canadian troops by mistake six days ago.

His dad Albert spoke for many Canadians who are left wondering,

"Why does it keep happening? It happened before, it happened now, and I'm sure it will happen again if they don't communicate properly ... Don't guess. Don't hope you have it right."

As a pacifist I find it hard to find the right balance between pride in our countries military achievements as leaders in many overseas missions and outright anger to know that lives are being taken away by military blunders.

Like the elder Graham, I believe in peace. This type of intervention never works. When will the western world realize we can clean up two thousand years worth of hate and distrust in a year.

When will our government wake up and leave the region until such time the "Peace" can be kept. That is Canada's role and Graham and his fellow soldiers did it well. This frustrating situation will make even the most disciplined pacifist mad as hell.

Graham was a world-class runner who competed for Canada at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, then moved to the U.S. after first being recruited by the University of Nebraska, then moving to Kent State University.

At the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, B.C., Graham was stunned when he was invited to lunch with Queen Elizabeth. His dad told him to be a gentleman, so he sang O Canada for the Queen before becoming so flustered he forgot the words and fellow Canadians came to his rescue by joining in.

When injuries ended his running career, Graham returned to Hamilton and joined the military in 2004.

Graham was very excited when word came he would head to Afghanistan with his 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment at the beginning of August. The Canadian troops were sent into Afghanistan's Panjwaii district in Operation Medusa, a major anti-Taliban operation west of Kandahar.

On Monday, two U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack warplanes mistakenly fired on Graham's platoon. Graham was killed and more than 30 were injured.

"Why did it happen to my son?" Albert Graham asks. When will this man get answers?

The military needs to improve battlefield coordination and communications between ground and air troops. A touching military memorial was held at CFB Petawawa yesterday, where four of five soldiers killed last weekend were based. Graham will be buried Friday in the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.

Peace,
Kenaz