Bloody day in Afghanistan for three Canadian soldiers

It is the worst one-day toll for the Canadians since July 4 of last year when six soldiers were lost in a single explosion. I found this fitting song composed by MacPhee, Schram, Howe in my files simply entitled "Ode To The Canadian Soldier "and uploaded to imeem. Please give a listen. The lyrics pay tribute to the men and women who are "Fighting for freedom and staying the course. Three Canadian troops were killed and another injured Wednesday when their vehicle was blasted by an explosive device west of Kandahar city in the most devastating strike against the Canadians so far this year. Sergeant Shawn Eades, Corporal Dustin Wasden and Sapper Stephan Stock died in the attack. All three men who died this week were combat engineers with the 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Regiment, based out of Edmonton. They were attached to the Second Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group and were conducting a patrol when the device detonated. The vehicle in which the troops were riding was blown up near the village of Howz-e-Madad in the Zhari district where the Taliban have many enclaves of power. The local police chief said the explosives were hidden in a culvert. The injured soldier is listed in serious but stable condition and has been in contact with his family since the incident. Sgt. Eades, born and raised in Hamilton, was respected by his subordinates, his peers and his superiors for his outstanding professionalism, said Brigadier-General Denis Thompson. 33-year old Sergeant Eades wife says he wore a uniform almost his entire life. He joined the cadets at the age of 12, served in the reserves and then joined the Canadian Armed Forces six years later. This was his third tour in Afghanistan. It has been months since Canadian troops were killed in a vehicle that ran over a device planted by the Taliban. Two other Canadian soldiers died in explosions this summer, but both were on foot patrol. No Canadian vehicle has been hit since April. Last year, however, almost all of the Canadian deaths occurred when the vehicles in which the troops were riding encountered explosive devices. The deaths Wednesday bring the military toll in the Afghanistan conflict to 93. One diplomat has also died. Nineteen Canadian soldiers have been killed in 2008. From left: Canadian Sgt. Shawn Eades, a combat engineer with 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment from Edmonton, and attached to the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group; Cpl. Dustin Wasden, of the same unit; and Sapper Stephan Stock, a combat engineer, also with 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. The soldiers were killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan.  full story Peace