Pte. Chad Horn, Cpl. Andrew Grenon, and Cpl. Mike Seggie:Grace Under Fire

"The brave soldiers killed today were coming to the end of their tour," Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson told reporters in Kandahar. "It saddens me to think of their loved ones, who were expecting them to return home later this month." 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 soldiers who were set to return home later this month were killed Wednesday morning when their armoured vehicle came under direct attack in southern Afghanistan. Five other soldiers were wounded, one critically. Cpl. Andrew Grenon, Cpl. Mike Seggie and Pte. Chad Horn were killed in the Zhari district of Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province. Thompson said that when the insurgents attacked the soldiers at about 9:30 a.m., the Canadians returned fire. Even the wounded soldiers pulled themselves out of the armoured vehicle and started firing back. The eight soldiers were rushed out of the area, and three were pronounced dead at the Kandahar Airfield. Thompson said one of the wounded is now in critical condition and another in serious but stable condition. Two are in good condition, and one has been treated and released from medical care. Thompson said the three dead were all members of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group, based in Shilo, Man. Grenon, a 23-year-old who was on his second tour in Afghanistan originally from Windsor, Ont., saw fierce fighting and was twice injured on his first tour in 2006-07, but still volunteered to go back. Grenon was awarded a bravery medal, called the Canadian Expeditionary Forces Commander's Commendation, a little over a week ago for preventing a riot and saving the lives of two soldiers during a battle on March 3. Seggie, 21, came from a family of Patricias, as both his father and uncle served with the regiment, Thompson said. He said Seggie, who was "cool under fire," had a great attitude and would often make himself the butt of a joke just to get a laugh out of his comrades. Seggie had learned several Pashtun phrases in order to communicate better with the local population in Afghanistan. Horn was a professional, hard-working soldier, Thompson said. At 21, the Calgary man had "unlimited potential and was admired by his peers." Horn was considered the best gunner in the company and was credited with saving the lives of many of his comrades during his time in Afghanistan because of his ability to act under fire. The three deaths come exactly two weeks after three other soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in the same volatile Zhari district. Two other Canadian soldiers were killed in August, as well as two Canadian aid workers, making it one of deadliest months for Canadians in Afghanistan. Canada launched its Afghan mission in February 2002, and about 2,500 Canadian soldiers are now serving in the war-torn country, most of them in the volatile south. With Wednesday's deaths, the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan has risen to 96. A Canadian diplomat also died. The three Canadian soldiers, from left, Pte. Chad Horn, Cpl. Andrew Grenon, and Cpl. Mike Seggie, were killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday morning. full story Peace