]http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060710/canada_soldier_boneca_060710/20060710?hub=TopStories]Slain soldier 'disillusioned' by Afghanistan duty
Updated Mon. Jul. 10 2006 2:54 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor is dismissing suggestions morale is suffering in Afghanistan amid reports the young soldier slain in a firefight had become desperate to leave his tour of duty.
"The morale of the troops in Afghanistan is literally fantastic as it is back here in Canada," O'Connor told reporters on Monday.
"If you get a chance, go and visit some of our infantry battalions around here, or our artillery battalions or armour and you'll find that you've got to hold them back, they want to go to operations."
Cpl. Anthony Boneca had recently become "disillusioned" with Canada's role in the conflict, his girlfriend's father Larry DeCorte said Monday.
Boneca, a reservist, didn't have the proper training to serve on the front lines where he died Sunday, DeCorte told The Canadian Press.
"He expected to be on patrol, not fighting a war for someone else,'' said DeCorte. "He wasn't ready for that.''
DeCorte said the 21-year-old had become so desperate to leave Afghanistan he was considering telling an army priest he was suicidal so that he could be discharged.
"He wanted to get on with his life,'' said DeCorte, who added his daughter Megan had been given a promise ring by Boneca.
"It wasn't happening fast enough for him. I guess it didn't happen fast enough for him.''
But O'Connor asserted that he would be surprised to discover soldiers were being misled on what their operations would consist of.
"These operations are well-planned, orders are given, they're all the way down the chain of command. So I am not contesting what Cpl. Boneca said but I'd be surprised if people are misled," O'Connor said.
O'Connor said reservists who travel to Afghanistan get the same training as other military personnel but that once they are in the region, they cannot choose to opt out.
Boneca, a reservist from the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment in Thunder Bay, Ont., was killed Sunday after Canadian troops battled Taliban gunmen near the village of Pashmol, a recent hotbed of insurgent activity.
His tour of duty was to end in three weeks.
Body on its way home
The casket carrying his remains is on its way home after a sombre ceremony at Kandahar airfield.
Canadian troops were joined by their American, British, Romanian, French and Dutch counterparts to say good-bye as Boneca's body was loaded onto an aircraft in a sunrise ceremony Monday.
Two other Canadian soldiers were wounded shortly after Boneca was killed in the same area Sunday. They suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Boneca was the 17th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan.
"He was doing outstanding work out there," said Brig.-Gen. David Fraser. "We really have to admire his professionalism and outstanding efforts to help those less fortunate."
The reservist from the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment of Thunder Bay, Ont. was reportedly nearing the end of his tour of duty.
Boneca's uncle, William Babe, told CTV the family was devastated by the loss.
"I have so many memories -- hundreds of memories -- he was just a wonderful boy and a fine young man. Very strong, very honest, really helpful and considerate. I can't say enough good things about him," he said.
Babe said Boneca was always interested in the army, but said the young soldier sounded down in the most recent phone calls.
"He said, 'It's not like you see on TV and I would never do it again,'" Babe said, adding that Boneca was serving on his second tour in Afghanistan.
Boneca reportedly joined the reserves right after high school, and had previously done tours that included guard duty in the United Arab Emirates, Elizabeth Babe, a 63-year-old aunt, told The Canadian Press.
Increased attacks
Canadian soldiers have faced increasing attacks from Taliban insurgents near the village of Pashmol, which has been a hotbed of Taliban activity in the past few months.
The Pashmol area has been a main gathering point for Taliban, who have upped attacks on coalition troops and Afghan National Police outposts.
In fighting on Sunday, Canadian troops had been mounting aggressive patrols near the village when they encountered the Taliban, sparking a firefight.
Back-up was called in, and U.S. Apache helicopters answered by bombing targets.
"This is a village long known as a Taliban stronghold," said CTV's Steve Chao, reporting from Kandahar.
"The Soviets tried to take over and attack this village and failed. The Americans have been trying for months to rout the Taliban here, and they also failed. The Canadians were having a go at it, and it's been a three-day long intensive battle."
"Today, we honour his memory as a hero who fought for what he believed in,'' she said.
My personal thoughts on this is that they are making this young man look bad after his death and that perhaps these comments would have been better left unsaid. I know that there is alot of anger and grief that comes along with the loss of someone you love, but to drag it out into the media.....well to me it just doesnt seem right. I thought all of our soldiers were taught atleast the basics of combat, and going into Afghanistan shouldnt everyone, even service staff ,be expected to fight if necessary. i know alot of things that are said before tour are different than what actually happens in theater but is it really that drastic?
