Thursday, July 10, 2008

Medic killed in Afghanistan returns to Canada

There is something special about combat medics; they are eager to save lives and help the wounded; fellow soldiers as well as local Afghans. Such was the case for Pte. Colin Willmot a medic with 1 Field Ambulance at Edmonton Garrison. Pte. Willmot was killed last Sunday morning by an IED while on foot patrol.

Ironically Pte. Willmot was not originally slated to join his peers from 1 Field Ambulance to deploy to Afghanistan. When he learned of the deployment he started bugging his regimental sergeant major to include him on the mission. Finally a vacancy opened up and he got his wish.

He was flown to CFB Trenton yesterday for a formal ramp ceremony and today there was another convoy of hearse and black limousines on the Highway of Heroes. RIP Pte. Willmot.

According to Canwest News about 15 family members attended a repatriation ceremony at the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ont., Wednesday for a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan on the weekend.

An Air Bus plane carrying the body of Pte. Colin William Wilmot touched down at CFB Trenton at about 2 p.m. for the traditional ceremony to honour fallen military personnel.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay attended the sombre affair for Wilmot.

Lt. Annie Morin with CFB Trenton said as well as friends and family, a man with a tractor-trailer painted brightly with the words "support Our troops" attended the service to show his support.

"It was nice," she said. "We don't normally see that."

The 24 year old, who has been described as an easygoing young man with a keen intellect, had recently returned to the war zone from leave and was extraordinarily proud to be engaged to his fiancee, Laura.

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