Cpl. Michael Starker was killed Tuesday while on foot patrol in southern Afghanistan. (DND)The body of a Calgary soldier killed in southern Afghanistan returned to Canada on Friday.
A military plane carrying the remains of Cpl. Michael Starker touched down at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in eastern Ontario. As bagpipes played, soldiers in uniform carried Starker's flag-draped casket out of the plane and into a hearse.
Starker, 36, was ambushed and killed Tuesday while conducting a foot patrol in the Pashmul region, outside Kandahar City. Another Canadian soldier was injured in the attack, but is expected to recover.
Starker was a medic and reservist with the Alberta-based 15 Field Ambulance and had been providing medical assistance to his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan since December. It was his second tour of duty in the wartorn country.
Born and raised in Calgary, Starker worked as a paramedic in the city, where he lived with his wife, Nicole.
He was the 83rd Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.
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