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Kandahar Dispatches

Tom Parry's final post from Afghanistan

Comments (8)

Wednesday, March 7, 2007 | 01:40 PM ET

By Tom Parry

I'm on the plane to Dubai. My time in Afghanistan is done. For now.

Richard and I worked twenty-four hours straight yesterday. It began at four in the morning, talking to Canadian soldiers on their way out to Operation Achilles. There was excitement and anticipation. No fear that I could see.

Brigadier-General Tim Grant, the fellow in charge of Canadian troops, told us later he hoped Canadians wouldn't have to fire a shot throughout their mission. I'll second that.

The day ended with news a Canadian soldier had died at Kandahar Airfield in an accidental shooting. As I write this, I have no idea what the circumstances were surrounding the death. I hope the family is alright or at least doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

When I came to Afghanistan, I said my goal was to not cover a ramp ceremony sending a fallen Canadian soldier back home. I had hoped nobody would get killed during my time in theatre. I guess you hope no one ever gets killed.

Richard & Tom

Thanks for reading the stuff I've written. And thanks for all the responses people sent in. To answer a few questions that were posted: To Jan, that is my blood type on the flak vest. It's there just in case. To Alice Randolph, I'm sure your son, like the other American soldiers I met, is working hard in Kandahar. The Canadians can't believe the American tours last a year. To F.G. Saunders in Victoria, I tried to speak to your son, the fire chief at the PRT, but he wasn't around the day I was there. To Stephane, the sentry on the LAV during the Million Dollar Convoy, I found the "off" switch on the heater during my second ride with you guys out to the police station in the north end of Kandahar. So I didn't cook in the back seat. Thanks for getting Richard and me back safely twice. To everyone else, keep debating the pros and cons of the mission. That's democracy. To my family, I'll be home soon.

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Comments (8)

Vancouver

It's a shame you're leaving now, just ahead of when things are expected to get much more intense. I think that's when such reporting is needed most. At least there was some realistic detail to it, not filtered through some pre-existing pro- or anti-military bias. I hate seeing the kind of cheap politics that sees stances taken that are ignorant of reality, and where polticians treat the public like idiots and simply exploit the situation for their own domestic political gain. So kudos at least for giving people more in the way of facts from the ground-level. Most of the time the public is stuck relying on spin-doctored press releases, as we are pushed to "take sides" in a way that is far too simplistic. Anything that takes us out of the realm of spin and into the realm of real information is welcome, we need more of it.

Posted March 12, 2007 05:13 PM

unknown soldier

canada

i do realize a lot of the reporting is good. and to reference the guy from the UK. the reporting i have seen on this website seems to be...open to interpretation...as a person on the ground here you guys really know how to spin a story...its like you report from the way you see things go down and not actually go down...anyway i do appreciate the fact that you seem for the most part pro military and in support of the effort...and for that i am appreciative of...the average canadian i have spoke to has no real idea of whats going on out here they just make there opinions and have no real evidence...i request that you guys keep reporting the news in a more truthful yet provocative manner...

thank you

Posted March 10, 2007 03:26 PM

Kit Krasemann

Dartmouth,NS

Thank you for your reportage both words and pics. It is refreshing to get straight reporting from the "Front" rather than the slanted drivel that passes for on-site reporting these days.
I hope the additional armour that we worked on for the LAVs helped and helps.
From another time, another place, another war,"Its time for the Freedom Bird, time to go home, lads." Thanks!

Posted March 9, 2007 07:00 AM

I am sad to hear that your leaving, but I am sure your family is happy too hear that your on your way home. I have found your reporting to be comforting and helpful to me, as my son is there serving with the Canadian troops. Thank you for that!! Job well done, and a well deserved rest I know you have earned it. As far as the rest of all you British Columbians, show your support to our troops and the people that are out there supporting them.

Posted March 9, 2007 03:07 AM

Sgt. (retired) Terry R

First thanks to all our men and women in Afghanistan and in other places through out the world and those behind the scenes here at home. Somehow saying thanks just doesn't seem appropriate enough but that is all my limited vocabulary can come up with.
Sorry to put you (Tom and Richard and the rest of your crew) second, but thanks to you as well for the articles and pictures and to the CBC for hosting the blog that people can send to.
Thanks to the ones that wrote in to support our armed forces and took up battle with those opposed to it. I will not add any comment to it as it is unfair to go into a battle of wits with those that, to me, seem to be truely unarmed.
Thanks again to all for your great work on the ground, for all the reports and for all the support.

Posted March 9, 2007 02:42 AM

Parents of a Soldier

Canada

We would like to thank you for reporting from Afghanistan. Have a safe trip home. Your photos and reports gave us a better understanding of the work our son is doing there.

Posted March 8, 2007 07:54 PM

F G Saunders

Thanks Tom for your reports, have a good trip home. My son, the Fire Chief at the Kandahar Provincal Reconstruction Camp was out on a "road trip" for a few days. He has now returned to Kandahar Air Field.

Thanks again.

Posted March 8, 2007 07:41 PM

Rob Lowe

Hi,

I live in the UK and I'm Scottish, but I have found your reporting an amazing window on the life our servicemen (both Canadian and UK) have in theatre. I've found the BBC of late have taken a more political/spin orientated approach to their coverage. Following my Nova Scotian cousins advice I checked out the Canuck side. Glad I did, simple informative non-biased journalism allowing you to make up your own mind. It's good to see it still exists!

Thankyou lads, enjoy your rest.

Posted March 8, 2007 04:52 AM

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