A thousand coalition soldiers stood at attention on the tarmac at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan Monday morning as the flag-draped casket of Cpl. Anthony Boneca was gently loaded on to a plane for his last trip home.  

Canadian, American, British, Romanian, French and Dutch soldiers were sombre and silent as they watched the ceremony marking the departure of Boneca, a 21-year-old reservist from the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment based in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Cpl. Anthony Joseph Boneca, a 21-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
(DND)

He was killed on Sunday morning as international and Afghan soldiers moved into a region west of Kandahar City, which has been a hotbed of Taliban activity over the past few months.

Top general vows to push on

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan, called Boneca's death a "tragic loss," extending his sympathy to the soldier's family and friends.

"I think the one thing we've got to understand is that he was doing outstanding work out there," Fraser said. "We really do have to admire his professionalism and his heroic efforts to help out people who are less fortunate."

But Fraser said Boneca's death would not stop Canada's 2,300 soldiers from continuing their mission in Afghanistan. They're part of the U.S.-led international forces that have been trying to stabilize the country since the Taliban government was ousted after the al-Qaeda attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

"We're going to carry on operations as they are going on right now," Fraser said. "We're not going to pull back. We're going to push through for as long as it takes."

Prime minister offers condolences

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement sending condolences to Boneca's family, friends and comrades.

"On behalf of Canadians, I praise Corporal Boneca's courage and self-sacrifice and I take comfort knowing that his memory will live on in the spirit of fellow Canadian Forces soldiers serving around the world, and in the hearts of his countrymen who pray for their safe return."

Boneca was due home within month

Boneca's uncle, William Babe, said his nephew was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan and serving with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

"He spent his last tour in Kabul, and this year, when the war escalated, he went to Kandahar with the Princess Pats," Babe told CBC News from Thunder Bay. 

"He was due home at the end of this month."

Boneca was 17th Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan since the first battle group was sent to the country in February 2002. A Canadian diplomat was also killed.