NR–08.090 - December 28, 2008
OTTAWA - The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Gateway, issued the following statement today on the deaths of two Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan:
"We mourn the loss of two Canadian Forces members, Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge and Sergeant Gregory John Kruse, who died yesterday while conducting security operations in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device detonated near them.
My thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and comrades during this difficult time, and with the four other CF members who were injured in the same explosion. I wish them a swift recovery.
Canada will not be deterred from executing this UN-sanctioned, NATO-led mission, though it is a challenging one. The Taliban cannot be allowed to once again plunge Afghanistan into a state of repression and fear.
Warrant Officer Roberge and Sergeant Kruse were brave soldiers, and their selfless efforts to help improve the lives of the Afghan people will not be forgotten."
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Warrant Officer Roberge was from the 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada. He was serving as a member of the Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team. Sergeant Kruse was from 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
