Insurgents attack outpost in Panjwaii killing 90th Canadian soldier

Master Cpl. Erin Doyle was killed early Monday when insurgents attacked a remote combat outpost in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province. He was the 90th Canadian soldier to die since the Afghan mission began in 2002.

A second soldier was seriously injured in Monday's attack and taken to the multinational hospital at Kandahar Airfield for treatment.

As many as 10 insurgents targeted the small base just before 6 a.m., taskforce commander Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson said.

Canadian soldiers returned fire and called for artillery and air support, he said, adding several of them were killed, others were injured, however, none were detained.

"Master Cpl. Doyle was killed while he was protecting his position and his fellow soldiers," he said.

"The combat outpost was engaged in a classic sort of scoot-and-shoot fashion and unfortunately Master Cpl. Doyle was killed by a direct hit on the outpost."

Thompson said the outpost is strategically located in the heart of Taliban country and its soldiers engage insurgents on a daily basis.

It serves an important role, Thompson said.

"Largely to do what we can to increase the people's confidence that the government is delivering services for them," he said.

Just last month, an attack on a remote outpost in the mountainous northeastern province of Kunar left nine American soldiers dead and 15 wounded - the deadliest assault on U.S. forces in Afghanistan in three years. It was believed to be an attempt to overrun the small, newly built base.

But Thompson described Monday's attack in Panjwaii differently.

"What they tend to do is fire a few harassing rounds and then they'll disappear into the woodwork," he said of the insurgents.

Although it can be one of the more perilous jobs for soldiers in Afghanistan, Thompson said leaving the base would be "surrendering it and the people to the Taliban."

Doyle, a burly red head nicknamed the "Friendly Giant," was a member of the 3rd battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based out of Edmonton.

This was his third tour in Afghanistan.

"Erin was a big, tough, mountain of a man who enjoyed the outdoors," Thompson told reporters.

"He was a true warrior and just the person you would want beside you in a firefight."

He leaves behind his wife Nicole and daughter Zarine. The family said there would be no comment at this time.

Chief Warrant Officer Chris White, who has known Doyle for five years, said his experience having been to Afghanistan previously was invaluable to fellow non-commissioned officers.

"He'd been in contact before with the enemy so he knows what to expect," he said. "He knows how to get through it and that sort of experience is very valuable for young NCOs."

Calling him a loyal, dedicated soldier and real professional, White said Doyle wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere other than the front line.

Weighing in at more than 200 lbs., Doyle was described as a "barrel-chested kind of guy, the kind you'd "like to sit down and have a beer with," White said.

White said he'll never forget the time Doyle volunteered to dress up as Santa Claus at a children's Christmas party.

"Unfortunately he seemed to scare more kids than he cheered up, but he's a great guy. (He's got) a real sense of humour."

A statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Doyle will be "remembered with the utmost gratitude and respect of this nation."

"He was an exceptional Canadian and courageous soldier who died while bravely serving his country," Harper said in the statement.

Monday's attack happened just two days after Master Cpl. Josh Roberts was killed in a firefight in neighbouring Zhari district.

Roberts, a crew commander with 9th platoon, C Company, was sitting in the turret of his LAV III when he was shot during a skirmish with insurgents early Saturday.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting death, however, are under investigation.

While Canadian and Afghan security forces were engaging a group of some 15 insurgents during an operation, it's believed a passing convoy guarded by private security may have also opened fire, accidentally killing Roberts.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, a branch of the military police which probes incidents involving Canadian military personnel and property, is looking into the incident.

It's not immediately clear which private security company was involved.

This, however, was not the first incident involving private security and Canadian Forces personnel.

Canadian troops fired on a private security vehicle in Kandahar City in April, killing one employee and injuring three others.

The shooting happened as a convoy from the Canadian-run Provincial Reconstruction Team was departing Kandahar Airfield and spotted a vehicle moving at high speed. Fearing a possible attack, soldiers issued several warnings to stop in accordance with standard procedure but the driver failed to pull over.

The incident involved a company called Compass Security.

Soldiers also opened fire on a Compass vehicle in October 2007, injuring seven Afghans and prompting a review of Canadian convoy protocols.