MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 17 Jan 11

• Remember all the damage Afghan politicians said was caused by a NATO operation in southern Afghanistan? And how Canada was helping Afghan troops build a road because elders asked for it?  Here’s a bit more on the road construction work.
• Canada’s Governor General honours 1 PPCLI for their work in Afghanistan in 2006.
• “The army has restricted the use of almost 300 trucks because of safety concerns that their turrets could come loose. The Canadian Forces is now in the process of fixing the problems on 287 of the trucks, known in the military as the Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW). The army has known about the problem since mid-2008 when soldiers at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, N.B., discovered one of their LUVW turrets had become loose. In May 2010, the service put restrictions on the use of some of vehicles, stipulating they “may only be operated if authorized by area commanders for high priority activities, provided thorough weekly inspections are completed,” noted army spokesman Maj. Martell Thompson. The restrictions affect about a third of the LUVWs, also known as G-Wagons, currently in service ….”
• Defence Minister Peter MacKay has announced the renaming of an Nova Scotia reserve unit.  “A unit that fought in South Africa, both world wars and Korea has been reborn. Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Sunday that the name of the 2nd Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) will be changed back to the Cape Breton Highlanders. The army reserve unit is assigned to the 36 Canadian Brigade Group. From its birth in 1871, many Cape Breton families have seen family members serve with the unit that won 56 battle honours. The unit lost its former name in 1955, when it was combined with Nova Scotia’s two other Highland Regiments MacKay said restoring the name “is a gesture of pride and respect for enduring traditions.” …. ” More on the unit’s history here.
• More historical references on Canada’s east coast:  “The company that operates ferries between southern Newfoundland and Nova Scotia has named its new vessels after two historic military units in Atlantic Canada. The ferries, which will join the Crown corporation’s fleet in 2011, will be named the MV Blue Puttees and the MV Highlanders. The Blue Puttees regiment represented the Dominion of Newfoundland during the First World War. It was named after the blue leg coverings, or puttees, its members wore. The Nova Scotia Highlanders regiment was created when the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, the Cape Breton Highlanders, and the Pictou Highlanders were combined in the 1950s ….”
• “Canadian sailors who braved dangerous Arctic waters and prowling German U-boats to deliver vital supplies to Soviet allies during the Second World War may finally receive a medal — thanks to the British government — for their distinctive contribution to victory. British Prime Minister David Cameron, under pressure to give full recognition to those who served in the famed “Murmansk Run,” which transported shipments of food, fuel and munitions to the besieged U.S.S.R. nearly 70 years ago, has acknowledged that U.K. veterans of the operation “missed out” on honours bestowed to soldiers in other theatres of the war and pledged to press for the striking of a new Arctic convoys medal. That recognition is likely to flow to Canadian naval veterans of the 1939-45 war and to the merchant marine sailors they escorted on supply runs to Murmansk ….” More on the World War 2 Arctic convoys (usual Wikipedia caveats) here.
• Taliban Propaganda Watch: Another NDS agent claimed assassinated in Kandahar.

Kevin Thomas McKay, R.I.P.

This from the CF:

One Canadian soldier was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated during a dismounted night patrol in the Panjwayi district, approximately 15 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City, at 8:00 p.m. Kandahar time on May 13, 2010.

Killed in action was Private Kevin Thomas McKay from the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He was serving as a member of the Task Force 3-09 Battle Group ….

Condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the fallen – we mourn with you.

John Wayne Faught, R.I.P.

This, from the Canadian Forces:

One Canadian soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device during a dismounted security patrol near the town of Nakhonay in the Panjwayi district, approximately 15 kilometres south-west of Kandahar City.  The incident took place at approximately 2:00 p.m. Kandahar time on 16 Jan 2010.  Killed in action was Sergeant John Wayne Faught from the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He was serving as a member of the Task Force 3-09 Battle Group…

Condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the latest fallen.