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Home is in sight for the Manitoba and Alberta soldiers – and their civilian support personnel – fighting and building in Afghanistan.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2009 (5596 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Home is in sight for the Manitoba and Alberta soldiers – and their civilian support personnel – fighting and building in Afghanistan.

It’s been a gruelling six months.

The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo and Edmonton, has had about 2,000 soldiers in Kandahar province, acknowledged as the most dangerous spot in the war–torn country. In fact, as the soldiers prepared for their trip home, three of their comrades – combat engineers attached to the PPCLI – were already on their way, their coffins loaded on a military transport that will have their bodies home in Canada tonight.

Along with the ever–present danger of death, the soldiers have endured the heat and dust of an Afghan summer.

Winnipeg Free Press photojournalist Joe Bryksa recently completed a two–week assignment in Afghanistan. Here is a sample of what he saw as he followed the Canadians in Kandahar. There are many more photos on a special web page, www.winnipegfreepress2.com/warzone/

There will be a welcome–home celebration this fall in Brandon for the veterans. For some, they will be completing their third tour in Afghanistan.

WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba decide to move a  155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 they decided that moving the gun would give more latitude for the target selected. Big truck is brought in the re-position the canons- Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba decide to move a 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 they decided that moving the gun would give more latitude for the target selected. Big truck is brought in the re-position the canons- Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba lean on the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 they were up all night firing into the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan  where the Taliban insurgents were and were enjoying their downtime- Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba lean on the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 they were up all night firing into the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan where the Taliban insurgents were and were enjoying their downtime- Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba  get ready to  fire the  155 mm Howitzer artillery for the third time in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba get ready to fire the 155 mm Howitzer artillery for the third time in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba  get  new shells ready to  fire the  155 mm Howitzer artillery in case the mission is continued on the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba get new shells ready to fire the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in case the mission is continued on the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba . They rush to get the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in position in  the morning of Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba . They rush to get the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in position in the morning of Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba  fire the  155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba fire the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba  have pile shells ready to go after a mssion was suspended firing the 155 mm Howitzer artilleryon the morning of Aug 09, 2008 - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba have pile shells ready to go after a mssion was suspended firing the 155 mm Howitzer artilleryon the morning of Aug 09, 2008 - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba get the shells ready to fire the  155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 they were up all night firing into the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan  where the Taliban insurgents were and were enjoying their downtime, but soon found themselfs firing again in the morning- Aug 05, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba get the shells ready to fire the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 they were up all night firing into the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan where the Taliban insurgents were and were enjoying their downtime, but soon found themselfs firing again in the morning- Aug 05, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba their break in the morning was cut short when a firing mission came in to shoot the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008. -
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba their break in the morning was cut short when a firing mission came in to shoot the 155 mm Howitzer artillery in the morning of Aug 09, 2008. -
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba  get orders to stand down the mission to shoot the  155 mm Howitzer artillery during the morning of Aug 09, 2008 - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba get orders to stand down the mission to shoot the 155 mm Howitzer artillery during the morning of Aug 09, 2008 - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba has a second gun ready to fire and loads. The 155 mm Howitzer artillery  fired in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents-Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba has a second gun ready to fire and loads. The 155 mm Howitzer artillery fired in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents-Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces  from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba  fire the  155 mm Howitzer artillery the second time in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
WINNIPEG OUT- WEB OUT-JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Panjwayi District, Afghanistan- Canadian Forces from C Troop B Battery from the 2nd Princess Patricia Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba fire the 155 mm Howitzer artillery the second time in the morning of Aug 09, 2008 at Taliban insurgents - Aug 09, 2008
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