The holiday season had a tragic ending for four Canadian Forces soldiers serving in Afghanistan and a journalist embedded with the troops in Kandahar province.

The four soldiers, serving with Joint Task Force Afghanistan and the reporter died, while four other Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were injured in an explosion of an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, December 30.
The incident occurred four kilometres south of Kandahar City at approximately 4 p.m., Kandahar time, as a result of an improvised explosive device attack on an armoured vehicle during a patrol.
Killed in action were Sergeant George Miok a member of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Edmonton, Alberta and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team; Sergeant Kirk Taylor a member of 84 Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Corporal Zachery McCormack a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 4th Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, and Private Garrett William Chidley a member of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Manitoba and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Also killed was Michelle Lang, a Canwest journalist from Calgary, embedded with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.
Four Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were also seriously wounded in the incident. All of the injured were evacuated by helicopter to the Multi-National Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield. The injured soldiers and civilian are reported to be in stable condition.

Members of Task Force Kandahar are committed to improving security and increasing development in Kandahar Province.
Canadian Defence Minister once again mourned the loss of life, as well as Lang's dedication, in particular, to her job.
"Today I stand with all Canadians as we mourn the loss of four brave and selfless Canadian soldiers and one Canadian journalist who died after the vehicle they were riding struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on patrol in an area south of Kandahar.

‘'I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sergeant George Miok, Sergeant Kirk Taylor, Corporal Zachery McCormack, and Private Garrett William Chidley who were killed yesterday while working to bring peace and security to the people of Afghanistan. My thoughts are also with the loved ones of Michelle Lang who was also killed while bravely risking her life to report on the important work Canadians are undertaking.

‘'Canadians have a much better understanding of what we are accomplishing in Afghanistan as a result of the risks journalist like Ms. Lang take to bring the story back home to Canada. For this we are all grateful. We also want to wish a steadfast recovery to those wounded during this incident.''

Corporal Zachery McCormack

Sergeant Kirk Taylor

Private Garrett William Chidley 

Sergeant George Miok

Michelle Lang died while on patrol inside a personel carrier along with four other soldiers. Photo courtesy of the Calgary Herald.