Ramp ceremony for two soldiers tests troops

Troops stand at attention during a ramp ceremony for two soldiers killed in a helicopter crash on Monday

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- After a tough week, this was a particularly difficult ramp ceremony even for Canadian soldiers used to the dangers of war - saying farewell to two fallen comrades at once.

More than 2,000 people gathered on Tuesday in the setting sun on the tarmac of Kandahar Airfield as the bodies of Master Corporal Pat Audet, 38, and Corporal Martin Joannette, 25 -- killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Monday -- began their final journey home.

"It's with sadness that we bring them to their last flight," Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Bigaouette, commander of Canadian Helicopter Force Afghanistan, said before the sombre ceremony. "They can leave Afghanistan with their heads up. They did an incredible service for their country."

Master Cpl. Audet belonged to the 430 tactical helicopter squadron while Cpl. Joannette came from 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment. Both were based in Valcartier, Que., and served as Griffon flight crew members of the Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing.

"They were always people with a positive attitude, and were always willing to help," Lt.-Col. Bigaouette said. "They kept a good sense of humour despite the fact that they face very difficult situations in theatre."

Master Cpl. Audet was serving as a flight engineer while Cpl. Joannette was flying as a door gunner when the Canadian multi-use helicopter went down around 1:50 p.m. local time during a mission.

At their home base, the Canadian flag was at half-mast. Friends and family of both soldiers paid tribute to them on Tuesday. Sharon Harrison, a close friend of Master Cpl. Audet, said his death is a huge loss for everyone who has come to know him.

"He's an amazing person and I'm really glad to have been a part of his life," said Ms. Harrison, who works at the Royal Military College in Kingston. "He used to say to me all the time: ‘You're the sister I never had and never wanted,' as a joke of course. He was quite the comedian," said Ms. Harrison.

Master Cpl. Audet's wife, Katherine, declined to comment on her husband's death and said the family is waiting on details of "what is going to happen next." Master Cpl. Audet was born in Montreal. He enlisted in 1988 and was on his first mission to Kandahar.

Cpl. Joannette's mother and brother thanked family and friends on Facebook for their support during this difficult time. "We're all going to miss him greatly but he'll always be in our hearts. Go in peace my big boy. Now we'll have an angel Martin to watch over us," wrote his mother, Manon Gibeau.

Cpl. Joannette was born in St. Calixte, Que., in the Lanaudière region. He joined the Forces in 2001 and was on his third mission in Afghanistan.

The Canadian military had already ruled out enemy action and a flight safety investigation is under way to determine the cause of the crash.

A British soldier also died in the accident, while three other Canadian soldiers were injured. Two have been released; one remains in hospital.

The latest tragedy brought Canada's death toll in the Afghanistan mission to four in four days. Six have died in less than a month, bringing the total number of Canadians who have died in Afghanistan since 2002 to 124.