Full Name: Maj (ret) Pat Henneberry
Home Page: None.
Date and Time: 4/21/2002, 2:18 AM


Like so many in the Patricia family, it hurts to think of what happened and it has taken a while to get up the nerve to write.

To Marc Leger, Ains Dyer, Richard Green and Nathan Smith: You have harmonized a nation and we are forever indebted to you. You have made so many of us profoundly proud to have served with you and to be a part of the Patricia family. If you can see us, you know that you are loved in that unique way that only brothers in arms can be. You have seen us, all of us of all ranks passing in a hallway or unexpectedly meeting. And by the look in each other's eyes or the subtle nod of a head, we know that the other has wept for you, that we will weep again, and that it is ok to do so. Know that we grieve over you, we miss you and you will not be forgotten. Have a good one jumpers.

To the families of my brothers: We are so very, very sorry for your loss. We cannot know your unique pain and we cannot make it go away. If we could, there are a thousand of us who would turn back time and take the place of Marc, Ains, Richard and Nathan, no matter how well we knew them. We also lost a loved one. We share with you the longing for their return and we too, have an empty spot in our stomachs that is so real it hurts. We are also going through the anger, frustration, sadness and guilt. I hope you can draw some strength from us. Please know that it was our honor to serve with your husband, fiance, son or brother and that his "other" family is here for you too.

To the injured and their families: The rest of us Patricia's think of you and wish you the best. Most of all, we want you to know that though the attention is focussed on the fallen, you are not forgotten and you have made us proud.

To the rest of 3VP: You have made us so damn proud that it is not possible to put into words. We wish we were there with you. We know you will "carry on" and we hope you get another mission soon so you can get back in the saddle. Keep your heads down and come back safe. When you get home, it's my round.

To the F-16 pilot that dropped the bomb: Infantry soldiers know what it is like to look upon a night shoot. The tracers ricochet sideways and up into the air, as if they were searching for another target - like an aircraft. There are flashes of light and explosions averywhere. Flying at several hundred miles an hour, at night, in a war zone, and seeing all that, we can well imagine what your thoughts were in those very few seconds you had to make what you thought was a life or death decision in a "weapons freeze" area. Some of us also know fratricide all to well, having seen it and studied it. It was an accident, the "fog of war", someone screwed up, a miscommunication, sh** happens or whatever else causes fratricide. We will be angry at you and some may never forgive. But, most of us know you are are also a brother in arms and that you too are devastated and would like to take it all back. Try not to let this haunt you for the rest of your life. You have our sincere sympathies and we hope you and your family will recover.

Finally, to the non-military who have taken the time to express your condolences - Thank You. So often, Canadian Soldiers feel marginalized, misunderstood and unappreciated. You have raised our spirits. Know that deep down, the troops in Afghanistan accept that they are doing what they joined to do and that most of them would do it all over again if they had to. The worst thing that could happen for the Patricia's still there and in fact for the entire Army, would be to bring them home early, as some have called for. To a soldier, not completing the mission is tantamount to failure, no matter how hard he tries and no matter what the circumstances. The Army would know in that circumstance that it is not supported and will never be taken seriously if it is not permitted to take casualties. Perhaps it is not possible to understand that unless you have "been there, done that, got the t shirt." Please accept though, that bringing them home early would be devastating.

Pat Henneberry
VP

Reproduced with permission