KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A Canadian platoon commander killed in a running battle with Taliban militants this week was remembered by his comrades Wednesday as a man with a fiery sense of humour and a passion to lead.
Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary, known as "Stevo'' to his friends, began his final journey home after a ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield attended by thousands of NATO soldiers.
"His wish to serve his country by leading troops into combat was one of his greatest desires,'' said Capt. Darren Persaud, chaplain of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group.
"When he was informed that he was coming to Afghanistan, he could not have been happier.''
Leary, 32, graduated from officer's training in September 2006 and was on his first overseas deployment when he died of wounds sustained in a prolonged gun battle with insurgents in Panjwaii district.
"He loved his wife, he loved his work, and he loved his troops,'' said Persaud. "He was a soldier's leader, and a great friend.''
Some of the bearer party, who braced his flag-draped casket on their shoulders, wore shattered expressions that melted into tears as they carried the young officer to the ramp of a waiting Canadian C-130 Hercules transport, the strains of a piper's lament behind them.
The sunset service took place on the sand-whipped tarmac of the main NATO base in Kandahar.
Leary is the 84th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
His commanding officer described the Brantford, Ont., native as a "very solid individual,'' renowned for his loyalty to his troops and an inspiration to the men and women who served under him.
"He was always considering them first,'' said. Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould, the battle group commander.
"It was always the mission and the men; they were always first, well before any of his own personal thoughts.''
Leary was killed Tuesday when his joint Canadian and Afghan army patrol was ambushed in Panjwaii district, west of Kandahar.
His unit, which the army has not identified because the majority of troops remain in the field, came under sporadic but intense fire. As his troops were moving to a safer position, Leary was hit.
An air strike was called in and Taliban militants were driven back, allowing for a helicopter to evacuate the mortally wounded leader. Battlefield medics and doctors struggled to save him, but Leary was pronounced dead at the NATO military hospital.
Corbould said the troops from Leary's company who couldn't attend Wednesday's ceremony held their own memorial in the field.
"They're handling (his death) as well as can be expected and getting on with mission; they're loyal to his memory,'' he said.
Maj. Michael Wright, Leary's commanding officer back in Shilo, Man., released a statement Wednesday calling Leary "an excellent officer and a dedicated soldier.''
"Our focus is now firmly on the support that we will provide to (Leary's wife) Rachel and the entire Leary family to ensure that Rich's final voyage to Canada is conducted with the dignity and respect that he deserves,'' the statement said.
Insurgents have been springing an increasing number of ambushes on Canadian troops, who have taken to foot patrols more often in an effort to instill more confidence among Afghan civilians.
The strategy is seen as key in winning the trust of people who have been suspicious and hostile to foreign soldiers.
Up until the last month, the Taliban preferred to use homemade bombs and booby traps to attack NATO troops, inflicting 39 out of Canada's 84 military deaths with such devices.
Cpl. Michael Starker, a Calgary reservist and paramedic, the previous Canadian soldier to die, was killed in an ambush May 6.
