The body of the second Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan this year is on its way home after a sombre ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield on Sunday.
More than 2,000 soldiers, including American and British troops, bid farewell to Sapper Sean Greenfield, who was killed Saturday afternoon when the armoured vehicle he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device outside of Kandahar City.
The other soldiers in the vehicle were unharmed.
Greenfield, 25, was a member of 24 Field Engineer Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based out of Petawawa, Ont., serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group.
He was taking part in a joint operation with American and British troops to root out the Taliban's bomb-making materials in the Zhari and Panjwaii districts.
During Sunday's ceremony, Padre Roy Laudenorio described Greenfield as a dependable member of his regiment who loved his job.
"He was passionate in his love of music: playing the guitar and singing," Laudenorio said. "His friendliness, his generous big smile, and his contagious positive disposition towards work will be greatly missed by his friends and section members."
Greenfield is the 11th Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan since December. All have been killed in roadside bomb attacks.
While the Taliban are usually quiet through Afghanistan's harsh winter months, militants have kept up a steady stream of deadly attacks against foreign soldiers.
The Taliban claims the attacks are part of a new campaign against coalition forces.
Canadian military officials have dismissed those claims and say that their successes at finding weapons caches have compromised the Taliban's plans.
Greenfield was with 500 other soldiers Saturday on a mission to uncover Taliban bomb-making materials.
Canadian soldiers found several caches of weapons, IED-making materials, drug labs, and what appeared to be emergency clinics where injured Taliban fighters were treated.
The biggest victor of the week, commanders say, is that some Afghans are starting to cooperate and months of whittling down the Taliban supplies is paying off.
