Our neighbors to the north have suffered their first female combat death since World War II. Twenty-six year-old Captain Nichola Goddard was killed in action west of Kandahar while reinforcing “combined operations of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan police, who were involved in multiple firefights against Taliban insurgents.”
From a tribute to Goddard:
“I needed a job, I had no money,” Goddard told CTV’s Lisa LaFlamme in March while on her inaugural tour in southern Afghanistan.
“But somewhere along the way I fell in love with it.
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“(Goddard) truly believed in this mission,” said LaFlamme on Wednesday, hours after she learned of Goddard’s death.
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“She talked a lot about helping the children of Afghanistan — whatever Canada can do, helping with the desperate situation there. We spoke a great deal because we were together on a 12-day operation in that same region where, tragically, she was killed.”
LaFlamme said Goddard’s infectious spirit and dedication to the mission garnered tremendous admiration from her fellow soldiers.
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Goddard, good naturedly, laughed off a question about how she handles sleeping outdoors in overnight temperatures that could drop to -8 degrees Celsius.
“We’re sleeping way more out here than we were back in training — so right now we’re really happy.”
Goddard served in Afghanistan as an artillery captain. Specifically, a forward observation officer who accompanied ground units and was in charge of calling in any needed artillery and fire support from the air.
The captain betrayed no personal fears when asked if she felt trepidation about her first mission.
“My biggest concern is for my crew. So the big pressure is on me if I make a call and it’s the wrong call. But I won’t know that until I do it.”
Asked how she prepares her unit for the unpredictability of insurgents, in light of an incident just days earlier northeast of Kandahar where a teenaged Afghan attacked Capt. Trevor Greene with an axe, Goddard said diligence, preparation, and knowing what you have control over are the keys to surviving.
Reaction from the Canadian blog, A Step to the Right:
Today, this young woman gave her life so that Afghan women can vote, receive education, and express their own opinions (as opposed to their husbands, by law). However, tonight our elected representatives are voting on whether or not to continue the mission until 2009.
What a message it would send to our military and their families (especially that of Nichola Goddard, considering the timing of her death), if the HOC votes against the mission[.]
The House of Commons “narrowly” voted to extend Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.
RELATED: Courageous Women of War
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As Christians, the best way we can “support our troops and their families” is to pray with them, and minister especially with those families who must now bury a son or daughter.
While I was at the Pepperdine Lectures a couple of weeks ago, a young Navy chaplain LT Ron Kennedy gave an excellent presentation about that very topic, Rex: ministering to military members, especially those returning from Irag and Afghanistan. Ron was deployed with the Marines to Fallujah for a year and saw both the combat there and, upon return, the need for ministry to those men and their families. Out of 1000 men they lost 33 and awarded almost 500 purple hearts (for injury in combat).
Yes. Regardless of the convictions we may hold regarding when or if ever, Christians should participate in and support warfare, such convictions should not keep us from excerising grace to a soldier or his/her family through the tangible activities of prayer and ministry.
My heart goes out to her family and to the Canadian people. We are right next door to Canada, get their TV, newspapers and radio. When they hurt, we hurt. God be with them. No matter our best intentions, this world will never be heaven. Come Lord Jesus.
Thanks so much for posting this.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he (she) lay down his (her) life for his (her) friends.”
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