KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A group of Canadian medics said goodbye to members of their military family Sunday during a ceremony for Canada's two latest victims in the war against the Taliban.
Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht, 34 and Pte. Andrew Miller, 21 were attached to a unit that was enroute to deal with a mine found in the doorway of a home Saturday when their vehicle detonated an improvised explosive device.
Giesebrecht and Miller were both medical technicians attached to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
The incident occurred at 11 a.m. local time about 20 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City.
There are only about 130 medical personnel within Task Force Kandahar and losing Giesebrecht and Miller is a blow.
"There's several people on this Roto (rotation) right now that I've been deployed with so we all know each other and it definitely is a big family. We count on each other for just about anything," said Lt. Navy Melissa Mertens after a private memorial for the two soldiers.
"I talked about it with my family before coming here and it's not what anybody wants when they come here but everybody thinks it's not going to be them. It's something that we are all aware of but it can happen," she added.
The latest deaths brings to 150 the number of Canadian Forces members to die as part of the Afghanistan mission since it began in 2002.
Two civilians -- diplomat Glyn Berry and journalist Michelle Lang -- have also been killed in Canada's mission to Afghanistan.
For medics - the risks that come with the job are quite simply a fact of life.
"I've been in the situation that they were in before. I know that they're out there to help. That's our goal out there," explained medic Pte. Jon Forsyth.
"We just want to help our soldiers so bad. We know the dangers when we go out and we accept the risk when we sign the contract."
Operational requirements by the military resulted in a scaled down nighttime ceremony for Giesebrecht and Miller, with only about 150 people allowed to attend.
While a piper played Amazing Grace their flag draped caskets were slowly carried aboard a military aircraft for their journey back to Canada.
Such services, known as ramp ceremonies, are never easy for soldiers serving in Afghanistan, however losing two individuals who provided medical aid in the field makes it even more difficult. But they realize the importance of the job.
"They were risking their lives for fellow Canadian soldiers, for fellow NATO soldiers, for the Afghan public. As medics we truly will help anybody. We have helped everybody and we'll continue to do that," said Master Cpl Sergio DeFranco.
The medics were focusing on their memories of Giesebrecht and Miller.
"Kristal was an absolute sweetheart. She would open her heart to absolutely everybody. She loved being a medic and she loved helping people," said Mertens. "I was blessed to be able to call her friend and I was really lucky to have met her and have as part of my life."
"Miller was a great soldier. He was always eager. He was the first one to always volunteer for any task that came down," said DeFranco.
"He truly, truly loved being a Canadian soldier. He wanted nothing more than to come to Afghanistan to serve his country."
