CFB TRENTON — The body of a Canadian soldier who died Monday in a German military hospital after being wounded during an Afghanistan foot patrol arrived back on Canadian soil Thursday afternoon.
The casket of Cpl. Brian Pinksen, of Corner Brook, N.L., arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton at around 2 p.m., and was met by a number of dignitaries, including Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk.
A Canadian Forces spokeswoman said about 20 members of Pinksen's family were expected to attend Thursday's repatriation.
In Germany, a ramp ceremony was held at a military airfield in Landstuhl for Pinksen, who died on Aug. 30 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre after suffering wounds eight days earlier while conducting a foot patrol in dangerous Panjwaii district.
Pinksen was walking a short distance between two Canadian combat outposts on Aug. 22 in the village of Nakhonay, 18 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City, when an improvised explosive device planted by insurgents was detonated, wounding him and a fellow servicemen.
Both soldiers were treated at the scene before being airlifted to a medical facility at Kandahar Airfield. They were then flown to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre hospital, located in southwestern Germany, three days later. The second soldier is recovering.
In Pinksen's hometown of Corner Brook Wednesday night, a candlelight vigil was held for the young soldier.
The vigil was organized by two former high school classmates who graduated with him in 2008.
Grant Gillingham, Pinksen's cousin, said he's grateful Jennifer Caravan and Meagan Musseau organized the vigil, saying the ceremony helped him remember what kind of person Pinksen was.
Gillingham said it was easy to see by the crowd in attendance that his cousin, who was one of his best friends, touched a lot of lives.
"He was loved by so many people," Gillingham said. "You could see it here tonight."
Pinksen was from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, based in Corner Brook, N.L., and served with 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
He is the 152nd Canadian soldier to die as a result of the Afghanistan mission since it started in 2002, and at least the sixth to die from injuries sustained in or around Nakhonay since 2009.
With file from Corner Brook Western Star
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