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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 15, 2006 - 5 · replacement parts · computer cables · ink & toner cartridges · new & refurbished computers · computer upgrades & service Soldier matured under fire "You hear the snap. That means they're shooting at you. You hear the whiz, which means the Long's recollection of his war experience is vivid. He can rattle off the exact dates and names bullet's right by your head. Then there's the of Canadians killed over the course of his seven- whoosh. That's the RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades). month term. "Once it starts happening, you fall into it. And when it comes to his own platoon, Long When something happens, you're trained, so you remembers everything. "April 22, an IED (roadside bomb) killed four know how to react." IEDs ­ bombs the enemy plants under the men, including Lt. William Turner. Our platoon road that go off when commander was trucks pass over them injured May 25 and ­ are a different story. had to go home. June "I'd rather get shot 23, my friend lost both at all day than run his legs," he said. "I over IEDs," said Long. could go on and on." "Those are just so ranThere's one dom you don't even moment in particular know where they are, Long says is especially and the enemy doesn't vivid. need to be around for It was Aug. 4, a day them to go off. There's after one of the worst just a helplessness to attacks on Canadians that." in Afghanistan up to He was in a convoy that point. Four were ­ a group of vehicles ­ killed and 10 injured when an IED went off in three separate that cost a friend in a Taliban attacks. different truck both of "We were called to his legs. the building to extract "I watched two of the wounded. They my friends pull him were inside the school out of the turret and and we were under patch him up," he pretty heavy fire from said. "Basically, they the enemy," Long saved his life." explained. After experiences He took cover like that, Long admits behind the building it's hard to look at life and when he looked Private Charlie Long the same way. around the corner, he "It just gives you a totally different outlook on saw the body of one of the Canadian soldiers everything. You look at your family and how they killed the day before. "I was staring at him, and he's just lying support you, you look at every little thing you there," said Long. "It's not the dead body that used to take for granted. "I've matured a lot," he added, smiling. fazes you, it's the fact that it's a Canadian. That Long was fresh out of high school when he really gets you." decided to join the military. It wasn't something While he admits "those moments hurt inside," any of his friends considered. Long says it's important not to dwell on them. "We live in Oakville," he said, "you go to uni"It's war and it happens. It sucks. We lost a lot versity or college after high of really good people," he said. "At school." the same time, we all knew what "You hear the snap. His desire to serve his country we were getting into when we That means they're fuelled his decision to go another signed the dotted line. We all route. knew the dangers going over shooting at you. You "We were the first Canadians to hear the whiz, which there. see that kind of fighting since "You have to learn from your means the bullet's Korea (in 1950)," Long said, noting experiences and go on with life. right by your head. he was reminded of that by the new There's nothing that's going to then there's the colonel of Princess Patricia's bring those guys back." whoosh. That's the Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) at Long and his platoon were a recent parade in Edmonton. RPGs (Rocket Propelled lucky in that none were killed and "He told us that before the few were seriously injured. Grenades)." Canadian forces were standing in They spent most of their time the shadow of World War I, World split between outpost bases Red Private Charlie Long War II and Korea. Then he said, Devil Inn and Forward Operating `You guys created your own shadBase Martello. ow.' Each day was different, and could include "That was really nice to hear, because you do tasks like guarding, patrolling or going to villages live in the shadow of those who went before you." to find out any information they could about the On Oct. 9, Long heads back to Edmonton to enemy. return to regular military life. If an opportunity In July, things changed. The Taliban started to to go to Afghanistan comes up again, he says it's pressure and combat heated up. Long remembers his first "heavy engagement" his job as a soldier, but he'd have to talk to his with the enemy ­ it was July 8, his 21st birthday. family about it first. "We will support whatever he does," "We'd been in lots of little situations before Thompson said of he and the rest of the family. "Is that, but this was the first big one," he said. "It wasn't the best way to spend my birthday, but this it difficult? Oh, absolutely. Is it something we want to see him do again? No way. But whatever is what we're trained for ­ we're professionals." While he admits "it takes a little getting used he decides to do, we're behind him 100 per cent." -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at to, getting shot at and blown up," Long says he krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com. adapted quickly. embur $ COMPUTERS, SALES & SERVICE .ca FREE COGECO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET STARTER KIT (with the purchase of any computer system) Continued from page 1 In-Store and On-Site Service · From installations and upgrades to adware, spyware, virus and trojan removal we can do it all · Software & hardware troubleshooting, wired & wireless home & small business networking · Over 15 years experience maintaining and repairing personal computers in the Oakville area · Honest advice - if we can't fix your problem, we'll tell you and you don't pay · Reasonable rates, quick response time and rapid turn around times on repairs are what we're all about · Next time you feel like tossing your computer out the window, give us a call or drop it off embur ECONOBOX4 NEW SYSTEMS! 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