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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 22, 2006 - 3 Soldier lives to tell his Taliban tale By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The sound of allied ammunition exploding as gunfire rushed by his body was the best sound T.A. Blakelock graduate Charlie Long said he could ever hear. "It means you're not going to die today," the 21-year-old Canadian infantry soldier told several dozen Blakelock students Monday. Long, who was just promoted from the rank of Private to Corporal this month, was at his alma mater to talk about his recent experiences in Afghanistan. He returned to his Edmonton military base last fall after serving seven months in Operation Archer. As an infantry soldier, he's one of the front-line, on-the-ground guys in "scraps" and his company was in Afghanistan to locate and terminate the Taliban threat. Operation Archer saw Long and his company move out from the main Canadian base at Kandahar Airfield nicknamed Red Devil Inn in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Long arrived at Kandahar and lived briefly in a tent that accommodated 200. From there his company moved out to travel the countryside, going from village to village, talking to people in efforts to track the Taliban believed to operate out of the mountains. Long said his company often entered a village only to see the villagers leaving -- and knew the Taliban were there. As his company tracked Taliban fighters through the dry, mountainous terrain, his was the first Canadian infantry outfit to see combat fighting since the Korean BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER BATTLEGROUND: Afghanistan veteran and former T. A. Blakelock graduate Corporal Charlie Long speaks to Blakelock students about his recent service in Kandahar. War. too. Long, who graduated from While Long wore his combat Blakelock in 2003 and headed into fatigues to Blakelock, he planned a military career after serving with on donning his dress uniform for Oakville-based 540 Golden Hawks the cadet visit, said his father Doug cadets, is home for Christmas. Thompson, who operates a local He recently visited some teach- cable assembly manufacturing ers at Blakelock and they, along company. with some students, felt that a Thompson and Long's brother, presentation by Long would be of Patrick, a recent graduate from interest to current students. Abbey Park High School, were at Long did such a good job Blakelock to hear Long's talk. Monday, he was returning Wearing the familiar Support Wednesday to speak to another the Troops yellow ribbon, group of students. Thompson said he supports his And besides the holidays, Long son's career choice, even admits to is keeping busy. He was going to having considered the option himstop by his former cadet squadron, self as a young man. However, he admits this doesn't stop him from worrying -- a mild descriptor for what a parent goes through when their child is fighting a force such as the Taliban on their home turf. As TAB principal Stuart Miller admonished students to "lose their hats" at Monday's assembly, Thompson admitted he watched his son's reaction. "He didn't flinch. He knows what's expected of him," said Thompson, noting he recalls when Long was a typical teen being cautioned not to wear a hat inappropriately and admitting he sees plenty of evidence of how his son has grown up. Back in Canada for training, Long is scheduled to return to Afghanistan in January 2008. "The tour is the worst part," said Thompson, explaining the Canadian military deserves credit in that it never sends a soldier on tour without a minimum of two years' training. Long, who showed students a slide show of his trip taken by a photographer, who travelled with the company and even photographed the soldiers during combat, himself noted how he and his fellow soldiers were bright at the beginning of their sevenmonth tour, but "drained to say the least" at the end. Long signed up for military service the day after his high school graduation formal. He officially joined the military in January 2004 and did his basic training in Quebec. Long was then stationed at CFB Edmonton, where he completed his soldier qualification and other training before being stationed in Afghanistan early in 2006. "There aren't too many people from Oakville in the military," said Long, who grew up in Glen Abbey. He spoke of not showering for 50 days, going 50 days without fresh food, but rather Iron Peas a.k.a. military rations, sleeping in holes dug into the ground, temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius during the day, but cold at night, and drinking a case of bottled water a day ­ hot water, warmed by the sun and stifling heat -- and still being dehydrated. He also admitted preferring combat with the enemy than living in fear of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). See Canadian page 3 GLENLEVEN CHRYSLER C H RYS L E R · J E E P · D O D G E Chrysler Aspen THE ALL NEW 2007 LINE UP IS HERE! Chrysler Sebring Jeep Compass Jeep Wrangler Serving the community for 45 years! BRAND NEW Dodge Nitro 2007 DODGE CARAVAN · 3.3L V6 · 4 Speed Automatic Transmission · Air Conditioning · AM/FM/CD Sound System · 7 Passenger Seating ONLY L $ Plus $1,300 Freight 0 17,995 7 YOU CAN'T BEAT THE VALUE OF * THIS VAN! 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