Jesse Larochelle saved a platoon of men, but he paid for it dearly. Now there\u0027s a campaign to see him awarded the Canadian Victoria Cross
Larochelle was hospitalized in recent months. Doctors were initially unable to pinpoint what was wrong, but the working theory now is that the battery of medications that physicians have had him taking for his conditions — both mental and physical — are causing internal complications.
The retired general was new to war back then, as was the generation of Canadians who served in Afghanistan. With the benefit of hindsight, and with a fresh examination of eyewitness testimony, he believes a more complete understanding and appreciation of Larochelle’s actions is possible.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Anna, his mother, was also in the army, but she left the service to raise Jesse and his older brother, Andrew. Anna’s father, Bernard Guitard, fought in Korea, so a sense of duty runs thick in the family blood. Irrigation ditches coursed throughout, and were sunk several feet below grade, making them ideal hiding spots and thoroughfares for Taliban fighters.“It was the most complex terrain you could possibly think of for a foot soldier,” Leblanc said.Oct. 14, 2006, was a Saturday. The sky, as it was every summer’s day in Afghanistan, was robin egg blue. Morning temperatures were bearable, but the thermometer was pushing past 40 C by noon.
Sgt. Darcy Tedford and Pte. Blake Williamson were instantly killed. There was no time to mourn. Leblanc had a shrapnel hole near his rib cage, but he was still upright, and was able to patch himself and another wounded man.Article contentThe situation was precarious. Both guns on the LAV jammed. Larochelle returned fire from his elevated position. He could see the Taliban fighters sifting through the grape rows.
Fifteen years later, on a late September day, Randy Larochelle was sitting at his son’s bedside in a third-floor room in North Bay Regional Health Centre about 10 days before his subsequent discharge.Article content His mother cares for him now, making sure he remembers to take his medication, and doing his shopping, banking and pretty much everything, including helping to look after his new Labrador puppy, Hemi.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Review: Kimmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy tells an urgent Canadian story with compassionFilmmaker Elle-Maija Tailfeathers has an urgent story to tell about the horrific rise – in both number and severity – of opioid overdoses in her community
Read more »
Toronto FC Pacific FC to face CF Montreal Canadian Championship final - TSN.caToronto FC moved into the Canadian Championship final with a 2-1 victory over Canadian Premier League leader Pacific FC on Wednesday night.
Read more »
Jongilpoom brand enoki mushrooms recalled for possible Listeria contaminationCanadian Food Inspection Agency recalls Jongilpoom enoki mushrooms because of possible Listeria contamination
Read more »
Montreal welterweight Yohan (White Lion) Lainesse earns UFC contract with KO winCanadian Yohan (White Lion) Lainesse earns UFC contract with big win at Contender Series
Read more »
Charitable groups in Afghanistan deliver call to action for CanadaCharitable groups working toward evacuating vulnerable Afghans out of their home country have called on Canada to step up aid.
Read more »