Family mourns B.C. reservist killed in Afghan explosion

The partner of a B.C. soldier who died in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan on Wednesday is not only grappling with his death, but with the mission itself.

Master Cpl. Colin Bason, 28, a reservistwith the Royal Westminster Regiment who grew up in Abbotsford, B.C.,died when the armoured vehicle he was in ran over a roadside bomb outside Kandahar City. Five other Canadian soldiers and an Afghan interpreter also died in the blast.

His partner, Katrina Blain, gave birth to their daughter four days before he left for Afghanistan.

"We hear a lot about the tragedy and not a lot about any progress.I know that they feel there, we're getting somewhere. But as far as we know, they're still in the middle of a war and that's where it stands," Katrina Blain said.

"People over there are suffering and they want to enjoy the same freedoms we have and something has to be done, but at the same time, it's hard to think about all these guys losing their lives and not knowing exactly where the mission is at over there."

Bason's Royal Westminster Regiment opened its doors Thursday afternoon to allow the community to offer condolences.

In February, Bason and seven other volunteers with the Royal Westminster Regiment shipped out for Afghanistan from their hall in New Westminster. Just a few days before leaving, Bason talked to the CBC about his desire to serve his country.

"I put my name in about 18 months ago when it came up, and I put my name in every time they asked for volunteers … and here I am," Bason said.

While Bason was preparing to leave, Blain gave birth to their first child. Bason was able to spend only four days with his infant daughter, Vienna, before being sent to Afghanistan.

Adedicated soldier

Bason's his father, Gary, said his son was a dedicated soldier.

"He was so proud of the Canadian army. He wanted to do his bit. That's all he's done all his life. He went to Kosovo, he enjoyed it and he enjoyed the army life."

Gary Bason said his son had seen the danger up close in Afghanistan, including a close call in June when three other soldiers died when their M-Gator struck an improvised explosion device, or IED.

"He knew what was up," Bason's father said. "You couldn't talk him out of it. The army was his life and Canada was No. 1."

A statement by 39 Canadian Brigade Group, to which the Royal Westminster Regiment belongs, said Bason was a seven-year member of the "Westies," joining in April 2000.

"Cpl. Bason died doing what he wanted to do. Our heartfelt sympathies are with the Bason family and the families of the other five soldiers killed with Cpl. Bason," the statement said.

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell offered his condolences to the family.

"His commitment to his mission in the face of such dangers is truly inspiring, as is the commitment of the seven other members of the Royal Westminster Regiment who were sent to Afghanistan in February for a six-month mission," Campbell said in a written statement.

The explosion that killed Bason, thefiveother Canadian soldiers and their interpreter occurred in the Panjwaii district, at about 11 a.m. local time. The soldiers were returning to their forward operating base about 20 kilometres southwest of the city of Kandahar, where the bulk of Canada's 2,500 troops in Afghanistan are based.

The soldiers were travelling in a RG-31 Nyala, considered one of the safest vehicles the Canadian military uses.

Wednesday's losses mark one of the deadliest days for the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.With the latest casualties, 66 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since the mission started in 2002.