Fallen Canadian soldiers honoured in Kandahar

Hundreds of soldiers gathered on an airstrip in Afghanistan Tuesday to honour two Canadian soldiers killed on duty, one of whom was remembered by his family as a faithful son and wonderful brother.

To the sounds of a lone bagpiper, the bodies of Cpl. Francisco Gomez of Edmonton, 44, and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29, from Montreal were carried across Kandahar Air Field.

The flag-covered coffins were loadedonto a Canadian C-130 Hercules for the flightback to Canada.

Hours later, thesame airfield where the farewell service was held came under rocket attack.

No one was injured and officials said the rocket did not cause any damage.

Gomez and Warren died on Saturday when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle near their eight-wheeled Bison troop carrier near the coalition base in Kandahar.

Eight others, including one Canadian, were injured in the attack.

Sorrow, pride

Warren's family, in their first public comments since his death,said they are "devastated" by Jason's death, but proud of all he accomplished in his life and during his military career.

"Jason was a good, faithful son and a wonderful brother. As he truly believed in what he was doing in Afghanistan, we fully supported him to volunteer for this mission as we have supported him throughout his military career," said the family in a news release.

"He died doing what he loved, being a soldier and serving his country."

On Monday, Francisco Gomez's father George Gomez said from Edmonton that his son was due home for a visit in the next few weeks.

"We were looking forward to him coming and visiting and so were the little grandchildren because he plays with them," he said.

A reservist, Warren was set to return home from a six-month deployment in August.

The deaths of the two soldiers bring Canada's death toll in Afghanistan since 2002 to 19. One diplomat has been killed as well.