How Canada Honours Its Heroes

At the same time, while American media were able to obtain a copy of that country's report on what happened the night of March 29, 2006, when Pte. Costall was shot in the back by an American machine gunner, the Canadian Forces has refused to reveal any information on his death. A former Canadian Forces officer with extensive experience with boards of inquiry say those in charge are watering down the report to not only protect relations with the allied countries involved, but also to cover their backs from any negative fallout. Meanwhile, the two men's devastated families have been left with unanswered questions and a lack of closure. The first time Colleen McBain heard that her nephew, Pte. Costall, may have been killed by so-called friendly fire was several days after his reported death. Ms. McBain was in British Columbia with the soldier's parents when the private's wounded comrades revealed to reporters that it might have been American forces that killed him. "We were floored, of course, because this was the first we'd heard about it," Ms. McBain said from her Thunder Bay home last week. "Just finding out about it that way was so hard." An American soldier, Sgt. Thomas Stone, was killed by the same gunner that night, and after the news broke that the fire came from U.S. forces, the Canadian and American militaries clamped down on any further details as they launched investigations. "It is inappropriate for us to speculate on the events of 28 March as they will be examined as part of the investigation," Brig.-Gen. David Fraser said in a statement on April 4, 2006. "Further information will be made available as appropriate once the investigations are complete." http://www.embassymag.ca:80/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2007/july/18/heroes/

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