Holding the Line in Shah Wali Kot

I had the privilege to speak to a former officer of D Squadron, RCD, who helped me understand more thoroughly  what happened during their tour in Afghanistan in 2008. They basically held the northern approaches to Kandahar City with only two troops of Coyotes and one infantry recce platoon. That's a big task to ask  such a small force to do. But that's the most that the 3 RCR Battle Group could afford, as the main force struggled with the Taliban in Panjwayi and Zharey Districts.

The Taliban were  not pleased that this small Canadian force  operating out of FOB Frontenac would insert itself  in the middle of  their transit route down which they moved supplies and fighters from the north to threaten Kandahar City. In fact, the insurgents had only recently made it clear that they intended to continue to  threaten the city when, following the Sarposa Prison Break, they were reported as having flooded fighters into Arghandab District from Khakrez and Uruzgan Provinces. Faced with a rapid Canadian and ANA reaction on that occasion, however, the insurgents rapidly withdrew .

During D Squadron's entire  tour, the Taliban concentrated on trying to intimidate the Canadians, launching an aggressive IED campaign against their daily vehicle patrols. The resuilts were not pleasant, with four Canadian troopers killed and many injured. That was difficult to absorb out of a small force of just over one hundred personnel.  But the officers and senior NCOs of the unit were determined that they would not let the Taliban lock them up in the FOB where they would become even more of a target. It inspired MWO Shawn Mercer to reflect that after each IED hit, the men and  women of his unit  kept going with the mission.  "What inspired me daily, and to this day, is that even after the worst of days, they  got up on their horse and went out on the very next day. You can't put a price on that. And if I could get evey one of them medal, I would."

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