The RCD in Shah Wali Kot

I’ve just finished several impressive interviews with MCpl Sean Chard with some follow-up from MWO Shawn Mercer.   The RCD recce squadron deployed to Afghanistan in the fall of 2008 to cover the northern reaches of Kandahar Province during its tour. For me, it’s a great story of a small group of Canadian soldiers who carried out a challenging mission on their own, while the bulk of the battle group was tied up in the main fighting zones of Panjwayi and Zharey. In their area of operations they became the target of a deadly insurgent IED cell and suffered, but carried on with a dedication to duty that made Mercer proud of his men and women. I am readyto tell this story through the Chard’s eyes, but must first suffer through transcribing the interviews which I find painfully slow.