Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan

A Soldier's Tale: a Newfoundland soldier in Afghanistan (M)
by Jamie MacWhirter

In 2006, Jamie MacWhirter of Corner Brook, Newfoundland served in Afghanistan with 1st Service Battalion, an Edmonton-based deployable field unit of the Canadian Forces. While in Afghanistan he kept a journal of everything that happened either to him or one of his fellow soldiers. The result is this amazing book which is based on his journal and on his personal life. Jamie is currently station dispatcher with Canadian Forces Station in St. John's.


Warrior Rising: a soldier's journey to PTSD and back (M)
by LCol. Chris Linford

Warrior Rising is a very personal and inspirational story of LCol Chris Linford's road to a diagnosis of PTSD after three operational deployments to the Gulf War, Rwanda, and Kandahar, Afghanistan. He recounts his associated war stories, but it was the traumas that impacted him so dramatically leading him to what he describes as the very edge of his personal and professional competence. Finally years later and after months of effective treatment he discovered new ways to improve his health further and has since become involved in peer counselling and ongoing support to veterans who need assistance.


The Dogs are Eating Them Now: our war in Afghanistan (M)
by Graeme Smith

A highly personal narrative of our war in Afghanistan and how it went dangerously wrong. Written by a former foreign correspondent, this is a gripping account of modern warfare that takes you into back alleys, cockpits and prisons. From the corruption of law enforcement agents and the tribal nature of the local power structure to the economics of the drug trade and the frequent blunders of foreign troops, this is the no-holds-barred story from a leading expert on the insurgency. A bold and candid look at the Taliban's continued influence--and at the mistakes, catastrophes and ultimate failure of the West's best intentions.