04/25/2026
April 17, 2002
Kandahar, Afghanistan
The friendly fire incident incident refers to the killing of four Canadian soldiers and the injury of eight others from the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group (3PPCLIBG) on the night of April 17, 2002, near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
An American F-16 fighter jet piloted by Air National Guard Major Harry Schmidt dropped a laser-guided 500-pound (230 kg) bomb on the Canadians, who were conducting a night firing exercise at Tarnak Farms.
The soldiers who were killed were:
Sgt Marc D. Léger, Age: 29, from Lancaster, Ontario.
Cpl Ainsworth Dyer, Age: 24, Montreal, Quebec.
Pte Nathan Lloyd Smith, Age: 27, Porters Lake, Nova Scotia.
Pte Richard Green, Age: 21, Mill Cove, Nova Scotia.
Lest We Forget
For many of us we keep our memories in a box (these are pictures from my box) and that is where we like to keep our emotions of that time as well. I spoke tonight with Ken Dunn and we talked about those boxes and i started to get a little emotional and than had to put the proverbial lid back on the box. At the time of the incident i was back in Canada with rear party and took part in the National Memorial at Rexall Place in Edmonton where Prime Minister Chretien was in attendance. Also, the wounded were there as well. It was a very emotional time. At the time, i was short of money and had taken a side job for a couple months delivering papers. I delivered about 150 a day with my friends picture on them and was crying the whole time. The running room number was the number i had when i carried a number for Ainsworth in the mountain man challenge. I also included my brother Vaughan, as i came across his as well. At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them! Love you Marc, Ainsworth, Nathan, Richard and Vaughan, you will not be forgotten.
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