Pallbearers carried the casket of Cpl. Steve Martin, 24, across the moonlit tarmac late Sunday and loaded it onto a military aircraft as a piper’s skirl pierced the chilly midnight air.

Martin, who would have turned 25 on Monday and was serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment from the Canadian Forces base in Valcartier, Que., was killed when the bomb exploded near a major road construction project in an isolated region.

The area had fallen back under Taliban control and had only been secured again by the coalition in recent months.

Martin, on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, had arrived three weeks ago to conduct security operations in Panjwaii, said Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner, commander of Canada’s Task Force Kandahar.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the fallen soldier during this difficult time,” Milner said. “We will not forget the sacrifice of this soldier as we continue to bring security and hope to the people of Kandahar province.”

Martin was from St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, near Drummondville, Que.

He was stationed in Haiti earlier this year as part of Canada’s humanitarian efforts following the devastating earthquake last January. Milner described Martin as a bon vivant and someone who enjoyed the outdoors.

“I would like to express my deepest and most sincere condolences to the families and friends of Cpl. Steve Martin,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement issued early Sunday.

“The UN-sanctioned, NATO-led mission to Afghanistan remains a challenging one, but the Canadian Forces continues to serve and sacrifice, alongside our international partners, in order to help the Afghan people achieve security and stability following decades of conflict,” MacKay said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed condolences.

“Cpl. Martin was a brave Canadian who made the ultimate sacrifice while proudly serving his country,” he said. “Thanks to Canadian Forces members like him, we continue to make real progress in Afghanistan, rebuilding the country and contributing to the peace and security of its people.”

The last Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan was Cpl. Brian Pinksen, 21, who died in August when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol southwest of Kandahar.

Since 2002, 154 members of the Canadian Forces have been killed serving in the Afghanistan mission.

Four Canadian civilians have also been killed, including one diplomat, one journalist and two aid workers.

Cpl. Brian Pinksen, from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, based in Corner Brook, western Newfoundland, was serving in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.

Pinksen suffered injuries to his limbs and internal organs Aug. 22 when an improvised explosive device detonated near him during a patrol southwest of Kandahar.

He was flown to the U.S. military’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for treatment but died at the hospital after his heart failed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our fallen comrade during this very difficult time,” said the military in a news release Monday afternoon. “We will not forget Cpl. Pinksen’s sacrifice as we continue to bring security and hope to the people of Kandahar province.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also issued a statement reacting to the death.

“It is with utmost sorrow that I extend the condolences of all Canadians to the family and friends of Cpl. Brian Pinksen, a brave soldier who died due to injuries sustained in Afghanistan,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to you at this time of loss. Cpl. Pinksen served Canada valiantly and deserves the gratitude and respect of his nation.”

In total, 152 Canadian soldiers and four civilians have died as part of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan since it began in 2002.

He had dismounted from his vehicle near Nakhonay, about 15 kilometres west of the city of Kandahar, when he was killed by the improvised explosive device.

Collier, 24, was born in Toronto and raised in Bradford, Ont. He was a member of the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment based at CFB Edmonton and was serving in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.

Collier, who was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, was previously injured in a separate IED blast.

“He fought hard to overcome his injury in order to get back to doing his job with his comrades,” Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance, commander of Task Force Kandahar, said in a statement.

“Always quick to smile, Brian had an easygoing nature and a great sense of humour. Brian was an enthusiast of fine automobiles, and loved to spend time with his Audi,” Vance said.

“Any Canadian who could have seen Brian in action would have been proud of him and proud of our country for the work being done with and for Afghans.”

In another statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper commended Collier’s service, and extended condolences to the soldier’s family and friends.

“The bravery and remarkable commitment of Canadians like Sapper Collier are bringing safety and stability to the people of Afghanistan,” Harper said.

“Every day, their dedication and work protect our interests and values here at home and around the world. Sapper Collier’s sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

Collier’s is the first Canadian death in Afghanistan since June 26, when Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht, 34, and Pte. Andrew Miller, 21, died after the vehicle they were in was struck by an IED.

The latest death brings to 151 the total number of Canadian soldiers who have died as part of the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

They were attached to the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
A third soldier was taken to a hospital on Kandahar Airfield and was in stable condition.

“Although we cannot say for certain that these medical personnel were targeted deliberately, it is for certain that the threat to Afghans stemming from the influence of out-of-area fighters at this time of year is very serious,” said Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, commander of Task Force Kandahar.

“Medical technicians are indispensable to the work being done by Canadian and Afghan soldiers. They participate in every Canadian Forces patrol and operation,” Vance said.

In a statement Saturday evening, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his condolences to the families and friends of the two soldiers who “served bravely while helping to build a stable Afghanistan.”

“Our Canadian Forces members in Afghanistan daily face life-threatening situations that are created by an enemy who is working to undermine the building of a democratic and self-sustaining society,” Harper said.

“The courage and dedication demonstrated by Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht and Pte. Andrew Miller speak volumes about their pride in Canada and in creating a better country for the Afghan people.”

Soldiers based at CFB Petawawa

Vance said Giesebrecht was born in Wallaceburg, Ont., and was a member of 1 Canadian Field Hospital, based at CFB Petawawa in the Ottawa Valley.

He said she was married and a fit, dedicated and fun-loving medical technician serving her second tour in Afghanistan.

“She was a mentor and an inspiration for her fellow medical technicians. Kristal loved life to the fullest. She was a wonderful friend, always opening her heart to everyone in need,” Vance said.

“Kristal prided herself on her health and fitness, although she always felt the solution to any problem could be found in a box of chocolates.”

Miller was born in Sudbury, Ont. A member of 2 Field Ambulance, based at CFB Petawawa, he was serving on his first overseas deployment.

Vance said Miller will be remembered as someone who would give his fellow soldiers the shirt off his back and was always the first to volunteer.

“Andrew was very confident in both his soldier and clinical skills. He wanted nothing more than to be part of the Health Services Unit for ROTO 9, in Afghanistan, so that he could put his skills to the test,” he said.

“Called Caillou by his friends, everyone acknowledged the resemblance [to the children's cartoon character] as soon as they met him.”

Giesebrecht is the third Canadian woman killed in a combat situation since Canada deployed troops to Afghanistan in early 2002

Trooper Karine Blais, 21, died last April when her vehicle struck an IED in the Shah Wali Kot district.

In May 2006, Capt. Nicola Goddard died in a grenade attack in the Panjwaii district, west of the city of Kandahar.

The deaths of Giesebrecht and Miller raise the toll in Afghanistan to 150 members of the Canadian Forces and four civilians.

Sgt. James MacNeil of Glace Bay, N.S., was killed on June 21.

MacNeil was patrolling with the Afghan army near Nakhonay, a restive village southwest of the city of Kandahar, when the device exploded, Vance said.

The combat engineer is the 148th member of the Canadian Forces to die in the war in Afghanistan since 2002.

MacNeil, of Glace Bay, N.S., was “an extremely proud Cape Bretoner,” Vance said in a statement. “He couldn’t say no to a social gathering and was inevitably the life of the party.”

A man “with a big heart,” Jimmy, as he was known, was regarded as “the epitome of excellence and professionalism,” Vance said.

MacNeil was a 10-year veteran of the Canadian Forces and was on his fourth deployment. He was based in Petawawa, Ont., and serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.

In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper thanked MacNeil for his service and said: “We are all saddened by this loss.”

His loss was felt at home in Nova Scotia, as well.

“My heart goes out to his family, and it certainly goes out to his comrades that he served with over there,” said Royal Canadian Legion member Sheldon MacNeil, who is related to the soldier.

“It’s really bad when you hear it on the news and it’s British Columbia and Ontario,” he said.

“But when it hits home, it just tears the heart out of you.”

Goudreault, 35, died while on foot patrol roughly 15 kilometres southwest of the city of Kandahar, Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance said.

“Prior to the IED strike, this patrol was searching for a weapons cache in the rural area of Panjwaii district,” Vance said.

“Insurgents hide their weapons and IEDs amongst the civilian population, and soldiers like Martin — both Canadian and Afghan — are working each and every day to find and eliminate these weapons caches.”

Lt. Matthew Hoare said he won’t soon forget the battlefield lessons he learned from Goudreault.

“The guidance that he gave me personally is something that I will always carry with me,” Hoare said. “It’s a loss I think we’re all going to feel.”

Goudreault, who was born in Sudbury, Ont., was a 15-year veteran of the Canadian Forces. He was on his fifth overseas deployment when he died.

“Sgt. Goudreault was a model soldier; someone the soldiers in his section could look up to and emulate,” Vance said.

He was from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Edmonton. He was serving in Afghanistan as a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, the military said in a statement.

Harper, Jean give condolences

Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his condolences to Goudreault’s family and friends.

“The lives of the Afghan people are better due to the efforts of Canadians like Sgt. Goudreault who provide security and stability,” Harper said in a statement.

“These are the cornerstones that will allow the country to rebuild and grow into the future.” Gov.-Gen. Michaëlle Jean said she was profoundly saddened by the news.

“Yet again, we have received a cruel reminder of the dangers that daily confront our troops deployed to this troubled area of the world,” she said in a statement.

“We admire them all the more as their sense of duty compels them to answer their country’s call with valour, determination and incredible generosity.”

Goudreault is the 147th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the military began its combat mission in 2002.