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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-11-15, Page 6Page 6 November 15, 2006 • The Huron Expositor Hair Care by Glynis HAIR CUTS FOR SENIORS in the comfort of your own home. Phone Glynis Rice Licensed Hairdresser 519-348-8084 News Photojournalist tells experience of war in Afghanistan to CHSS students Susan Hundertmark Reliving the terrifying day April 22 when as a docu- mentary filmmaker, he was part of a Canadian military convoy in Afghanistan that was attacked by insurgents - resulting in the death of four soldiers - Richard Fitoussi told his story to students at /Central Huron Secondary School Friday. An internationally -known photo- journalist and graduate of Central Huron Secondary School, Fitoussi flew home from Camodia for the high school's Remembrance Day cer- emony. "I wish to send my deepest grati- tude to the parents, children, wives and siblings of those four fallen sol- diers and wish to send them this message. I am forever grateful for their sacrifice. I am alive because they are not," he told a packed gyna- sium. Fitoussi said the students should not mourn the soldiers' deaths with "tears of pity" but with "tears of hon- , our for they died' doing -something they believed in." Beginning a "beautiful blue -skied day" in a safe house in Gumbad, Fitoussi said he had no idea he was saying goodbye to his friend Lt. • 0 Hallmark cards, personal . products, non-prescription drugs, giftware All Sales Final. No Refunds. No Exchanges. EVERVTHIHIVS GOITA GO! before November 30 v3,13Y7 3tPBTIIEEMIN 430 Queen Street. Blyth 519-523-4210 Aweisoirmaargiszotatmusaviklivininlik FLU SHOT CLINICS Please wear a short sleeve shirt and bring your health card. Dr. Bokhout's Patients Flu shots will be available_ after November 15. Please call the office at 519-482-5528 to book an appointment. Dr. Hay's Patients Flu shots will be available after November 15. Please call the office 519-482-5512 after November 13 to book an appointment. Dr. Raczycki's Patients Wednesday, Nov. 22 from 10 am -12:30 pm Thursday, Nov. 23 form 10 am - 12:30 pm & 2 - 4:30 pm NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY, just come during these times. Dr Salsbury and Dr. Salter's Patients Thursday, Nov. 16 from 2 - 5 pm Friday, Nov. 17 from 10 am - 12 noon Monday, Nov. 20 from 2 - 5 pm Friday, Nov. 24 from 2 - 5 pm NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY Dr. Smith's Patients Flu shots available after Nov. 15 during office hours Monday - Thursday 9:30 am - 12 noon & 1:30 - 5 pm EVENING CLINIC Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 5 - 8 pm Any of the above physician's patients can come to this clinic. Richard Fitoussi William Turner for the last time. Fitoussi had made friends with Turner, who was known as a den mother to the troops at the "Red Devil Inns" the name soldiers used to describe their com- pound at Gumbad. Turner, whom Fitoussi had filmed the day before handing out medicine to the locals, had a good relation- ship with the elders of Gumbad village. "From my perspective, he seemed to always be willing to make the new guys feel welcome. This was doubly so for me as even I, the outsider, had been taken under his wing upon my arrival," he told the students. In a convoy travelling 75 kilometres to Kandahar, Fitoussi was in an armoured vehicle an hour into the trip when he heard the "sickening sound" of an explo- sion. "It was deep and low, quite unlike the sound of gun- fire or a mortar. At the moment of the blast a rush of air escaped our vehicle, causing a vacuum that popped my ears and stole my breath," he recalled. He then heard machine gun fire, the convoy stopped and the soldiers jumped ipto position. While Fitoussi had no idea what was happening, he turned on the camera to start recording sound. Recalling the advice of a Globe and Mail photograph- er, he got to work so he wouldn't be so terrified, feeding ammunition cases and rocket launchers to the gunners and first aid supplies out the back of the vehicle for the troops. He found out 20 minutes later that they had been attacked by Taliban insurgents and that three soldiers were dead, 15 metres ahead of his vehicle. The fourth was in critical condition but died enroute while being airlifted to hospital. "I did not know Cpl. Randy Payne, nor did I know Cpl. Matthew Dinning or Bombadier Myles Mansell. I did however have a chance to see these men in action the day before," he said. See FITOUSSI, Page 7