Soldiers in Afghanistan smitten by Jean's charms
Graham Thomson, CanWest News Service; Edmonton Journal
Published: Saturday, March 10, 2007
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- To soldiers in a war zone, she is a rock star.
And it's not because of the natty clothes or the entourage or even the private aircraft, although there has to be a certain cachet when you show up in a C-130 Hercules with your own close-protection team of machinegun-toting commandos.
She is charming, funny, charismatic and their commander in chief - and Canadian soldiers serving Afghanistan are simply enchanted by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean. When she'd make a speech, they'd cram together in whatever space was available and afterwards would politely jostle each other for a chance to chat or snap a quick photo.
They beamed when she donned body armour and a helmet for a helicopter ride to Camp Nathan Smith, where the Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team is based. And they were tickled when she sat in an RG-31 armoured vehicle and worked a remote-control machine gun turret.
"She is a bit of a darling, if I can say, for the troops," said Lt.-Col. Rod Matheson. "Her being here is an outstanding thing for the soldiers to feel and to know about. Not all of them will see her, unfortunately. But just knowing that she's here and knowing that she's rubbed elbows with a number of them is good enough for the boys."
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Graham Thomson, CanWest News Service; Edmonton Journal
Published: Saturday, March 10, 2007
Article Link
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- To soldiers in a war zone, she is a rock star.
And it's not because of the natty clothes or the entourage or even the private aircraft, although there has to be a certain cachet when you show up in a C-130 Hercules with your own close-protection team of machinegun-toting commandos.
She is charming, funny, charismatic and their commander in chief - and Canadian soldiers serving Afghanistan are simply enchanted by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean. When she'd make a speech, they'd cram together in whatever space was available and afterwards would politely jostle each other for a chance to chat or snap a quick photo.
They beamed when she donned body armour and a helmet for a helicopter ride to Camp Nathan Smith, where the Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team is based. And they were tickled when she sat in an RG-31 armoured vehicle and worked a remote-control machine gun turret.
"She is a bit of a darling, if I can say, for the troops," said Lt.-Col. Rod Matheson. "Her being here is an outstanding thing for the soldiers to feel and to know about. Not all of them will see her, unfortunately. But just knowing that she's here and knowing that she's rubbed elbows with a number of them is good enough for the boys."
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