- Reaction score
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- Points
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Reproduced under the usual caveats.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=b7dbc718-452d-4fb2-93e6-9b0af8b23398&k=0
War hero beaten
Canadian medal of valour recipient taunted, attacked in an Ontario bar
Andrew Seymour, CanWest News Service
Published: Monday, March 12, 2007
OTTAWA — A Canadian soldier awarded a medal of valour for braving enemy fire in Afghanistan is angry after he says was jumped from behind and taunted by four men who beat him up in an Ontario bar this weekend.
Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was recognized for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Feb. 19, had his foot broken in three places and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his right eye.
The 27-year-old soldier also suffered a broken nose and two black eyes in the attack, which occurred early Saturday in Morrisburg., Ont., about one hour south of Ottawa.
A Canadian soldier awarded a medal of valour for braving enemy fire in Afghanistan is angry after he says was jumped from behind by four men and beat up in a Morrisburg bar this weekend. Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was awarded a Medal of Valour for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Governor General Micha‘lle Jean on Feb. 19, had his foot broken in three places and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his right eye. The 27-year-old soldier also suffered a broken nose and two black eyes in the attack, which occurred after midnight Saturday morning.
CanWest News Service
Fitzgerald said Monday he'd only been in the bar about 20 minutes when he was struck from behind.
"I don't even remember getting hit. I went and sat down at one of the tables, and next thing I knew I woke up and a hole in my head and I couldn't walk on my foot," he said, adding witnesses told him one of the men said 'what kind of f--king hero are you now' as they were being pulled off of him.
"I was just covered in blood. I didn't know what happened to me," he said.
Prior to the assault, Fitzgerald said he'd been at the bar visiting with his fiancée’s brother and some other childhood friends when he moved to the table.
After coming to, Fitzgerald said friends helped him up and drove him to the hospital.
Ontario provincial police Const. Paul Murphy said a 21-year-old Morrisburg man has been charged with aggravated assault. The man's name was not released.
Murphy said more charges are expected to be laid against the man. Police also expect to lay charges against several other suspects, he said.
After serving eight months in Afghanistan, Fitzgerald said "not in a million years" did he expect to be shown such disrespect.
"Ignorance is bliss. They obviously have no idea or any clue what the hell is going on over there," he said.
"We weren't just sitting in a camp. We're getting shot at. People are dying. Buddies of mine I've seen get blown up. They really don't have any clue and they don't know how lucky they have it here in Canada."
Fitzgerald's mother, Arlene Fitzgerald, said the attack has left her shaken and upset.
"He came home in one piece from Afghanistan, and he gets beaten up like this in his own home town," she said. "He just came back from hell."
Fitzgerald, who is a weapons instructor at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, was one of the first recipients of the Canadian Medal of Military Valour.
According to the Canadian Forces, Fitzgerald was recognized "for outstanding selfless and valiant actions" carried out on May 24, during an ongoing enemy ambush "involving intense, accurate enemy fire."
Fitzgerald "repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off the roadway, permitting the remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free."
According to the military, his "courageous and completely selfless actions were instrumental to his platoon's successful egress and undoubtedly contributed to saving the lives of his fellow platoon members."
Wow this has to be one of the lowest things I have ever read. Four guys beating a guy from behind?! For what?! Serving his country in the Sandbox?! For Pete's sake, I hope they taken care of by the full extent of the law. Speedy recovery to the MCpl.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=b7dbc718-452d-4fb2-93e6-9b0af8b23398&k=0
War hero beaten
Canadian medal of valour recipient taunted, attacked in an Ontario bar
Andrew Seymour, CanWest News Service
Published: Monday, March 12, 2007
OTTAWA — A Canadian soldier awarded a medal of valour for braving enemy fire in Afghanistan is angry after he says was jumped from behind and taunted by four men who beat him up in an Ontario bar this weekend.
Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was recognized for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Feb. 19, had his foot broken in three places and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his right eye.
The 27-year-old soldier also suffered a broken nose and two black eyes in the attack, which occurred early Saturday in Morrisburg., Ont., about one hour south of Ottawa.
A Canadian soldier awarded a medal of valour for braving enemy fire in Afghanistan is angry after he says was jumped from behind by four men and beat up in a Morrisburg bar this weekend. Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was awarded a Medal of Valour for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Governor General Micha‘lle Jean on Feb. 19, had his foot broken in three places and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his right eye. The 27-year-old soldier also suffered a broken nose and two black eyes in the attack, which occurred after midnight Saturday morning.
CanWest News Service
Fitzgerald said Monday he'd only been in the bar about 20 minutes when he was struck from behind.
"I don't even remember getting hit. I went and sat down at one of the tables, and next thing I knew I woke up and a hole in my head and I couldn't walk on my foot," he said, adding witnesses told him one of the men said 'what kind of f--king hero are you now' as they were being pulled off of him.
"I was just covered in blood. I didn't know what happened to me," he said.
Prior to the assault, Fitzgerald said he'd been at the bar visiting with his fiancée’s brother and some other childhood friends when he moved to the table.
After coming to, Fitzgerald said friends helped him up and drove him to the hospital.
Ontario provincial police Const. Paul Murphy said a 21-year-old Morrisburg man has been charged with aggravated assault. The man's name was not released.
Murphy said more charges are expected to be laid against the man. Police also expect to lay charges against several other suspects, he said.
After serving eight months in Afghanistan, Fitzgerald said "not in a million years" did he expect to be shown such disrespect.
"Ignorance is bliss. They obviously have no idea or any clue what the hell is going on over there," he said.
"We weren't just sitting in a camp. We're getting shot at. People are dying. Buddies of mine I've seen get blown up. They really don't have any clue and they don't know how lucky they have it here in Canada."
Fitzgerald's mother, Arlene Fitzgerald, said the attack has left her shaken and upset.
"He came home in one piece from Afghanistan, and he gets beaten up like this in his own home town," she said. "He just came back from hell."
Fitzgerald, who is a weapons instructor at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, was one of the first recipients of the Canadian Medal of Military Valour.
According to the Canadian Forces, Fitzgerald was recognized "for outstanding selfless and valiant actions" carried out on May 24, during an ongoing enemy ambush "involving intense, accurate enemy fire."
Fitzgerald "repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off the roadway, permitting the remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free."
According to the military, his "courageous and completely selfless actions were instrumental to his platoon's successful egress and undoubtedly contributed to saving the lives of his fellow platoon members."
Wow this has to be one of the lowest things I have ever read. Four guys beating a guy from behind?! For what?! Serving his country in the Sandbox?! For Pete's sake, I hope they taken care of by the full extent of the law. Speedy recovery to the MCpl.
