This memorial was unveiled in memory of the members of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) who died while training or serving in Afghanistan.
Mariebeth Short was born in January 1980 in Comox, BC. She joined the military in January 2000 and after completion of her Field Engineer Qualification Level 3 course, she was posted to 2 CER in April 2001. Sapper Short was killed on 23 September 2002 as a result of an armoured vehicle accident while undergoing driver training.
Shane Hank Stachnik was born in Edmonton in 1975. He joined 8 Field Engineer Regiment in 1994 and transferred to the Regular Force a year later. After completing his sapper training, he was posted to 2 CER where he rose through the ranks and twice deployed to Bosnia, to Afghanistan in 2003 and to Sri Lanka in 2005, followed by a second tour to Afghanistan in 2006. Sergeant Strachnik was killed on 3 September 2006 in Kandahar City, when ambushed while leading his section during OP MEDUSA. He is buried at the Beechwood National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.
Gregory John Kruse was born in December 1968 in Campbellton, NB. He joined the military in 1989 and after completing his sapper training, was posted to 4 Engineer Support Regiment Gagetown. While at 4 ESR, he deployed to Croatia, Bosnia and Eritrea. He was posted to 2 CER in 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan in August 2008. Sergeant Kruse was killed on 27 December 2008 when an explosive device detonated while he was conducting security operations in the Panjwayi District. He is buried at the Beechwood National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.
Sean David Greenfield was born in March 1983 in Pinawa, MB. He joined the military in 2005 and following the completion of his sapper training, was posted to 2 CER in February 2007. He deployed for his first operational tour to Afghanistan in September 2008. Sapper Greenfield was killed on 31 January 2009 as he participated in a major operation to locate and dismantle Taliban bomb-making installations in the Zhari District. He is buried at the Beechwood National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.
James Patrick MacNeil was born in July 1981 in Glace Bay. NS. He joined the military in 2000 and after completing his sapper training, was posted to 2 CER where he rose through the ranks. While at 2 CER, he twice deployed to Bosnia and Afghanistan. Sergeant MacNeil was deployed on his second tour in Afghanistan when on 21 June 2010 he was killed by an improvised explosive device, while on a foot patrol near the village of Nakhonay.
