Colleagues mourn Calgary soldier with 'a heart of gold'

Although Canada's soldiers are trained to cope with the deaths of their colleagues, an Alberta commander said he was overcome with emotion when he learned that one of his corporals had been killed in Afghanistan.

"I thought I was prepared for it, then the call came," Lt.-Col. Roger Scott said, choking back tears at a press conference in Calgary on Wednesday.

Scott, the commanding officer of 15 Field Ambulance unit, was informed early Tuesday morning that Cpl. Michael Starker had just been killed while conducting a foot patrol in the Pashmul region, outside Kandahar City. Another Canadian soldier was injured in the attack, but is expected to recover.

Starker, who was 36 and married, had served as a medic and reservist with 15 Field Ambulance since 2003, and was one of about a dozen soldiers in the unit serving overseas.

"I like to think that I’m commander of a unit that’s very close to each other," Scott said. "We are a regimental family, and a member of our family is lost. It’s a very emotional time."

Starker provided medical assistance to Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, where he had been serving since December. Starker had volunteered to serve in the war-torn country because he wanted to help out in any way he could, Scott said.

The corporal, described as dedicated, loyal and highly skilled, was well-equipped for the role, having worked since 2005 as a paramedic in Calgary, the city where he was born and raised.

Paramedics fly flag at half-mast

The paramedics who worked with Starker flew the Canadian flag at half-mast outside Calgary's Emergency Medical Services headquarters on Wednesday. Many of Starker's colleagues said they were struggling to cope with his death.

"His friends would describe him as being a man with a heart of gold, as being a very great man," said EMS chief Tom Samson.

"He was one of those individuals that brought out the very best in everyone. He was one of those guys that would stand up when you needed somebody to stand up."

Starker, who had served in the regular forces before becoming a reservist, always made his patients a priority, his colleagues said.

"I remember him just being a very compassionate individual who just really cared about his patients," said EMS Chaplain John Hein.

A statement issued by his family late Wednesday afternoon described Starker as a man who loved both his work as a paramedic and as a soldier, and who died doing what he loved.

"In his heart, he was a soldier and in his blood, a paramedic. But soldiering wasn't the only thing that Mike gave his heart to. He gave his heart and soul to his wife, parents, family and friends," the statement said.

"Mike will be missed terribly by the family, friends and many people who loved him and were fortunate enough to have known him in this life."

Solemn ramp ceremony in Kandahar

Starker's body is now on the way back to Canada, following a solemn ramp ceremony in Kandahar on Wednesday.

Bagpipes played as thousands of soldiers lined the tarmac and saluted Starker's casket, which was wrapped in a Canadian flag.

Padre Jim Short recited a prayer that memorialized Starker as a son, husband, friend, paramedic and soldier.

Short described Starker as humble, compassionate, skilled and charismatic with the spirit of a warrior. He said Starker lifted everyone's spirits and would work to make all his friends laugh and smile.

A repatriation ceremony is scheduled for Friday afternoon at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in eastern Ontario.