Truro soldier among dead in Afghan assault

The flags outside the Nova Scotia legislature were lowered to half-mast Tuesday to honour Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, the second soldier from Truro to be killed in Afghanistan this summer.

Mellish, 38,died while battlingTaliban militants in a NATO offensive west of Kandahar on Sunday, along with Sgt. Shane Stachnik, Warrant Officer Richard Nolan and a fourth soldier who has not been publicly identified at the family's request.

All the identified soldiers were based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in eastern Ontario.

Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald extended his sympathies to Mellish's family and friends, adding thathis thoughts were also with the other 2,200 Canadian soldiers still serving in Afghanistan.

'Our family will never be the same'

Mellish leaves behind his wife, Kendra, and two sons, Matthew and Koven, as well ashis parents, Barry and Sandra Mellish, in Truro.

In a statement to the media, his family describedMellishas a loving husbandand devoted father who alwaysdreamed ofbeing a soldier. They also said he was an avid fan ofNASCAR auto racing.

"He is greatly missed and our family will never be the same," the family said.

Deployed overseas 7 times

Mellish had served in the military for 18 years. This was hisseventh deployment overseas andhis second to Afghanistan.

"He was aware of the risks and accepted them as part of getting the job done," the family said. "We are proud of Frank's service and accomplishments on this and previous missions."

'He was aware of the risks and accepted them as part of getting the job done.' -The family of Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, in a statement

Mellish is the second soldier from Truro to die in Afghanistan this summer.

Cpl. Christopher Jonathan Reid, 34, was killed when his armoured vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb near Kandahar on Aug. 3.

A total of 32 Canadian soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have died in Afghanistan since the military started the mission in2002.