Raymond Ruckpaul
- 42 years old
- Born Jan 01, 1965
- Died Aug 29, 2007
- Kabul, Afghanistan
About
Raymond
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - The Canadian Forces have released the name of the soldier who died of a gunshot wound in Kabul on Wednesday.
Maj. Raymond Ruckpaul, 42, died after being found wounded in his room at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force in the Afghan capital.
ISAF and Canadian military officials are still investigating the case.
Military spokesman said earlier they had not ruled out suicide, homicide or accident as the cause of death.
Ruckpaul, the 70th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002, was an armoured officer based at the NATO Allied Land Component Command Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.
August 3, 2007
CP
No further details concerning Maj. Raymond Ruckpaul's death were offered as a casket bearing his remains was returned to his family at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in eastern Ontario.
The 42-year-old father of two was found in his barracks Aug. 29 after being "significantly injured" by a gunshot wound. He died about an hour later.
Since then, family members have reported the military has offered no explanation as to how Ruckpaul died.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier were similarly tight-lipped at yesterday's ceremony, offering no comment on the soldier's death.
Both men addressed the dozens of civilians who had gathered to show their support and shook hands with them through a chain-link fence. Chief of Canada Defense Staff, General Rick Hillier, inspected a Canadian flag belonging to Brenda Miller of Trenton Sunday afternoon at CFB Trenton. Ms. Miller has placed the names of all 70 Canadian armed Forces personnel killed in Afghanistan on the flag. She brings the flag to every repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton. Sunday, while Ms. Miller and others waited CFB Trenton to pay respects to Major Raymond Ruckpaul, General Hiller and National Defense Minister Peter McKay went to the base fence line to talk with the public. When the men turned to return to the base tarmack, the public applauded.
Four unidentified family members gathered on the tarmac as the plane baring Ruckpaul's body arrived. They walked slowly behind the casket as it was carried to a waiting hearse.
Ruckpaul lived in Germany with his wife and two children.
The Hamilton native joined the Armed Forces prior to studying geology at McMaster University.
At the time of his death, he was serving at the headquarters of NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
In earlier media reports, Ruckpaul was described by friends and neighbours as a man with heartfelt dedication both to his job and his family.
"He was such a loving person, especially with his kids," said Valerie Bianchetto, a 40-year neighbour of the Ruckpaul family.
"He was so happy about his family. He loved everything in his life."
Ruckpaul's cousin Leona said the family's struggle to come to terms with the soldier's death is exacerbated by the military's silence.
"Everyone's in a state of shock," she said.
"Nobody knows what happened. It will be a very long time before we really know the truth." ...
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memories should never fade away... even when soldiers do
chuck konkel Feb 09, 2008
My prayers are with you and your family.
chuck k
Driving Captain Ruckpaul
A Soldier Sep 05, 2007
Now, Captain Ruckpaul was actually kinda a legend around the tank hanger. Word had it that one time in Germany, he took a sledgehammer to the head when one of the boys was hauling back for a good swing. Story goes that everyone went quite, and the Captain looked at the individual, gave him a steely glance, and told him to be more careful. Then he simply walked away.
So you could imagine my suprise to find myself driving for him on one exercise. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. The guy kept himself in shape, and looked like he could bend metal.
Well, it didn't take long before I messed up due to my nerves, steering the tank to the left instead of the right. The Captain had me halt the vehicle, and then proceeded to tear a right good strip off me. After that, I had no problems with left and right. I actually started to drive better, faster, and more aggressive. That got on his good side, and soon after we were joking, egging each other on and just enjoying what we did, which was soldier the armoured way.
He was a professional man, one that you felt that you would want to follow if things were going to get bad. A man that would sort you out if you needed it, but not hold it against you later. A man that lead by example, and was a soldier's soldier. I feel that I was lucky that I ended up his driver for that ex, and I believe that he helped shape alot of us young guys into better men. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Major Ruckpaul's family. He will be missed by many people that you may never meet.