I Never Thought I Would See This

[weaponeer]

Hero beaten

Andrew Seymour, The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Monday, March 12, 2007

A Canadian soldier awarded a Medal of Military 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 a Morrisburg bar on the weekend.

Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was awarded a Medal of Valour for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Governor-General Michalle 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.

Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Monday he had only been in the bar about 20 minutes when he was struck from behind.

"I don't even remember getting hit," he said.

"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," said Master Cpl. Fitzgerald, adding that 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, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said he had been at the bar visiting with his fiance's brother Shawn Hitsman and some other childhood friends when he moved to the table.

After coming to, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Mr. Hitsman and another friend, Bobby Paradis, helped him up and drove him to the hospital.

OPP Const. Paul Murphy said a 21-year-old Morrisburg man has been charged with aggravated assault. The man has since been released from custody on a promise to appear in court. Since he has yet to appear in court, his name was not released, police said.

Const. Murphy said more charges are expected to be laid against the 21-year-old. Police also expect to lay charges against several other suspects, he said.

After serving eight months in Afghanistan, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said, "not in a million years" did he expect to be jumped in a Morrisburg bar. He also never expected 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."

Master Cpl. 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."

Master Cpl. Fitzgerald, who is a weapons instructor at CFB Trenton, was one of the first recipients of the Canadian Medal of Military Valour.

According to the Canadian Forces, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald was recognized "for outstanding selfless and valiant actions" carried out on May 24, 2006, during an ongoing enemy ambush "involving intense, accurate enemy fire."

Master Cpl. 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, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald's "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."

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

[weaponeer]

Gutless little SOB. Had to sneak up behind, real brave. Should send the little SOBs to Afghanistan, see how tough they really are...

[August1991]

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

It is against forum rules to cut and paste an entire copyrighted article. You should also provide a link to the originating article. Finally, your chosen thread title says nothing about the topic.

I have reported your post.

[Martin Chriton]

Wow that's really mest up.

[Figleaf]

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

It is against forum rules to cut and paste an entire copyrighted article. You should also provide a link to the originating article. Finally, your chosen thread title says nothing about the topic.

I have reported your post.

Weaponeer, there is indeed a rule against posting copyright material in toto on the forum. However, failure to post a link is only an inconvenience and not using a descriptive title is August's private hobby horse and you can feel free to ignore that.

[weaponeer]

http://www.canadaka.net/link.php?id=19889

Link....

[Canadian Blue]

I read about it, what a bunch of cowards. Even if they are against the war, it doesn't take any moral courage to sneak up behind someone and start assaulting them. It's an act of cowardice.

[Shakeyhands]

I wonder what happened to start that up, I'm pretty confident that he wasn't jumped for nothing. Makes one wonder, though there is never an excuse for suckering somebody.

[jbg]

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

It is against forum rules to cut and paste an entire copyrighted article. You should also provide a link to the originating article. Finally, your chosen thread title says nothing about the topic.

I have reported your post.

Some posts are so beautiful, and what they portray so despicable, that they must be reported and made known.

[Argus]

I read about it, what a bunch of cowards. Even if they are against the war, it doesn't take any moral courage to sneak up behind someone and start assaulting them. It's an act of cowardice.

I seriously doubt this had anything to do with the war. The kind of punk ass bitches who jump people like that in bars are hardly the type to even understand politics, let alone have a desperate yearning for peace in the middle east. They were just drunken losers, and for whatever reason, as happens, decided to prove their non-existent manhood on someone in a cowardly way.

The same sort of thing happens in bars all across the country every day. There are different excuses given, but generally it all boils down to drunken punks wanting to show how tough they think they are.

[PolyNewbie]

I seriously doubt this had anything to do with the war. The kind of punk ass bitches who jump people like that in bars are hardly the type to even understand politics, let alone have a desperate yearning for peace in the middle east.

This is the most reasonable explanation. As a former door man in a very big bar with fights every weekend, I can completely agree - these guys are just drunk and over confident and looking for some action or an excuse to wave their peckers in the air.

[White Doors]

I sure hope it has nothing to do with him being a soldier.

What has happened to the code anyways? If they are so tough why not fight like a man? I don't get what satisfaction they get by attacking someone from behind when they are defenceless?

If they were so tough wouldn't they get more satisfaction in beating him up in a fair fight?

I just don't get it.

[Army Guy]

I think it had every thing to do with jealousy, these lossers were jealous that this man had been honored by his country, and was again recieving all the attention at the bar.

Being drunk does not excuse thier behavior, they knew exactly what they were doing, beating the shit out of a man whom we as a nation honored for bravery....

There cowards, and i hope the town takes this matter into thier own hands by laying a good beating on these cowards... in fact i hope these lossers get beaten daily for a long time to come.

[Mad_Michael]

Hero beaten

Andrew Seymour, The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Monday, March 12, 2007

A Canadian soldier awarded a Medal of Military 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 a Morrisburg bar on the weekend.

Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was awarded a Medal of Valour for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Governor-General Michalle 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.

Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Monday he had only been in the bar about 20 minutes when he was struck from behind.

"I don't even remember getting hit," he said.

"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," said Master Cpl. Fitzgerald, adding that 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, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said he had been at the bar visiting with his fiance's brother Shawn Hitsman and some other childhood friends when he moved to the table.

After coming to, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Mr. Hitsman and another friend, Bobby Paradis, helped him up and drove him to the hospital.

OPP Const. Paul Murphy said a 21-year-old Morrisburg man has been charged with aggravated assault. The man has since been released from custody on a promise to appear in court. Since he has yet to appear in court, his name was not released, police said.

Const. Murphy said more charges are expected to be laid against the 21-year-old. Police also expect to lay charges against several other suspects, he said.

After serving eight months in Afghanistan, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said, "not in a million years" did he expect to be jumped in a Morrisburg bar. He also never expected 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."

Master Cpl. 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."

Master Cpl. Fitzgerald, who is a weapons instructor at CFB Trenton, was one of the first recipients of the Canadian Medal of Military Valour.

According to the Canadian Forces, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald was recognized "for outstanding selfless and valiant actions" carried out on May 24, 2006, during an ongoing enemy ambush "involving intense, accurate enemy fire."

Master Cpl. 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, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald's "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."

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

That's one side of the story.

Making judgements without the other side is just journalism and/or sensationalism. Exactly what we expect from the media.

Great for selling newspapers... not a good way to run a country.

[White Doors]

Did you really need to quote the whole article to make your 'point'?

You don't think this 'beating' was a bad thing? You think it shouldn't have been 'reported'?

Or do you just like to type things sometimes for really no reason?

[guyser]

I seriously doubt this had anything to do with the war. The kind of punk ass bitches who jump people like that in bars are hardly the type to even understand politics, let alone have a desperate yearning for peace in the middle east. They were just drunken losers, and for whatever reason, as happens, decided to prove their non-existent manhood on someone in a cowardly way.

The same sort of thing happens in bars all across the country every day. There are different excuses given, but generally it all boils down to drunken punks wanting to show how tough they think they are.

Did this not come across clearly?"... adding that 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."

[HistoryBuff44]

Did you really need to quote the whole article to make your 'point'?

You don't think this 'beating' was a bad thing? You think it shouldn't have been 'reported'?

Or do you just like to type things sometimes for really no reason?

I dont understand this post at all...

copy and paste makes for quick typing... as for the other 2 questions, where did they come from? he was just raising an issue to be discussed

[HistoryBuff44]

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

It is against forum rules to cut and paste an entire copyrighted article. You should also provide a link to the originating article. Finally, your chosen thread title says nothing about the topic.

I have reported your post.

wow... having a bad day were we?

[dlkenny]

Did you really need to quote the whole article to make your 'point'?

You don't think this 'beating' was a bad thing? You think it shouldn't have been 'reported'?

Or do you just like to type things sometimes for really no reason?

Well, I think the other side of the story would be a good idea but judging by what we know the soldier was attacked from behind. This is absolutely unacceptable. This is an act of cowardice upon one of our country's bravest and I find it not only embarrassing to him but embarrassing to everything our country stands for. Had this person confronted the soldier I can pretty much assure a different outcome, the soldier undoubtedly has supreme self-confidence and the situation wouldn't have escalated to violence in the first place. Even if it had the coward is dealing with someone who is trained to handle situations of extreme violence and duress and the soldier is capable of defusing the situation without seriously injuring the other person. In any case, I agree that this was a cowardly act and this individual should be facing serious time for his crime. Whether a person agrees with the war or not we should be thankful to our armed forces people for their willingness to stand up for what we believe in. I think it's true that we take for granted what we have here in Canada, if the cold is the biggest thing we have to complain about on a day to day basis we're doing pretty well. Thank a vet or a soldier, don't disrespect them.

[jenny]

I never thought I would see this..

Canadian soldier kills another Canadian soldier who was just resting in his tent, despite rules that say weapons are not to be loaded and ready to kill while on the base.

Canadian soldier who killed yet another Canadian soldier charged with manslaughter

Canadian soldiers open fire on and kill an unarmed mental ill Afghani man who was doing nothing more than begging.

Canadian soldiers kill unarmed Afghani citizens.( so many times now , just pick your own example)

O h wait.We had a serious example of Canadian soldiers torturing and murdering a man , what?

15 years ago.

Seems the LIBS decided to protect these Canadian soldiers by shutting down the enquiry

[Canadian Blue]

Baylee, stop bothering us.

[madmax]

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

It is against forum rules to cut and paste an entire copyrighted article. You should also provide a link to the originating article. Finally, your chosen thread title says nothing about the topic.

I have reported your post.

Way to go August1991. You a hero too.

[madmax]

I think it had every thing to do with jealousy, these lossers were jealous that this man had been honored by his country, and was again recieving all the attention at the bar.

Agreed

Being drunk does not excuse thier behavior, they knew exactly what they were doing, beating the shit out of a man whom we as a nation honored for bravery....

Just another coward.

There cowards, and i hope the town takes this matter into thier own hands by laying a good beating on these cowards... in fact i hope these lossers get beaten daily for a long time to come.

I recall when I was younger, I often felt that my dress, look and walk made me a target for guys wanting to make a name for themselves.

Being in the military can be a thankless job.

Go to some dusty country, try and sort out "the locals" problems that go back decades while someone is trying to take you out. You do this because your country sends you there. And you do a good job only to have the locals in your own country take a cheap shot at you.

I have no use for cowards.

[jenny]

Baylee, stop bothering us.

Pardon me? Not sure who that was intended for, but...

I think the title of this thread made the discussion wide open for what we, the posters thought they would never see.

And in my case, as I said.

I never thought I would see this, Canadian soldiers killing Canadian soldiers, so much so, that one would be charged with manslaughter.

That another would be shot and killed while he was just resting in his tent.

I would think that other people on this forum who SAY they also are soldiers, would be quite upset by thesr events.

Apparently not

[guyser]

Baylee, stop bothering us.

Pardon me? Not sure who that was intended for, but...

You obviously.

Dumb AND stupid is no way to go thru life son. !