During America’s Operation Anaconda, a five-man team from the 3rd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) joined the 101st Airborne Division the Shahikot Valley. For 10 days, the snipers killed the enemy with amazing professional precision. “Thank God the Canadians were there,” one GI said.

They set two new world records for the farthest combat kill with a rifle. Master Cp. Aaron Perry broke the then-existing record (set by Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock at 1.39 miles in Vietnam) by killing an al Qaeda terrorist at more than 1.43 miles. Sgt. Maj. Mark Nielsen of the 101st said of Perry: “His shots were incredible. One shot, one kill.”

Days later, Cpl. Rob Furlong set the current world record with a kill at over 1.5 miles. He used a .50-caliber McMillan Tac-50 sniper rifle.

The U.S. command recommended all five Canadian snipers for the Bronze Star for valor. They were awarded on Dec. 8, 2003 by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci.

Another interesting fact:

Interestingly, 40,000 Canadians joined 250 Union and 50 Confederate regiments during the Civil War. So many Nova Scotians enlisted in one Massachusetts regiment that it was nicknamed the “Highlanders.” Thirty Canadians earned the Medal of Honor and 14,000 died in the war. (Canadians Served Both Sides in the Civil War by Norman Shannon in America’s Civil War, January, 2007, pp. 23-24.

SALUTE!

I always thought the US hated Canada. Well there you go.

Kiwi, I do not get where that thought comes from. The governor of my state was born in Canada as were some before her.