The War Touches Our Community Again

SAULT STE. MARIE -- The death today of Sault native Sgt. John Faught is very sad news, a time to offer our prayers and thoughts to his family.

I spoke tonight to his mother, Donna, who at one time was the first female president of the local Labour Council. John came from a good working class background and so to die on the job, serving his country, working to keep us all safe over here, as his mother said, somehow fits his character.

Sault Ste. Marie is proud and yet very sad yet again as one of our best gives his life in the ultimate sacrifice. The war touches our community again.

I know our hearts go out to her tonight to assure her that this whole community will be there for her at this time of great loss and sadness.

I understand from media reports he was on foot patrol when he was killed after stepping on an improvised explosive device. He was on foot patrol with Afghan soldiers in the volatile district of Panjawi, about 15 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city .

Sgt. John Faught
Age: 44
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Unit: 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Deceased: January 16, 2009
Incident: Improvised explosive device, Kandahar City, Afghanistan