Cpl. Baker returned to Canadian soil

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Family members were overcome with emotion as the body of Cpl. Joshua Caleb Baker returned to Canadian soil during a repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton Monday afternoon.

Baker, 24, was a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment from Edmonton, AB, and was serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team when he was killed during a training exercise Friday. Four other soldiers were injured in the exercise, which the military says it will investigate.

Baker's family was joined by Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Gen. Walter Natynczyk as they watched the casket of the fallen soldier as it was carried out of a C-17 Globemaster. As well, Canadians lined the bridges and overpasses along the 401 as Baker's body was taken to Toronto.
In a statement on her website, Governor General Michaelle Jean said Baker
was a brave soldier.

"Corporal Baker served bravely and generously to support Afghans¹ hopes for security, justice and a better life. He merits our wholehearted admiration," she said, adding for those soldiers that were injured, "We also offer our wishes for a speedy recovery."

In a statement, Baker's family said he was a "soft-spoken man with a great sense of humour who loved his family above all things."

They said Baker was proud to be in the military and was "hoping to make a difference in Afghanistan."