Corporal Cole Bartsch

Corporal Cole Daniel Bartsch was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He enrolled in the Canadian Forces on 30 January 2003. On completion of his basic infantry training he was posted to the Third Battalion (3 PPCLI) in September 2003.

He deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan with Task Force 1-07 as a weapons operator. This was his second mission in Afghanistan as he deployed as part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in 2005. His qualifications included Basic Parachutist and Basic Reconnaissance Patrolman.

He died while on duty in the province of Kandahar when the vehicle he was driving struck an Improvised Explosive Device on 4 July 2007. He was buried in the Veterans Section, Whitecourt Cemetery, Whitecourt, Alberta on Saturday, 14 July 2007. Corporal Bartsch is survived by his parents Dennis and Juanita Bartsch, sisters Joleen and Tara, and brother Eric.