On the front of this shirt is likeness of fallen soldier Sergeant Vaughan Ingram. Sergeant Ingram joined the Canadian Forces in 1990 as an infantryman in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). During his career he served in all three battalions of the PPCLI and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Sgt Ingram’s sixteen years as a soldier included operational deployments to Somalia in 1992, Bosnia in 1997 and 2003, Kosovo in 1999 and Afghanistan in 2006. On the 3rd of August 2006, Sgt Ingram’s 40 man platoon was overwhelmed by a force of over 200 Taliban fighters as they pushed to seize a key objective in Kandahar province. Early in the battle the platoon commander was wounded and Sgt Ingram assumed command. Under his inspirational leadership, the platoon pressed forward and seized their objective from the enemy. During the fight to hold this vital piece of terrain, Sgt Ingram and 2 of his soldiers were killed by a rocket propelled grenade. For his actions, Sgt Ingram was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches, a national honour to recognize valiant conduct. He was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge by the United States Army.
Text and Likeness provided by: W.O. Patrick Tower, S.M.V., C.D.