Body of Canadian soldier on its way home

The body of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan is on its way back to Canada.

Hundreds of Canadian soldiers and their allies attended a sunset ceremony on Sunday at Kandahar Airfield for Cpl. James Hayward Arnal, who was killed late Friday by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.

Arnal, 25, and other soldiers were on an evening foot patrol in the Panjwaii district near Kandahar city when he was killed, military officials said. Another soldier was wounded in the same blast but was said to be in good condition and expected to return to duty.

During the ramp ceremony, his battle group commander praised Arnal of Winnipeg as a born leader.

"[He] was the type of soldier who set the example for all of us to emulate," Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould said.

"He was a key motivator — almost the glue of the platoon and the section — to which people naturally just joined on to."

He was also lauded earlier by Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan, Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson,  as a fearless fighter who had left a lucrative career in information technology to join the army.

Arnal was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, stationed at Canadian Forces Base Shilo in Manitoba.

He was the 88th Canadian soldier to die in the Afghan mission and the second killed in combat since the beginning of June.

The young corporal was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan and had expressed interest in returning for a third tour in 2009. Relatives said he was due to return to Canada in September.

"He lived life as fearless as he executed his role in Afghanistan, living life to its fullest," his family said in a statement released in Winnipeg on Saturday.

"He was a thrill-seeker and was always on the go, recruiting his friends to go with him. He was always planning his next adventure ... he was proud to be part of Canada's efforts to bring peace and stability to the people of Afghanistan," his family said.