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Sunray: The Death and Life of Captain Nichola Goddard
Twenty-six year old Captain Nichola Goddard was the sixteenth Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan and earned herself a spot in the history books as the first female Canadian soldier to die in combat.
Goddard, say her friends and family, would have hated being singled out for her gender: she was as strong, as capable and as brave as any male in uniform. She was not just a soldier on equal footing with her fellow troops; she was a leader, a "sunray", in military parlance, in one of the most dangerous positions in the armed forces, a Forward Observation Officer with the artillery unit.
Goddard, say her friends and family, would have hated being singled out for her gender: she was as strong, as capable and as brave as any male in uniform. She was not just a soldier on equal footing with her fellow troops; she was a leader, a "sunray", in military parlance, in one of the most dangerous positions in the armed forces, a Forward Observation Officer with the artillery unit.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 24, 2018
Canadian Journalist Valery Fortney honorably witnesses to the life of Captain Nichola Goddard, a brilliant military strategist whose dedication cost her life. Aware of the price she might pay, Captain Goddard trained hard to relieve the oppression of Afghan families daily threatened by the religious Taliban, extremists who, without hesitation, beheaded the women and little children who failed to obey. While Captain Goddard valued the peaceful educational paths of her parents and dear friends, she was clear about her willingness to kill killers. She said to her parents, both educators. "I do what I do so you can do what you do." An instructive biography in which this Canadian learned about my country's overt and covert politics and about our brave Military.
Eleanor Cowan, Author of A History of a Pedophile's Wife: Memoir of a Canadian Teacher and Writer
Eleanor Cowan, Author of A History of a Pedophile's Wife: Memoir of a Canadian Teacher and Writer
September 10, 2010
I found that it was hard to read a book about people and an event that I know all too well. The book is written quite well, and gives a lot of important back information on Afghanistan and Canada's role there. Nichola's story is an interesting one for sure, and Valerie Fortney does a good job of portraying that.
November 6, 2010
A well written engaging book ,makes you think.Much as Nichola Goddard believed in the mission I still feel we lost a fine young officer for a country who perhaps did not really appreciate the effort others were making on their part.
February 10, 2011
This was a fantastic book. It did get bogged down in military technical details at times, which caused me to read it so slowly. However, once past the technicalities, it was a fabulous read about an up and coming leader and her love of life!
February 16, 2011
I was lucky enough to call Nichola Goddard my friend. This was an amazing book about her life. A must read.
January 5, 2019
Though not technically flawless in writing, with many long sentences and abrupt subject changes, definitely worth the read. This truly inspiring story tells the life of Canadian Forces Artillery Officer, Captain Nichola Goddard.
September 5, 2011
I heard about this book on CBC Radio and have been meaning to find it since then. Hopefully soon...
Updated Sept. 4 2011:
This is a harsh read but is also a very touching book. It starts right off with Nichola (Nich) Goddard in Afghanistan, congratulating her team on a job well done. It is explained that she is the first soldier -male or female!- to call in a fire mission against a known enemy since the Korean War. This unfortunately goes uncelebrated as she dies the very same day, becoming the first female Canadian soldier in a combat role to die in Afghanistan.
Flash back to Nichola's birth and youth. The reader gets to know her very well as we learn about things Nichola experienced in the South Pacific as well as all of Canada's provinces and the Northwest Territories. We accompany Nichola as she learns to use a machete at age five and meets her best friend on the school bus in Nova Scotia. We are right there with her as she embarks on her studies at the Royal Military College, meets her husband, succeeds in obtaining her degree, gets married and starts her five years of military service at Shilo. The writing is very good and it is impossible not to get attached to Nichola. I admit to having tears in my eyes both when she graduated and when she got married. It is such an interesting story, and so engrossing, that you almost forget that you already know the end.
When Nich left for Afghanistan, I got a lump in my throat, and it was not the good kind of lump I got when her wedding was described in detail and I shed tears of joy. I knew what was coming, but it was even worse than I had feared. The author retells in much more detail the death of Captain Nichola Goddard, and then the reader accompanies all the people they met while reading, all the people who loved Nichola, as they find out about her death and come together, in the same church where Nichola got married, to say good-bye to her. My tears fell in such abundance I could hardly see through them to read. I only got through it with the box of Kleenex I had on hand. It was also very painful to think of Nichola's husband Jay who, as soon as the padre who came to his home to inform him of Nichola's death left the house, got on the internet to email everyone about the sad news, so that they could find out from him instead of from the media. Jay had the tough responsibility of telephoning loved ones and telling them the news. He had to do this, he knew, and he did not give in to his grief until this difficult task was accomplished.
In addition to telling Nichola's story, the author includes excerpts of things Nichola wrote herself - essays, emails and letters. Nichola was a very good writer, which is clear in everything she wrote. She wrote clearly, intelligently and to the point. I am totally impressed.
Valerie Fortney also includes, as can be expected, discussion on the debate about Canada's role in Afghanistan, as well as other peacekeeping missions. She explains how what we believe to be peacekeeping has actually transformed into peacemaking. Although she does write of the 3D approach of the mission (defense, diplomacy and development), it is impossible to ignore the dangers the soldiers encounter outside the wire. They are, after all, seeking to engage the Taliban and bring them down. I would like to end with a quote from the book:
"Our sometimes smug self-image as a nation of pacifists has been decimated by nearly a decade of war and the return of more than 150 coffins. The image of a blue-beret-wearing peacekeeper, which may have described as a myth at the best of times, has once and for all been put to rest. (...) Although more than 100 Canadian soldiers have lost their lives in so-called peacekeeping missions over the past century, their sacrifices have been largely ignored; we don't seem to want reminders that the concept of peacekeeping hasn't kept up with our role in the international community. Afghanistan, then, has represented a loss of innocence, or of blissful ignorance. No longer can we pretend we are different from countries like the United States; we too require our soldiers to be warriors, trained to kill, and willing to risk being killed in the process. The story of Captain Nichola Goddard has only compounded the necessary awakening to our new status." (page 306-307 of my edition)
Updated Sept. 4 2011:
This is a harsh read but is also a very touching book. It starts right off with Nichola (Nich) Goddard in Afghanistan, congratulating her team on a job well done. It is explained that she is the first soldier -male or female!- to call in a fire mission against a known enemy since the Korean War. This unfortunately goes uncelebrated as she dies the very same day, becoming the first female Canadian soldier in a combat role to die in Afghanistan.
Flash back to Nichola's birth and youth. The reader gets to know her very well as we learn about things Nichola experienced in the South Pacific as well as all of Canada's provinces and the Northwest Territories. We accompany Nichola as she learns to use a machete at age five and meets her best friend on the school bus in Nova Scotia. We are right there with her as she embarks on her studies at the Royal Military College, meets her husband, succeeds in obtaining her degree, gets married and starts her five years of military service at Shilo. The writing is very good and it is impossible not to get attached to Nichola. I admit to having tears in my eyes both when she graduated and when she got married. It is such an interesting story, and so engrossing, that you almost forget that you already know the end.
When Nich left for Afghanistan, I got a lump in my throat, and it was not the good kind of lump I got when her wedding was described in detail and I shed tears of joy. I knew what was coming, but it was even worse than I had feared. The author retells in much more detail the death of Captain Nichola Goddard, and then the reader accompanies all the people they met while reading, all the people who loved Nichola, as they find out about her death and come together, in the same church where Nichola got married, to say good-bye to her. My tears fell in such abundance I could hardly see through them to read. I only got through it with the box of Kleenex I had on hand. It was also very painful to think of Nichola's husband Jay who, as soon as the padre who came to his home to inform him of Nichola's death left the house, got on the internet to email everyone about the sad news, so that they could find out from him instead of from the media. Jay had the tough responsibility of telephoning loved ones and telling them the news. He had to do this, he knew, and he did not give in to his grief until this difficult task was accomplished.
In addition to telling Nichola's story, the author includes excerpts of things Nichola wrote herself - essays, emails and letters. Nichola was a very good writer, which is clear in everything she wrote. She wrote clearly, intelligently and to the point. I am totally impressed.
Valerie Fortney also includes, as can be expected, discussion on the debate about Canada's role in Afghanistan, as well as other peacekeeping missions. She explains how what we believe to be peacekeeping has actually transformed into peacemaking. Although she does write of the 3D approach of the mission (defense, diplomacy and development), it is impossible to ignore the dangers the soldiers encounter outside the wire. They are, after all, seeking to engage the Taliban and bring them down. I would like to end with a quote from the book:
"Our sometimes smug self-image as a nation of pacifists has been decimated by nearly a decade of war and the return of more than 150 coffins. The image of a blue-beret-wearing peacekeeper, which may have described as a myth at the best of times, has once and for all been put to rest. (...) Although more than 100 Canadian soldiers have lost their lives in so-called peacekeeping missions over the past century, their sacrifices have been largely ignored; we don't seem to want reminders that the concept of peacekeeping hasn't kept up with our role in the international community. Afghanistan, then, has represented a loss of innocence, or of blissful ignorance. No longer can we pretend we are different from countries like the United States; we too require our soldiers to be warriors, trained to kill, and willing to risk being killed in the process. The story of Captain Nichola Goddard has only compounded the necessary awakening to our new status." (page 306-307 of my edition)
September 10, 2016
Nicola Goddard was an amazing young woman. Her outlook on life, and what she could do personally to make the world a better place, came from such a different angle than that of her upbringing it is startling. What she may have accomplished if not for that stray(?) bullet, is mind boggling to consider. Not only Canada lost a brilliant rising star, the entire world did. I hate using the word "should" but I want to say this book should be required reading for every high school student. Why? Nicola is the epitome of there being no limitations to what one person can accomplish, save those we put upon ourselves.
January 4, 2014
As a book-lover and former member of the Canadian Forces, I started a Remembrance Day tradition several years back; each year at Remembrance Day I read a book about the military or military service, including UN missions as well as viewpoints of civilians in wartime situations.
As so eloquently stated by retired Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire 'Many serve and so few are recognized'... this is my way of recognizing and honouring some of the many who serve and have served.
Sunray tells the story of the 1st Canadian woman to die in combat with the Canadian Forces; Captain Nichola Goddard.
As so eloquently stated by retired Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire 'Many serve and so few are recognized'... this is my way of recognizing and honouring some of the many who serve and have served.
Sunray tells the story of the 1st Canadian woman to die in combat with the Canadian Forces; Captain Nichola Goddard.
May 25, 2016
Must-read account of the war in Afghanistan
What is going on in Afghanistan?
Who is sent there?
How are they prepared?
What kind of person willingly takes on this task?
Brilliant and fascinating is this book about Captain Nichola Goddard.
Fortney is thorough in her research and brilliant in her presentation.
Evocative of Capote's ground-breaking style, Fortney leaves it to
the reader to supply the emotion: I have never been more moved.
What is going on in Afghanistan?
Who is sent there?
How are they prepared?
What kind of person willingly takes on this task?
Brilliant and fascinating is this book about Captain Nichola Goddard.
Fortney is thorough in her research and brilliant in her presentation.
Evocative of Capote's ground-breaking style, Fortney leaves it to
the reader to supply the emotion: I have never been more moved.
Read
October 1, 2010What a fascinating read. You can't help but be pulled in by Nichola's life.
I am honoured to have Valerie Fortney and Nichola's Mother, Sally Goddard on my show on Oct 19, 2010 at 2 pm.
Details can be found here - http://www.stephaniedickison.com/on-t...
I am honoured to have Valerie Fortney and Nichola's Mother, Sally Goddard on my show on Oct 19, 2010 at 2 pm.
Details can be found here - http://www.stephaniedickison.com/on-t...
May 29, 2012
I like this book and was recommended it by the great staff at audrey's books on summer when not sure what to read and i started rereading it again too. If you know any young women who are planning to join the forces, i recommend this book as inspiration for their future.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews