A former Canadian Armed Forces member from the Prince Albert area who served in Afghanistan says recent international remarks from American President Donald Trump minimize NATO contributions overlook the human cost of the mission.
Donovan Kultgen, a retired Master Corporal who served in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, said Canada’s role in the war was significant, both in scale and sacrifice, even if it does not always appear that way when reduced to statistics.
Kultgen, who worked out of a forward operating base and supported the Lord Strathcona’s Horse, described the mission as a multinational effort involving Canadian, American, British, Danish, and other allied forces operating side by side.
“It was definitely a world united mission,” said Kultgen, who was born in Calgary but now lives in Shellbrook. “We were all one team.”
His comments come amid renewed debate after American President Donald J. Trump’s remarks suggested some NATO countries, including Canada, played a limited role in Afghanistan. The remarks prompted a response from the Royal Canadian Legion, which sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney praising his recent Davos comments and pushing back against what it described as hurtful untruths about allied service.
Canada deployed more than 40,000 troops to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2004, with 158 Canadian Armed Forces members killed during the mission.
Kultgen said the reactions to comments downplaying that contribution are often immediate and emotional, but he also understands how political leaders may view the conflict through data rather than lived experience.
“A spreadsheet does not show the blood that was shed,” he said. “We invested a lot of time, effort, and Canadian lives in serving in this mission, and there is a lot of Canadian pride in that.”
He said Canada answered the call when allies asked for help after the Sept. 11 attacks, standing alongside partners despite the cost.
“I have had friends who died overseas, and I have had friends who came back and later died by suicide,” Kultgen said. “That burden is something those comments do not recognize.”
While Kultgen said Carney’s Davos remarks resonated more with him as a citizen than as a veteran, he emphasized that recognition of Canada’s military role still matters long after the mission has ended.
He said Afghanistan fits into a long tradition of Canadian military service, from the world wars to peacekeeping and other international operations.
“Canada still plays a very important role, and we are still well respected internationally,” he said. “We put ourselves between hostiles and victims and say stop.”
Kultgen, who now works as a health safety wellness consultant, said Remembrance Day remains an essential reminder of the true cost of war.
“Remembrance Day is not a celebration,” he said. “It is about remembering the cost, because there is always a cost in blood.”
At the local level, Prince Albert Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 2 president Rick Hodgson said the Legion’s national leadership spoke out because recognition of service remains central to its mission.
Hodgson said sacrifices made by soldiers, both past and present, should not be minimized, particularly when Canadian Forces continue to serve at home and abroad.
“They are representing Canada and doing their part to keep us safe,” Hodgson said. “They work with NATO and take part in peacekeeping around the world for a reason.”
He said the Legion provides support for veterans who struggle with how their service is discussed publicly, including access to veteran service officers and spaces where members can talk openly about their experiences.
Hodgson said he supports the Legion’s national leadership in thanking Carney for acknowledging the issue and standing up for veterans.
For Kultgen, recognition is not about praise but about honesty.
“No matter what anyone says about our role, Canadian Forces will still stand ready,” he said. “We will support our allies, whether or not we are recognized.”
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
