‘Do not be afraid,’ father says after Canadian soldier dies in Latvia

Officials have confirmed that Sebastian Halmagean died in Latvia on Thursday. An investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing.

Sebastian Halmagean, the Canadian gunner who died in Latvia Thursday, “dedicated his life” to military service, his father says.

“On Tuesday, he told me he was so happy to be there. To serve his country,” Halmagean’s father, Alin, told CTV News. He described his son as a young man vehemently dedicated to public service at home and overseas.

“He was a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces. He loved every minute of this,” said Alin. “I lost everything I had, but my son did something very important for our whole country.”

Sebastian, a 24-year-old Hamilton, Ont. native, had been deployed on Operation REASSURANCE, according to a release from the CAF. He had served in the military for nearly three years. This was his first overseas deployment.

In a statement to CTV News, Canadian Joint Operations Command Public Affairs confirmed he was on duty at the time of his death. The department didn’t provide specifics on the cause. The CAF wrote there is “no indication this incident poses an increased threat to the safety and security of our deployed members.”

Latvian military police have launched an investigation, with support from the Canadian Forces Military Police.

‘Do not be afraid’

“This is the only thing he wanted to do.”

In a phone call with CTV News, Alin said joining the forces had been a childhood dream for his son. From a young age, Sebastian had built an encyclopedic knowledge of military history and weaponry. He shared that knowledge with his father in conversations Alin said he will miss dearly.

He last heard from Sebastian days before his death: a 22-minute conversation on the phone with his son, whom Alin said was jubilant about his job. Alin recalled Sebastian’s recent trip home for Christmas, where he told his family he intended to recruit his friends to join him.

Before Latvia, Sebastian had been dispatched to Newfoundland and Labrador last summer to assist local firefighters, his father said, as CAF members were deployed to quell out-of-control wildfires that forced hundreds from their homes.

Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s largest overseas mission. More than 3,000 Canadian personnel contribute to NATO deterrence and defence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. Canada has been involved in the mission since 2014, and in August, Prime Minister Mark Carney extended the operation for another three years.

The prime minister said on social media he was “saddened” to hear of Sebastian’s death, adding Canada is “stronger for his service.”

Alin said he’s proud of his son’s time in the military. “It’s a great career. It’s an honourable career,” he said.

“I want his legacy to be that. Do not be afraid, be brave.”