Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Aug 19/02) - The hamlet of Kugluktuk is planning a homecoming feast for Pte. Tommy Evikhoak Harvey, who returns from a tour of duty in Afghanistan on Aug. 20.

"We are really proud of him," said the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator Ron Tologanak. "It will be nice to shake his hand."

"I imagine he is pretty tired and wants to spend time with his family."

His brother, Earle Harvey, is relieved his brother is coming home.

"We'll probably go out on the land hunting for a few days when he gets back," said Earle.

Tommy Harvey is a member of the Edmonton-based Third Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the Canadian battle group that fought alongside the U.S.-led international force in the former stronghold of terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden.

During his six months in Afghanistan, Harvey spent time in Kandahar. At one point, six Al-Qaeda personnel were detected trying to lay mines near his base camp.

He was also choppered into the mountainous region of Afghanistan for Operation Anaconda.

There, American and Canadian Forces jointly tried to smoke out Al-Qaeda forces from a network of tunnels.