Book excerpt: Clearing the Way: Combat Engineers in Kandahar is the story of the men and women of 23 Field Squadron, who served with the 1st Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group in Kandahar in 2006. Through the eyes of thirteen Squadron members, relive the early days of the war in Kandahar and the coming of age of a group of soldiers recorded in graphic detail. The reader experiences the large scale battles with Taliban fighters during Operation Medusa, the building of Route Summit and the construction of key Forward Operating Bases. Accompany them as they fight off insurgent attacks along 'Ambush Alley', dodge mortar fire and dispose of the many Improvised Explosive Devices that litter the landscape. These stories expose the raw bedlam, ironic moments and absurdities of war at the soldier-level. It is replete with little nuggets of wisdom and soldier-philosophy that will bring a wry and knowing grin to the face of those who have experienced combat. Clearing the Way highlights the ingenuity of our soldiers and in particular our combat engineers, regardless of the seemingly impossible demands made of them.