Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
· Lean On Me
· Canada's Dirty Dark Vietnam War Secret
· Military museum wows minister
· Michele Forbes-Now resting at home.
· Korean War vets look back, see history repeating itself in Afghanistan
· Korean War veterans deserve recognition for their sacrifices
· Veterans observe 55th anniversary of Korean War armistice
· The battle that changed it all
· Old brains, new cells
· Anniversary of Korean War brings back memories
· The war is over but will never be 'forgotten'
· Native veterans forced to fight another war on home front
· Porn film made at First World War memorial
· Outpouring for slain Canadian soldier impresses veteran
· Rally in Trenton will pay tribute to military personnel and their families
· Lethbridge Veteran Keeps Military History Alive.
· Ombudsman ready to take on feds over Afghan vets' benefits
· You did what you felt you had to do.
· Regiment to celebrate 125th anniversary
· MP Fund for Blind Children helps in Afghanistan
· CF pilot recaptures the magic
· Pride and determination: Celebrating Canada’s birthday in Kandahar
· Soldier shouldn't face battle on the homefront
· Veterans Affairs wants Chicoutimi survivors given same consideration as war
vets
· Government of Canada Remembers the Korean War with Commemorative
Cruise and Presentation of Memorial Cross in Quebec City
· Leduc Royal Canadian Legion donates
· Stratford Legion to call Allman arena home
· Orillia Legion hopes to raise cash for medal
· Statue of Tom Fleetwood to honour war veteran
· He's taping veterans' stories to pay a debt
· Second-degree murder conviction for RCL Murderer
· Helicopters to keep troops off dangerous roads in Afghanistan
Lean On Me
Master Corporal Paul Franklin and his son
Simon. Franklin lost both his legs in a
suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan that
left a Canadian diplomat, and at least two
Afghans dead. Franklin never saw his
attacker.
Credit: www.cbc.ca
Left a double, above-the-knee
amputee following a suicide bombing
on his second tour of duty in
Afghanistan, Master Cpl. Paul Franklin
considers one of his prime duties now
is to aid fellow disabled veterans get
back on their feet -- literally.
According to Time Magazine he's one
of Canada's heroes, while Rubicon
Publishers has placed him up there
with the best of the best in Canada's
Top 10 Most Inspiring Canadians.
When Gov. Gen. Michaele Jean
prepares the guest list for her Rideau
Hall home in Ottawa, the honour of
taking a seat at the table is -- for most -a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Master
Cpl. Paul Franklin dined with Jean
twice.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
The Canadian soldier, and now also an
inspirational speaker, sustained
catastrophic injuries in a suicide
Page 1
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
bombing on his second tour of duty in
Afghanistan that left him a double,
above-the-knee amputee.
Franklin's not one to keep this
experience bottled up inside him.
Week Ending August 1, 2008
the perfect fit for the charity because,
"we could work under the umbrella of
mutually agreeable mandate for
research education and support.
"They do the taxes, accounting and
administration, allowing donations to go
He's is set to visit Algoma -- for the third
directly to the clinics and other activities
time this year -- to discuss his lifewe had planned and the Franklin Fund
altering experiences, also documented
is the national arm of the plan."
in the 2007 book The Long Walk Home,
Paul Franklin's Journey from
Franklin tours the country telling a
Afghanistan.
soldier's story.
Jan. 15, 2006 began like any other day
for a Canadian soldier serving in the
war-torn region -- with danger hanging
in the air. But something even more
sinister lay hidden, which would literally
tear Franklin's world apart.
His convoy was attacked and the G
Wagon he was driving took a direct hit.
The carnage was devastating, leaving
him without his left leg while the right
was so severely injured the decision
was made to surgically amputate what
was left of the limb.
The Sault Ste. Marie Military Family
Support Group has invited him to return
for engagements Aug. 14-15. Group
founder and facilitator May Adshead
hopes Franlkin's visit will drum up
community support for troops, their
families and trigger an awareness for
charitable organization.
Capt. Roy Harten, Unit Public Affairs
Officer and past Commanding Officer of
the 2310 Army Cadet Corps, met
Franklin in May.
He was guest speaker of the 49th Field
Regiment and also did a presentation
for the support group. Franklin had
copies of his book for sale and Harten
bought one.
Written by Liane Faulder, a feature
writer with the Edmonton Journal, The
Long Walk Home is a story about
courage and determination.
"Canada hasn't been at war for 50
years," said Harten in a recent
interview at his home, "and major
injuries have been rare."
That's changing and more soldiers are
getting hurt or dying in battle.
Franklin will speak Aug. 14 at the Royal
"Paul tackled things head on," said
Canadian Legion Branch 25, with The
Harten. "He needed them get through
Red Friday Golf Fun Day Aug. 15 at
post traumatic stress disorder, combat
Crimson Ridge Golf Course.
stress and the difficult challenges of
Just as yellow ribbons are recognized working overseas.
the world over as symbols of troop
Passenger Glyn Berry, a Canadian
Darch, an Aweres public school and
support, so are Red Fridays.
diplomat, died and two fellow soldiers
Bawating Collegiant and Vocational
Organizers hope such golf fun days will
were critically injured.
School graduate, was stationed in
spring up across Canada.
Based in Edmonton with 1 Field
Kabul Afghanistan in 2003-2004 and
Ambulance, Franklin was is a medical Both functions will also raise money for was an acquaintance of Franklin.
the local Military Family Support Group,
technician and remains an active
He said that the G Wagon Franklin was
member of the Canadian Armed Forces which, in turn, will help military families
driving the day the suicide bomber
with Casualty Support at Land Forces by providing spiritual and emotional
struck is "a military SUV." It is no longer
encouragement, while co-ordinating
Western Area.
used outside the wire and has been
activities and sponsoring guest
In an amazingly short period post
replaced in this capacity by the lightspeakers.
trauma, the soldier was able to walk
armoured vehicle (LAV), weighing 15 to
"It gives the community an opportunity 18 tons while sporting eight wheels.
with prosthetics and crutches. It was
during this difficult transition period that to support these troops, and the
legs and he told them what he needed."
he discovered a new passion. He saw families who are left behind," Adshead
said.
how other patients suffered, was able
Franklin, 40, was born in Halifax and
to share in their frustration and pain
Franklin was an Emergency Medical
grew up in Calgary. The married father
and knew exactly what they needed.
Technician with Infantry Division of the of one concedes he will never be able
Franklin's prosthetics cost $60,000 per Provincial Reconstruction Team in
to return to combat but knows many
leg. The big issue now is research into south Kandahar Province when he was wounded soldiers who want to return to
injured.
high-tech devices so the price can be
full and active duty.
brought down, making such support
As his entire being lay in the balance
"I work here to help the soldiers that
more accessible.
half a world away, his long walk home, are wounded to come back in a
His concept for a charity organization, while one of the cruelest ironies of all, dignified and honourable manner," he
was laid squarely at the feet that were writes. "We do this by making sure
designed to help all Canadian
no longer there.
amputees both military and civilian,
mistakes that are made, are made only
began to take shape. It became a
once, by ensuring each patient gets the
But he has taken irony and used the
reality when he co-founded the
best care possible."
twist to focus on a challenge most
Northern Alberta Amputee Program in
couldn't conceive let alone follow
He said that his charity aims to improve
2006.
through on.
reintegration of returning soldiers by
"NAAP was started to help fill the gap in
helping "The G wagon has limited use
Heyden native Col. Allan Darch, army
amputee care," Franklin said in a
inside the wire," Darch said. "And is
command surgeon in Ottawa, has
recent e-mail interview from Edmonton.
used inside Kabul where there is lower
nothing but admiration for Franklin,
risk for improvised explosive devices
citing his "incredible courage, strength
He said the University of Alberta was
(IEDs)."
of character and positive attitude."
Page 2
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
Adshead realizes through her works as
a facilitator, that "99 per cent of injured
soldiers want to get back to work. And
they need more advanced prosthesis
so they can continue doing their jobs in
the forces."
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Franklin said the publicity surrounding
his story is "a bit self manufactured," as
he promoted the idea "of making sure
wounded soldiers are in the media.
Military designated name because of
the paint strip around the barrels for
easy identification in a time of war,
which just happened to stick.
Now I have indicated that I believe
Ottawa was testing these products on
When she and her husband Ed's son,
their own troops and that of the US and
Brandon Corbett, was deployed to
British military at Canadian Force Base
Afghanistan in February 2007, there
(CFB) Gagetown in New Brunswick,
As far as life on the links, "I wasn't a
wasn't a support group in the Sault.
Canada due to Ottawa's own words.
golfer when I had legs but the 19th hole
Corbett was a reservist with the 49th
Government Officials have stated that
looks pretty good."
Field Regiment and went over with a
they neither knew that the chemical
unit from Petawawa.
Saturday, July 26, 2008 products contained (TCDD) Dioxin or
PATRICIA BAKER, SPECIAL TO THE STAR (HCB) Hexachlorobenzene (both
"Military bases have support networks,"
Section: Veterans known carcinogens and without much
she said.
doubts two of the most deadly man"North Bay Family Resources Centre
made chemicals known to mankind),
Canada's Dirty Dark Vietnam
was looking for someone to start one
nor even if they had that they didn't
War Secret
up here. I had absolutely no military
know that these two chemicals were
training. But by May of that year, our
harmful. This clearly indicates that if
Military Family support Group was up
these chemicals were in fact registered
and running.
(not yet established) that little or no
testing was done on behalf of the
The group helps families prepare for
Canadian people by Health Canada
deployment, said Harten. "It establishes
and that the testing was actually being
contacts and helps maintain order in
done at CFB Gagetown for both the
their lives for six months."
Canadian and US Military, on our own
Sault Ste. Marie has seen its share of
Military personnel and with no regards
military personnel depart for violent
to the collateral damage it might wreck
theatres of war, so having a support
on the surrounding civilian population.
group started here was important.
Ottawa kept this 29 year defoliation
When Harten's wife, Laura, went to
program, or at least what chemicals
Afghanistan as a civilian barber in
they were using, secret for over 50
2005, there wasn't a group into which
years and to this writer it was a far
Agent Orange Corpdusting.
to tap.
better kept secret then the nuclear
Credit: Student Pugwash USA
weapons testing being done world
"It was talked about, but we needed a
It was shocking to many Canadian
wide. This Government secrecy had the
facilitator," Harten said. "And my hands
Veterans to find out that the Canadian effect of compounding the problem
were full."
Department of National Defense (DND) which as many as 350,000 possible
He provided Adshead with the contacts under the orders of the Canadian
victims were facing as they began to
in CFB North Bay and she took it from Government began testing Agent
become sick with all sorts of exotic and
Orange, Agent Purple and later Agent rare medical conditions, which most if
there.
White at CFB Gagetown starting in
not all Canadian doctors had neither
Several soldiers and a civilian are
1956, long before it was ever used by
experience nor knowledge of. Soldiers
returning from their tours and two more
the US Military in Vietnam.
,if they became too sick, were just
soldiers will soon be deployed.
discharged to the public sector and to
Adshead subsequently co-ordinated a Now to be fair, the Canadian
civilian doctors ill-prepared to recognize
group effort to adorn local streets with Government (Ottawa) claims that it
or treat chemical contamination, and
wasn't actually testing these chemicals
yellow ribbons.
soldiers couldn't even give the doctors
and that they were in fact conducting a
the heads up on the possibility of toxic
Harten and his youngest daughter,
defoliation program and even went so
chemical exposure being a factor.
Emma, stapled their ribbons to poles
far as to claim that it was being done
along Second Line West, while others
for our own good; so a branch wouldn't The US military is not innocent in this
did Queen Street and Great Northern
fall on our heads while training.
fiasco either as they accepted a
Road in Sault Ste. Marie.
Canadian invitation to test their sprays
Ottawa went on to claim that the
in 1966 and again in 1967 where they
Franklin plans to share with his legion
chemicals which they used weren't
chose to spray chemicals on their allies
audience accounts of his two missions
Agents Orange, Purple and White but
which they had already stopped
in Afghanistan, the incident, recovery,
let's face it the US hadn't coined the
spraying on their enemies in Vietnam
rehab and reintegration. A spaghetti
names of the Rainbow Chemicals yet
because of health concerns and
dinner will be available for a nominal
and technically there never has been
chemicals which were illegal to spray in
fee. The Red Friday Golf Fun Day also
any chemical product registered under
the US.
open to the public.
these names, and besides it was a
"If they want to, they can show the
Canadian people their sacrifice and
what it means to be a Canadian
soldier."
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 3
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Ottawa has so far done very little for
the victims which they created at CFB
Gagetown even though over 3.3 million
liters and/or pounds of toxic chemicals
were sprayed there by Canada. This
would most likely make Gagetown the
second most sprayed area in the world
and, because of it size or lack thereof,
may actually contain more liters/pounds
per acre then most places in Vietnam
and where concentrations of as much
as 14,300 % above (CCME) Canadian
Council for Ministers of the
Environment acceptable guidelines for
dioxin was found only last year, forty
years after the last chemicals claimed
to contain dioxin were in fact sprayed.
Week Ending August 1, 2008
love of my life wile in Germany and we
are soon to celebrate our 39
anniversary on August first and we
have two now grown up boys and a few
wonderful grand children.
Queen to the Brantford Armouries.
"I am absolutely overwhelmed,"
Thompson said, following a tour of the
museum. "They have everything here
from guns to photos and uniforms. "I
I was contaminated by Toxic Chemicals have to say that I really didn't expect to
see so many artifacts. I'm really
wile on duty at CFB Gagetown New
Brunswick, Canada with chemicals now impressed by what you have here."
known to contain Dioxin (TCDD) and
To his knowledge, no other community
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) better
has such an expansive collection. The
known as Agent Orange and Agent
only museum that compares is the
White.
National War Museum in Ottawa, he
said.
I was released from the Army after I
became extremely sick due to toxic
Thompson was in Brantford to visit
chemical exposure.
local dignitaries and veterans, tour the
museum and speak to local
I am a proud member of the Agent
What Ottawa (Canadian Government) Orange Association of Canada (AOAC) Conservative Party faithful.
has done for Gagetown victims is to
and at present I am one of their article
The Brant Federal Conservative Riding
offer a $20,000 one time Ex-grata
writers.
Association held a reception for him
(meaning they accept no guilt or
following his museum visit. He was
I have in the past two or three years
responsibility) payment for soldiers and
escorted around the museum by Rick
had as many as 250 small articles
civilians who lived within a 5 klm radius
published all with the Gagetown issue Shaver, the museum's chairman, and
of the Base in the summers of 66 and
and the tens of thousands of Victims it Phil McColeman, the Brant
67, while excluding any claims for
Conservative candidate for the next
created.
compensation to anyone who had the
federal election.
bad form to have died before
Saturday, July 26, 2008
November 6th 2006--and then only if
Kenneth Young , opednews.com Thompson was in Brantford a couple of
Section: Veterans years ago to attend the annual Thank-athey can prove a limited number of
Vet dinner and he praised the
medical conditions for Dioxin
community for its support of veterans.
contamination--placing the blame
During his formal remarks, Thompson
squarely on the shoulders US Militaries' Military museum wows
minister
said he has the best job in Canada,
2 and ½ barrels of chemicals while
adding that he and his staff remember
totally ignoring the over 5,500 barrels
the nation's veterans every day.
and over 2 million pounds of Canadian
sprayed chemicals of identical
Veterans Affairs also helps initiatives
composition.
that connect schools and communities
with veterans. As part of that ongoing
At this time there are as many as 4
effort, the ministry is contributing
Class Action Law Suits relating to CFB
$5,000 to this year's Brant United Way
Gagetown and the chemicals used
Airshow.
there, Ottawa refuses to call for a full
public and judicial inquiry, soldiers
The annual United Way fundrasier runs
continue to train in a dioxin soaked
Aug. 27 at the Brantford Municipal
training area and Veterans of the cold
Airport. The theme is a salute to the
war Chemical weapons testing
If you are in the Brantford area and want to military: past, present and future.
continue to die.
learn something about the military past of
RARE SPITFIRE
Canada don't miss to visit the "Canadian
Cpl. Kenneth H. Young CD
Military Heritage Museum".
The show will feature aircraft from the
(Ret'd).Nanaimo, BC Canada
Second World War, as well as modern
Credit:
Canadian
Military
Heritage
Museum
Comment Letter
fighter jets. Also featured will be a rare
Mark 9 Spitfire airplane, a CF-18
Hi! My name is Ken and I was born in a Head of Veterans Affairs brings
cheque for airshow during Friday visit
Canadian Fighter jet and one of only
little town of Grand'Mere Quebec,
two Lancaster bombers still in
Canada in 1948. I grew up and lived in Veterans Affairs Minister Greg
Quebec until I was 17 years old when I Thompson came to Brantford on Friday operation. The Skyhawks, Canada's
military parachute team, are scheduled
joined the Canadian Armed Forcesand he didn't come empty handed.
to do a jump at the show. Charian Gary
Army to be exact.
Thompson brought a $5,000 federal
Surette welcomed the contribution.
The Royal Canadian Regiment was my government contribution to the
"It's something that helps solidify what
home for almost 13 years, where I seen upcoming Brant United Way Airshow.
many countries, did some UN peace
He also had plenty of compliments for we're doing," Surette said. "It ensures
keeping and almost 5 years in
the Canadian Military Heritage Museum this year's airshow will have a terrific
take off and soar above the skies of
Germany, Europe in NATO. I met the
and presented a new portrait of the
Page 4
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Brantford and Brant County."
soldiers currently in Afghanistan.
in relative security.
Thompson and McColeman also
provided representatives of the
armouries with an updated portrait of
the Queen. Other dignitaries to attend
the event included Brant MP Lloyd St.
Amand, Brant County Mayor Ron Eddy
and Brantford Mayor Mike Hancock.
Several veterans also attended.
As they mark the 55th anniversary of
the end of what was once Canada's
"forgotten war," many of the men who
fought for freedom in South Korea are
drawing parallels between the
Afghanistan of today and the Korea of
yesteryear.
The hope is that Canadian and other
NATO soldiers currently in Afghanistan
can help that country rebuild just as
South Korea has flourished since the
end of the war, say the Korean
veterans.
"In 1950, Korea was totally destroyed,"
recalls Mike Czuboka of Winnipeg, who
Speaking to reporters after the event,
operated an 81mm mortar launcher
Thompson, MP for New Brunswick
Southwest, said he isn't sure when the during his time in the south Asian
next federal election will be held. But he country.
is sure that once it is called, there will
"There was nothing there. It was just
be a lot of close races at ridings across
rubble."
the country, including many in Ontario.
Today, Seoul and Pusan are thriving,
"We believe there will be a lot of
modern cities, says Czuboka, who
competitive ridings," he said.
returned to South Korea this month as
Saturday, July 26, 2008 part of a commemorative visit arranged
VINCENT BALL, EXPOSITOR STAFF by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Section: Veterans
South Korea's vibrant economy stands
in stark contrast to that of North Korea,
Michele Forbes-Now resting at where nearly two million people
reportedly starved to death in the late
home.
1990s due to severe food shortages.
International aid groups warn the
present situation in the North may
dwarf those numbers as 6.5 million
people face food shortages and
starvation.
In a statement issued Sunday, Prime
Minister Stephen Harper drew his own
parallels between the Korean War and
the conflict in Afghanistan.
"During the Korean War, Canada
reaffirmed its position as a nation
committed to peace and democracy,"
he said.
"Today, the Canadian Forces serving in
Afghanistan and elsewhere are bravely
and diligently confronting tyranny and
oppression, in order to bring security to
nations desperate for new beginnings."
There are differences, however, and no
way of drawing exact parallels between
the two wars, says veteran Roy Jardine
of Calgary.
Korea offered hilly terrain with much
tree cover, recalled Jardine, known to
his comrades as Buck.
Afghanistan, with its arid mountains
and hot desert, provides soldiers with
little cover and a much different
landscape to traverse.
"Had we not gone to Korea, the whole
country would have been Communists,
"You have these sneak attacks on
and presumably under the same
people who are doing nothing more
economic circumstances," said
than just driving down the road,"
Michele Forbes had an operation and is Czuboka.
Jardine said of the roadside bomb
now resting at home, get well soon.
tactics being deployed by insurgents in
"The country has really pulled up its
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Afghanistan.
bootstraps,"
says
retired
Maj.
Eric
Norma Ash
Section: Sick and Visiting Devlin, 89, who revisited South Korea
"We were just keeping (the North
five years ago.
Koreans) from coming any further south
in those days," Jardine recalled from
The
men
who
served
in
Korea
went
for
Korean War vets look back,
many of the same reasons that
see history repeating itself in Canadian soldiers today volunteer for his time in Korea.
Canadian troops stationed in Korea
Afghanistan
tours of duty in Afghanistan, say the
also seemed to have more, if not better
veterans.
equipment, said Jardine.
They wanted to help people, and hoped
There are other significant historical
for a better, brighter future for the
differences between the countries as
country's inhabitants.
well.
Under the Taliban, and during the civil
The Korean War lasted about three
war and Soviet occupation that
years, following more than a decade of
preceded their rule, Afghanistan's
post-Second World War tensions and a
economy was devastated.
political tug-of-war between China and
Japan that began in the late 1800's.
Millions of refugees fled to
neighbouring Pakistan and elsewhere,
Afghanistan, on the other hand, has
but tens of thousands have since
endured centuries of clashes between
returned to raise families and restart
OTTAWA — Veterans of the Korean
its two main tribal clans, not to mention
businesses, particularly in the capital,
War are hoping the better part of
countless invasions from neighbouring
Kabul, where the population now lives
history repeats itself for Canadian
countries hoping to control key trading
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 5
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
routes.
Undoubtedly, memories of vicious
battles will march through the minds of
A ceasefire was declared in the Korean
those who fought and survived the
War 55 years ago Sunday, although it
1950-1953 Korean War.
wasn't officially recognized in Canada
as anything more than a "conflict" until Canadian veterans of that war will
the start of the new century.
gather at cenotaphs and memorials
across the country to pay homage to
From June 25, 1950, when South
their fallen comrades. They will also
Korea faced the threat of a full-blown
salute the veterans of Afghanistan and
invasion by North Korea, until July 27,
those who have died in that war while
1953, when the Korean War Armistice
serving in the Canadian army, which
was signed, more than 26,000
has evolved from peacekeeping mode
Canadians were involved in the United
to a fighting force.
Nations mission.
Of the 26,791 Canadians who served in
A further 7,000 Canadians served
the Korean War, 516 lost their lives and
between the time of the ceasefire and
more than 1,000 were wounded. About
the end of 1955, keeping peace
10,000 are still alive. Included in the
between the two nations at the height
casualty figures are 45 who died on
of the Cold War.
peacekeeping duties in Korea. Those
names are not included on the
In all, 516 Canadians died and more
Peacekeeper Park Memorial Wall of
than 1,200 were seriously wounded.
Honour in Calgary's Garrison Green.
Three Canadian destroyers were
Yet the names of Forces personnel
dispatched to Korean waters early in
who died in Afghanistan (87 since
the conflict to serve under UN
2002) are inscribed on the wall, even
command, along with a Royal
though the mission is combat, not
Canadian Air Force squadron.
peacekeeping.
However, it wasn't until December 1950
The defining role of the Canadian
that troops from the 252nd Battalion of
military during the Korea peacekeeping
the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light
era matches the objectives of the
Infantry arrived at Pusan.
Canadian Association of Veterans in
A number of remembrance ceremonies United Nations Peacekeeping. It fits as
marking the Armistice are planned
snugly as a blue beret. The association
across Canada, including events in
raised money for the establishment of
Halifax and Yarmouth, N.S., Brampton, the memorial wall and for its expansion.
Ont., Paradise, N.L., Winnipeg, Regina,
An Order in Council signed in 1999
Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Lethbridge,
created the Canadian Peacekeeping
Alta.
Service Medal. Canadians who had
Sunday, July 27, 2008 served in Korea following the 1953
The Canadian Press ceasefire were among the recipients,
Section: Veterans further solidifying their peacekeeper
status.
Korean War veterans deserve That the Korea peacekeeper dead are
recognition for their sacrifices not inscribed on the Wall is not an
Today marks the 55th anniversary of
the armistice in Korea.
Page 6
unusual situation for Korea veterans.
They've had to fight for recognition for
years. The fact that the war in Korea
was once known as the Forgotten War
is not a myth. People were not
interested. There were no televised
ramp ceremonies (TV did not arrive in
Calgary until several months after the
armistice in Korea), no Route of Valour,
Military Family Fund, Red Shirt Fridays,
Support Our Troops decals, Military
Family Resource Centre or anything
else. Korea veterans returned to
Canada after long sea voyages, went
home and were forgotten for decades.
or in training, or had succumbed to
disease were not airlifted home; they
were buried in the United Nations
Memorial Cemetery in Pusan (Busan),
Korea. Other casualties who had died
of wounds after being transferred to the
British Commonwealth Hospital in Kure,
Japan, were buried in Yokohama.
Some were killed in the tumult of battle
and were never found. They lay where
they fell, shrouded perhaps by
collapsed trenches, bunkers or in the
muck of paddy fields. Like those who
were lost at sea in Korean waters in
service with the Royal Canadian Navy,
there were no known graves at which
the living could mourn.
Initially, the war in Korea was called a
"police action," then for many years
referred to by media as the Korean
Conflict (with a capital "C") as if the
deaths of two million people (civilians
and combatants) didn't qualify as a war.
The turning point for its proper name
came 10 years ago when then U.S.
president Bill Clinton signed an act of
Congress that required government
statutory provisions referring to the
"Korean Conflict" be struck and
replaced by "Korean War."
In 1973, a group of veterans formed the
Korea Veterans Association of Canada.
Their main goal was to bring the role of
Canadians in the Korean War out of
obscurity. That campaign is ongoing.
Another item of concern to these
veterans was the fact they were all
volunteers, yet the Canadian
government had not authorized a
volunteer medal as had been the case
in the First and Second World Wars.
There were years of fruitless lobbying.
Finally, two MPs, one a Korea veteran,
circulated a petition in Parliament and
the Senate that was signed by all
including the prime minister, then
presented to the Governor General.
Authorization for the medal followed.
Most of the Korea vets received theirs
in the mailbox, 38 years after their war
had ended.
The Korea Veterans Association
appointed a memorials chairman in
1993 who supervised the installation of
bronze plaques inscribed "Korea 19501953" that were affixed to memorials
and cenotaphs across Canada. Four
years later, on July 27, the Korea
Veterans Association National Wall of
Remembrance was dedicated in
In Korea, Canadians who died in battle Meadowvale Cemetery, Brampton, Ont.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
It contains the names of all 516
Canadians who lost their lives during
the Korean War and the peacekeeping
era that followed.
In 2003, the Korean War Monument to
the Canadian Fallen was dedicated in
Ottawa. Although most of the
memorials and monuments are in
eastern Canada, a statue of a
Canadian Korean War veteran stands
in front of the Military Museums in
Calgary.
It's fitting that the brave, young
Canadians who volunteer to serve in
the Afghanistan War be acknowledged,
revered and remembered. The names
of their fallen comrades should be
recorded wherever possible, even on a
peacekeeping memorial.
However, it's likely that the Canadian
warriors of Afghanistan will want their
own memorials dedicated to their dead,
and their own bronze plaques similar to
those of Korea.
Roland Soper served in the 1st & 3rd
Battalions of Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry in the Korean
War. He is the author of the war novel,
Sword of Wood. He lives in Calgary.
© The Calgary Herald 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Roland Soper, Calgary Herald
Section: Veterans
Veterans observe 55th
anniversary of Korean War
armistice
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
than five million casualties.
Twenty-six thousand Canadians served
in the conflict, 516 of whom died. It
remains the Canadian military's
deadliest conflict since World War Two.
November 1950; for the next three
years, a stalemate settled in as death
tolls mounted on both sides.
The armistice was meant to direct
discussions towards a formal peace
In a statement released Sunday, Prime treaty, but after 55 years, no agreement
Minister Stephen Harper remembered had been signed by both warring
all the Canadian soldiers that signed up parties. Today, along the 38th parallel,
to serve in Korea and stand "their
the Demilitarized Zone, a heavily
ground against the enemy."
fortified, nearly impenetrable border,
splits the peninsula in two.
"They fought in swamps and rice fields,
through torrential rain and snow, in the In the north, the Democratic People's
air and at sea. Canadians proved their Republic of Korea, led by Kim's son,
mettle again and again . . .," Harper
Kim Jong-Il, remains an isolated and
said. "Canada will never forget those
impoverished authoritarian state. The
who wore the Canadian uniform with
southern Republic of Korea, a
pride, and the men and women who
beneficiary of decades of American,
continue to serve our country today."
European, and Japanese investment,
thrives as a vibrant, capitalist
Minister of Veterans Affairs Greg
democracy. Attempts at reuniting the
Thomson visited a United Nations
two countries have so far been met with
cemetery in South Korea two weeks
little success.
ago with a delegation of veterans of the
war.
© Canwest News Service 2008
"We honoured their service and vowed
that neither time nor distance shall
lessen our remembrance," Thomson
said of the memorial.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Mike Barber , Canwest News Service
Section: Veterans
The battle that changed it all
Canadian involvement in the Korean
War has often been overlooked,
resulting in the war being referred to as
the Forgotten War. The conflict was the
first armed engagement of the Cold
War, but its significance in the West is
often lost between the horrors of the
Second World War and the Vietnam
War that would follow in the 1960s.
Today, remembrance ceremonies were
to be held in cities across Canada. In
Winnipeg, a candlelight vigil will honour
the 36 Manitobans killed in the war.
Canadian Forces personnel will
observe the end of the war aboard
HMCS Toronto, currently near Iqaluit,
Nunavut. Other ceremonies are
planned in Yarmouth, N.S., Edmonton,
Calgary, Brampton, Ont., Regina and
Saskatoon.
The Drummond Hill Cemetery is situ
Credit: Niagra Falls Public Library
Remembering how the War of 1812
turned on Lundy's Lane.
Every year, Lundy’s Lane Historical
Society president John Burtniak stands
among tombstones so faded they’re
unreadable, and ponders what it all
The war began on June 25, 1950, when means.
North Korean forces invaded the
Heroes are buried here. The tide of a
southern half of the peninsula in an
war was changed here. It’s among the
OTTAWA -- Legions and veterans
attempt to reunite the two countries
most important patches of land in
across Canada are marking the 55th
under a Kim Il-Sung's communist
Canadian history, yet people can walk
anniversary of an armistice that brought regime. After nearly forcing the South
right by without noticing it.
an end to four bloody years of the
Korean army out of the country, allied
Korean War.
reinforcements from Canada, the U.K., And so every July, Burtniak gives
Drummond Hill Cemetery its due. On
U.S., France, and 17 other countries
On July 27, 1953, major fighting
the same land about 1,600 American
arrived
in
September
1950.
The
between North Korean and Chinese
and Canadian soldiers died, he pays
newfound
strength
pushed
the
North
communist forces and South Korean
tribute the last, great battle of the War
Korean army to the Chinese border.
and allied forces stopped, after more
of 1812.
Chinese forces joined the war in
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 7
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
“This has been done faithfully for 120
years, and today we continue that
tradition,” he said.
The scene is the same every year - a
crowd gathers in front of the Soldier’s
Monument while veterans and
politicians lay wreaths to mark the
decisive fight which erupted here on
July 25, 1814.
Week Ending August 1, 2008
gently riding a stationary bike and doing Anniversary of Korean War
yoga. When the weather gets cold, I tell brings back memories
her she can always go for a walk at the
mall, or keep busy walking around the
house."
Christie was first attracted to this
research area by exercise's positive
effect on neuron creation and cognition.
But, he says, new neurons can't
account for the total brain gain from
That day, about 2,800 Canadian and
exercise. After all, how can new brain
British soldiers faced the American
cells get access to old memories? So
Army in sweltering heat for a six-hour
now, in research funded by the
stand-off which went into the night.
Canadian Institutes of Health
Canadian troops expected to keep
Research, Christie is looking at what
A ceremony was held at the Nutana Legion
fighting the next day, but the exhausted happens to the brain cells you already Sunday marking the 55th anniversary of the
Korean War armistice; the attendees
American side withdrew to Fort Erie
have when you exercise. And, it turns,
include Min Jowin (from left), Park Sook
and eventually home. The war ended
out, there's a lot going on.
Hee and her daughter Jung Yu Jung and
soon after.
veterans Jim Dockstader, Irving Larson, Les
When people exercise, he has found,
Sunday, July 27, 2008 the structures that enable brain cells to
Muirhead and Will Scott.
John Law, The Niagara Falls Review
talk
to
each
other
are
improved.
Credit: Richard Marjan, The StarPhoenix
Section: Veterans
Dendrites, which carry electrical signals
from cells to synapses, become longer When Harley Welsh reminisces about
the time he served in the Korean War,
and reach farther, while synapses,
Old brains, new cells
which help neurons communicate with he can't help but think about what didn't
happen when he returned to
target cells, become more numerous.
Saskatoon.
As well, the synapses become more
plastic -- able to make connections and "A fella I joined up with from Saskatoon
increase communication between
was killed in late October there, just a
neurons -- after exercise.
couple months before we were due to
be rotated," Welsh said. "We made a
Christie thinks that a big part of the
lot of plans, things we were going to do
secret is that getting your heart
when we got back -- a cold beer at the
pumping sends blood flowing through
your brain. The increased blood flow, in Empire Hotel -- but I'm afraid he didn't
turn, carries more growth factors, more make it. I always feel bad about that."
evenly, to more parts of the brain.
The veteran told his story Sunday at a
Growth factors stimulate new neurons ceremony marking the 55th anniversary
Keeping your mind in top shape while
and new connections among neurons. of the Korean War armistice of July 27,
you age.
1953. Gathering at the Nutana Legion
So far, research has found that the
A 20-minute walk with the dog may not gains in brain function from exercise
with other Korean War veterans,
send you to the Olympics -- but it may seem to affect mostly memory and
members of the Korean community and
help you keep that Olympic-calibre
Canadian government representatives,
learning. Now, Christie is looking at
brain as you age.
Welsh spoke of the time he served with
whether more intense exercise for
the Second Battalion of the Princess
longer
periods
of
time
can
affect
other
Dr. Brian Christie of the Division of
Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in
areas
of
the
brain,
improving
brain
Medical Sciences at the University of
what is now South Korea in 1950 and
function
beyond
memory
and
learning.
Victoria was one of the first researchers
1951.
to demonstrate the now widelyDr. Christie's research provides yet
accepted notion that exercise can
Already a Second World War veteran,
more reason for seniors to stay
create new brain cells, or neurons, and physically active. By being their own
Welsh signed up for the reserve army
that these new brain cells can result in Olympians, seniors can help keep their and was deployed to Korea after the
better learning and memory skills.
brains, as well as their bodies, nimble. communist regime in what is now North
Korea tried to gain forcible command of
The effects of exercise, he says, are
For more information, visit
the nation and crossed the 38th parallel
quite pronounced in seniors, even if
www.impact.cihr.gc.ca.
with its armies. Canada was one of 16
they don't engage in intense exercise.
nations that fought under the United
Monday, July 28, 2008
"That's the beauty of it. Just 20 minutes
Nations banner, trying to bring peace
NEWS CANADA
of exercise, a couple of times a day,
Section: Seniors and aid to the country.
are enough," he says. "Even for those
"It was very, very cold. A lot of people
who are less mobile, there's always a
think it's a tropical nation -- it's warm
way to get some exercise. My mom,
near the ocean and the southern part,
after her hip replacement, started
Page 8
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
but once you get up in the hills or the
The war is over but will never
northern part it gets very, very cold," he be 'forgotten'
said. "We were outside during the
winter. You would be in your trench and
the little stream flowing below you at
night, it wasn't flowing in the morning."
home with a bullet hole in his leg, and
memories which may be even more
painful. His voice wavers as he
remembers a valley "paved with dead
bodies" as the Chinese and North
Korean troops made a final push.
It was the hardships of the Korean
people, however, that gave Canadian
forces the most discomfort, he said.
"For the people in the middle, the
civilians, you had to feel sorry for them.
How do you get crops and food when
you can't work?" he said.
But when the Canadian troops returned
home after the ceasefire, there was no
heroes' welcome.
"There was no parade, no nothing. We
got off the train and our family was
there and that was it," he said. "We got
in the car and away we went home."
The anniversary brings back many
memories for the veterans of the war.
However, those first-hand accounts of
the conflict will not be available forever,
said Jim McKinny, one of the
organizers of the event and a veteran
of the war himself. While it is often
referred to as The Forgotten War, there
is still an opportunity for the event to be
remembered.
Less than two dozen spectators turned
out on Sunday to honour the men.
Speaking at the sombre service,
Salvation Army Maj. Len Millar said it is
important to remember the Canadians
who died in the Korean War, to reflect
on the contribution of others who
served there, and to give thanks for
what the war achieved.
"If anybody is going to know anything
about the Korean War, we've got to tell
them," said McKinny, noting
Korean War veteran James Pawaschuk was
Saskatoon's Korean Veterans
one of the few remaining veterans that took
part in a remembrance ceremony for the
Association is becoming involved in as
Korean war in Victoria Park on Sunday.
many events as possible in order to
shine some light on the conflict.
Credit: Joshua Sawka, Leader-Post
There's another reason why the group
organized Sunday's ceremony.
Bob Nolan remembers the "Forgotten
War" all too well.
"It's the 55th anniversary; our numbers
are depleting. We don't know if we'll
have enough to organize it for the
60th," he explained, adding with a
laugh, "I'm going to be here, but I don't
want to do all the work myself."
Nolan was a boy of 19 when he fought
in the Korean War, one of nearly
27,000 Canadians who stood against
the invasion of South Korea by the
North Korean Army.
Millar also described the Korean War
as the launch pad to Canada's
peacekeeping efforts.
Korean War veteran Ken Garbutt says
the Korean conflict was significant in
many ways, including that it was the
first act of aggression after the
formation of the United Nations, and set
a precedent for subsequent UN
response to global conflicts.
Canada sent the third largest
contingent of troops to Korea, after the
United States and Britain.
After the war, the 2nd Battalion of the
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light
"Five hundred and sixteen soldiers lost Infantry became the only Canadian unit
While the Korean War ended more than over there, I would consider that some
in history to receive military citations
half a century ago, lessons from the
kind of a war, wouldn't you?" Nolan
from the President of the United States.
conflict are still important today, Welsh said Sunday, on the 55th Anniversary
said.
"That's something too," Garbutt said.
of the war's armistice.
"People don't realize how important that
"It makes you feel it was worthwhile,"
A small crowd of veterans, dignitaries
is."
he said about supporting a nation in
and members of the public gathered at
need. "That's what we have to
the Victoria Park Cenotaph on Sunday Garbutt says the war is definitely
remember in supporting Canadian
remembered in South Korea, where
afternoon, to pay tribute to the 55th
troops now. We have a role and
Korean children faithfully tend the
Anniversary of the signing of the
somewhere down the line we hope to
Korean War ceasefire on July 27, 1953. graves of Canadian soldiers to this day.
look back and say it was all worthwhile,
And though Veterans Affairs Canada
In total, 26,791 Canadians served in
we did know what we're doing."
has worked to raise the profile of the
the Korean War, with more than 500
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008
Korean War in this country, Galbutt
killed and thousands more injured.
said the milestone 55th Anniversary still
Twenty nine of the dead were from
Monday, July 28, 2008
didn't receive the attention for which he
Saskatchewan.
Cassandra Kyle, The StarPhoenix
had hoped.
Section: Veterans Yet the Korean War has never received
Now, he's hoping the 60th anniversary
much attention from the public or
media, earning it the dubious distinction five years from now will finally bring the
conflict -- and its soldiers -- the
as the so-called "Forgotten War."
attention they deserve.
It was no easy battle. Nolan came
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 9
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
"Most of us now are in our late 70s and some are still buried in countries they
early 80s," he said. "And time is
fought to defend.
drawing short."
Even though we were prisoners of
poverty in our communities as a result
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008 of government policies that kept us
Jana G. Pruden, Leader-Post oppressed, we became champions of
Section: Veterans freedom so others could live in peace;
most importantly, many of our veterans
found their spiritual strength and
Native veterans forced to fight resurgence as once-proud warriors.
another war on home front
Today, we stand tall in our defiance of
being second-class citizens. It was in
those sacrifices on foreign soil that
many of our veterans became warriors
to fight an equally ominous, but
domestic, foe: the federal government.
The way native veterans were treated
when they came home also prompted
them to take action.
First Nations peoples have every
reason to feel proud of the wartime
sacrifices made by their ancestors
during the First and Second World
Wars and other armed conflicts.
Almost every family knows someone
who served in one of the wars because
there were so many who enlisted. The
number of veterans will never be known
because so many were excluded. Only
those registered under the Indian Act
were counted.
According to the Saskatchewan Native
Veterans Association, there were more
than 12,000 native veterans. It was also
reported by the Native Veterans
Association of Northwestern Ontario
about 500 native veterans died during
the First and Second World Wars.
Another source of pride is the fact that,
even though native people were
exempt from enlisting, they
volunteered. This exemption stemmed
from the fact the federal government
classified my people as wards of the
Crown; in essence, we were
considered children, therefore not
responsible enough to have rights as
Canadian citizens. This law would have
a severe impact upon returning native
veterans.
When the First World War ended in
1918, Canadian soldiers were
welcomed home with government
incentives for improvement. Native
veterans also had a belief they would
be returning to improved social and
economic conditions at home.
This was not to be. Within months of
their return, many found nothing had
changed with respect to their legal
status in Canada. We were still under
the dictatorship of government
bureaucrats who treated us like
children.
the war, other federal departments,
particularly the Department of Veterans
Affairs, excluded Indian veterans and
their families from many of the war and
post-war programs they offered.
In a terribly ironic twist, our enemy after
the wars became the federal
government, whose weapon of choice
in getting rid of aboriginal peoples has
been the Indian Act since the late
1800s.
To a great extent, it has destroyed the
moral and spiritual fabric of once proud,
self-governing and self-reliant First
Nations.
On the battle grounds of European
countries, our veterans and their
comrades knew who the enemy was. At
home, we only know that the federal
government has an army of faceless
bureaucrats and politicians who have a
tremendous amount of power over my
people.
Monday, July 28, 2008
ERNIE SANDY, Packet & Times
Section: Veterans
Porn film made at First World
War memorial
It was as if the war had never
happened. Many veterans, according to
my late father- in-law, became angry
and bitter because the better and freer
world they had fought and died for did
not extend to First Nations. We were to
remain prisoners for decades to come. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial took
eleven years to build and was unveiled by
An example of exclusion can be seen in King Edward VIII in front of 50,000 veterans
1919, when the Soldier Settlement Act
and their families in 1936
gave veterans wishing to farm an
Credit: IAN JONES
opportunity to settle on federal lands or
Pornography has become the latest
to purchase farms.
Even though this legislation included
native veterans, it conflicted with an
amendment to the Indian Act of 1906,
which restricted Indian or non-treaty
Indian residents in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and the
Territories from acquiring a homestead
above a certain size.
threat to graves and memorials on the
First World War battlefields of northern
France.
While common acts of desecration
have in the past included vandalism
and graffiti, indecent photographs and
videos are increasingly being shot
Volunteering to serve in the war had a
around the magnificent structures built
harsh price. Native people had to
during the post-war years to remember
renounce their land and treaty rights as That law was upheld and applied to the the fallen.
Aboriginal peoples and become
other provinces, as well.
The latest incident saw a French couple
Canadian citizens.
Therefore, not only did the Department given a four-month suspended prison
In spite of that, thousands enlisted in
sentence for making a pornographic
of Indian Affairs fail to recognize the
wars that had absolutely nothing to do sacrifices of aboriginal soldiers during video at the Vimy Ridge memorial near
with us. Hundreds were killed and
Page 10
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
Arras.
After being found guilty of
exhibitionism, they were fined £400
each and ordered to pay a symbolic
one euro (80 pence) in damages to
Canada, which lost 60,000 men in the
Great War.
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Outpouring for slain Canadian climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest
summit in Africa and the highest
soldier impresses veteran
walkable mountain in the world.
Sailes had mourners laughing when he
told them how, when they reached the
top, they both tried to push each other
off.
Many Canadians perished in the Battle
of Vimy Ridge, in April 1917, when four
members of the Canadian Corps
received Victoria Crosses.
"James taught me what the word friend
really meant," he said.
The eulogies for James Arnal, also
known as Jim, were led by his older
brother, Andrew, who revealed his
sibling's sensitive side when he spoke
of Jim's love of animals, especially his
black lab.
Despite the courageous deeds and
sacrifice honoured by the Vimy
Memorial, the couple are believed to
have stripped naked and performed sex
acts beside the soaring stone structure. Corporal James Arnal's mother is escorted
The lab died five days before Jim was
to her car after passing by the hearse with killed. Andrew hadn't told his brother.
They then posted the video on a
the 25 year old, soldier's body inside, at
website, invited people to pay to watch
Cpl. James Arnal was born in
Grant Memorial Church.
it.
Kelvington, Sask., but raised in
WINNIPEG - A Canadian military
Winnipeg.
Their punishment came just six months veteran stood outside the Winnipeg
after another couple were fined for
Arnal was on his second tour of duty in
church where family and friends were
taking nude photographs of themselves saying goodbye to Cpl. James Arnal on Afghanistan. He was the 88th Canadian
in the same place.
killed in the war-torn country.
Monday and marvelled at how times
have
changed.
In the latest case, heard at Arras
Outside the church, even those who
criminal court, involving the married
couple, who are in their 30s, lawyers
expressed concern at the gradual
increase in such incidents at the
memorial.
Sgt. Bert Redden, 79, served with
Princess Patricia Canadian Light
Infantry during the Korean War.
had never met Arnal stood to show
their respects.
A thin, 82-year-old cried as he tried to
On Monday, he showed up in full dress explain why he was waiting for the
to the funeral for Arnal, who was killed funeral procession.
The prosecutor, Elise Bozzolo, said:
in Afghanistan last week.
"These men and women are out there
"The memorial has been known for a
doing a job that has to be done," said
More
than
1,000
mourners
packed
long time as a place where
the elderly man, a former reservist for
Grant
Memorial
Baptist
Church
to
exhibitionism and voyeurism is
the Royal Canadian Navy who declined
remember
Arnal,
who
died
July
18
common."
to give his name.
when he stepped on an explosive
Police who investigated the case said
device in southern Afghanistan while on "I'm old enough to feel like crying."
similar incidents were regularly
a foot patrol.
reported at other memorial and military
Arnal's aunt Janet Hayward, read
It was a striking outpouring of support
graveyards.
condolences from across Canada, the
for Redden.
United States and even Romania.
"It is a problem which appears to be
Included among them were letters from
He
said
his
best
friend
was
killed
in
getting worse - people appear to get a
other parents and families of other
Korea,
then
buried
in
a
humble
blanket.
perverse pleasure out of this
Canadian soldiers who had died in
behaviour," said a police spokesman in "It's like family," he said of Arnal's
Afghanistan.
Arras.
funeral. "Turn the TV on, turn the
© Winnipeg Free Press 2008
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial computer on, you hear about it."
Monday, July 28, 2008
took eleven years to build and was
Grim-faced soldiers carried Arnal's flagGabrielle Giroday , Winnipeg Free Press
unveiled by King Edward VIII in front of draped coffin out of the church, and a
Section: Veterans
50,000 veterans and their families in
hearse carrying the body to a funeral
1936.
home made its way across the city with
Rally in Trenton will pay
The battlefield park which surrounds it a police escort.
was granted in perpetuity to Canada in Cpl. James Sailes, a friend of Arnal's,
1922. The site now draws half a million told mourners at the funeral of Arnal's
visitors a year.
exceptional courage and bravery.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Peter Allen in, The Telegraph UK
Section: Veterans
tribute to military personnel
and their families
"When I was scared, I just looked at
James," said Sailes.
Sailes told about how once, when he
and Arnal were on leave together, they
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 11
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
Trenton – An upcoming parade and
rescue demonstration.
rally will pay tribute to “the strength
Volunteers and floats are still needed
behind the uniform” by honoring military
for the event. For more information on
families.
participating call Newman at 613-394Branch 110 of the Royal Canadian
1635.
Legion, along with members of the
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) and
Bill Tremblay, Canoe.com
the Trenton Military Family Resource
Section: RCL
Centre, are organizing the event, which
will be held on September 20.
“Our aim is to show the military
personnel posted at 8 Wing Trenton
that we value their contribution to our
community,” rally co-ordinator Ena
Newman said. “And we recognize the
sacrifice made by their families.”
Lethbridge Veteran Keeps
Military History Alive.
youth haven’t experienced it, so it’s
harder to remember and relate to that
experience.”
He hopes to raise enough money to
take a small group of local high school
students to Mons, Belgium in
November, to celebrate the 90th
anniversary of the end of the First
World War.
His work to educate kids about the
sacrifices of Canada’s military boils
down to one goal: trying to ensure
conflicts like the Second World War
never happen again.
“The strongest pacifists out there are
soldiers.”
The legion decided to organize the
event following the 2007 rally in support
of Canada’s armed forces.
Miller also hosts a sort of military
antiques roadshow once per month at
the General Stewart Branch of the
“We decided it would be good to do
Royal Canadian Legion, where he acts
Glenn Miller has devoted most of his
something that would focus on the
as service officer. The show helps
life to military service and tradition.
military family,” said Newman, a
people learn more about historic war
member of the local legion.
Miller, a local resident who retired this memorabilia that has been passed
down through their families. His love of
The rally and parade will also serve as year after 25 years of service with the
Canadian military, recently completed a all things military-related even extends
a fundraiser for the resource centre.
to his pets: Miller recently adopted two
Funds will go toward providing activities trip to Europe, where he attended an
golden retriever puppies born on June
annual memorial ceremony in Caen,
and programs for members of military
6, and named one Juno, after Juno
France
—
the
site
of
a
major
Second
families.
World War battle that Canadian forces Beach, where Canadian forces fought
The public is encouraged to join
during the invasion of Normandy on
fought in.
Canadian Forces members and their
June 6, 1944.
While in Europe, Miller took
families in the parade and rally.
The next two military antique
photographs and created charcoal
“We are inviting the public out to
roadshows will be held at the Legion on
rubbings of Canadian soldiers’
support and meet some of our military gravestones, and hopes to show them Aug. 12 and Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. For
members,” Newman said.
to the soldiers’ descendants in Canada. more information on the free event,
contact the Legion at 403-327-6644.
It’s all part of Miller’s dedication to
While Canada’s role in fighting the
preserving his country’s military history © Copyright by Lethbridge Herald.com
Taliban is grabbing most of attention,
and sharing it with others.
the rally will pay tribute to all military
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
personnel and their families.
Jeff Wiebe, Lethbridge Herald
“I’d like to think someone would do the
“Everyone is aware that we have troops
in Afghanistan,” Newman said. “We are
hoping to highlight all areas where our
members are deployed.”
same for me,” says Miller as he flips
through a book of photos comparing
1940s-era war scenes with their exact
counterparts decades later.
During the rally, participants will come
together to form a ribbon in Buster
Alyea Park with the CAV Motorcycle
Group using their bikes to create the
outline.
“It’s just a passion, I guess.”
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. in
Centennial Park and end in Buster
Alyea Park where the rally will be held.
The rally will include various activities
and displays such as the Poppy Truck.
Organizers have been unofficially told
by the base there will be a search and
dealing with Remembrance Day,
today’s generation doesn’t remember
what they don’t know. So I’m trying to
help pass the torch,” explains Miller.
Every year, he tours area schools,
speaking with students and trying to
promote awareness of Canada’s
military contributions throughout the
“It will be quite large,” Newman said. “It world.
should make a great aerial
“Based on my interaction with schools,
photograph.”
in the last 10 years especially, when
Page 12
Section: Veterans
Ombudsman ready to take on
feds over Afghan vets'
benefits
'I enjoy conflict, a good fight'
Is there anybody in this country who
thinks it's okay to have Afghanistan war
veterans going for months without
receiving their earned pension and
“It’s a way of giving back, too. As a
medical benefits upon returning home
soldier, I can help bring history to life by wounded?
making it more personal for kids. The
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
It certainly doesn't sit well with
Canada's new veterans' ombudsman.
medical and financial transition from
war zones to civilian life.
In fact, straight-talking retired Col.
Patrick Stogran said yesterday if
Canada is going to put its troops in
harm's way, it then can't leave them
stranded upon coming home wounded.
"I know all about it because I had to
wait six months for mine."
"If you are going to ask them to put
their lives on the line, there has to be
proper compensation in a timely
manner," Stogran said in an interview.
Not a very nice way to treat a guy who
was "shot at, shelled upon and pissed
on" during several tours, which
included commanding troops in
Afghanistan in 2002! If they would do
that to a colonel, the ranks don't have a
chance.
"For somebody who has done the hard That's a caution for politicians who
yards, we need to cut through the lines think they'll just slip this national
of bureaucracy quickly."
disgrace under the carpet.
This hasn't been happening. On the
fact that many recent Afghanistan
veterans have been caught in limbo
waiting for their entitlements, he said, "I
am disappointed."
But not surprised.
In fact, when the ombudsman himself
retired from serving this country in
wartime, he also had to wait and wade
through months of red tape for his
military pension.
Turns out he is one of dozens and
perhaps even more who have been
faced with the humiliating experience.
"Some get medals for their military
service; the bureaucrats behind this
should get a badge of shame," said
popular Corus Radio talk show host
Roy Green. "Where are the protests
like there was for the American army
deserter?"
Stogran has actually been on this issue
since being appointed to this new
position late last year. In fact his "Leave
Nobody Behind" campaign is intended
to help out all veterans.
"We don't leave our wounded on the
battlefield, so injured veterans should
not be left to care for themselves. I will
leave nobody behind," he said.
"We have to reach out and identify
homeless vets. Everyone should feel
that they can come to us and be
confident that we will follow up."
Getting results, he said, is the only
thing that will instill that confidence.
When they get back from their summer
vacation, this tough former commander Attention to Prime Minister Stephen
may not only be on their back -- he may Harper and cabinet: Retired Col.
be in their face, too.
Patrick Stogran, who has led
successful missions against the
"If you speak to my colleagues from
Taliban, is planning on getting results.
when I was in the military, they'll tell
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
you I was a pain in the ass," he said. "I
JOE WARMINGTON , Toronto Sun
don't see that changing. I enjoy conflict.
Section: Veterans
I enjoy a good fight."
He will make "pragmatic
You did what you felt you had
recommendations" to caucus this fall
on a variety of issues, including soldiers to do.
being "caught in no man's land" and
who feel they are out there "alone."
They, he said, are not alone.
"It's not going to be too long before we
stand up for these issues," he said.
"There is lots of talk going on. The
proof will be in the pudding. I fully
intend to keep a scorecard."
Such backing was music to Robert
Leroux's ears. He's the 45-year-old
He is so right. This can't stand. This
medically discharged petty officer who
can't be too difficult to solve.
after four tours in Afghanistan and 26
years of service missed a mortgage
A special fund can be created and all
returning troops can be given a stipend payment and had to borrow money
while veterans affairs took almost 17
to tide them over until their pensions
weeks to process his military pension.
kick in.
ATS - Parade in Kempston Barracks.
Credit: E.M. Watts. Bedfordshire Libraries
A rare person in any context, Joan
Faulkner is all the more unique as a
female Second World War veteran.
Joan Faulkner has long been a woman
He had no food in the fridge while he
ahead of her time.
waited -- not long after being shot at by
the Taliban.
Today, the 84-year-old resident of
We need unique thinkers because
London's Parkwood Hospital is one of
these brave warriors are completing
Suffering from post traumatic stress
only 14 women veterans of the Second
unique tasks.
disorder and headaches from a
World War among Parkwood's 250
concussion suffered after he was
The one-size-fits-all approach does not
veterans of that war.
thrown from his vehicle, he recounts on
work here.
The average age of a Second World
his Facebook site similar stories of
War vet is 86. Ten years ago,
Although warning his
warriors coming home to no pay
Parkwood had 410 vets.
"recommendations are not binding" if
cheque and no medical insurance
Stogran gets his way, those loopholes coverage.
Considering that within 10 to 15 years,
that delay earned pension cheques will
He believes in Stogran and says, "He is it's estimated Canada's Second World
be closed.
War vets will be as rare as its only
one of few officers I would truly follow
"I'll get aggressive if I have to," Stogran ... He is a good man in a position where surviving First World War vet is now,
Faulkner stands out as a female
said, adding that will be his strategy to he can do the right things."
trailblazer who embraced the adventure
convince Ottawa to ensure seamless
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 13
Problem solved, free of charge with no
need for a consultant.
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
of going overseas, fresh out of high
school, to fight for king and country.
She also recalls her father-in-law
putting the family car on blocks in the
winter, leaving horse and buggy as the
"I suppose it was a surge of patriotism,"
only form of transportation.
she says of her decision to leave her
native London, England after surviving While Joan became a full-time mother
the blitz -- Germany's massive bombing of four, Earle worked as a salesman.
campaign of British cities -- to sign up
Life was good and Faulkner didn't
with the British ATS (Auxiliary Territorial
regret the whirlwind wartime romance
Service)
that brought her to a cold climate.
Faulkner did her basic training in
In 1975, Earle died and Joan kept
England, was then posted in Scotland
herself busy with a growing brood of
and ultimately boarded a ship to Italy
grandchildren.
where she served as a radio operator
and topographer.
But a friend suggested she volunteer at
the Royal Canadian Legion's Victory
She shakes her head and rolls her
branch 17, and once again, Faulkner
eyes, remembering the women in the
made a mark for women.
ATS who received two-thirds of the pay
of male soldiers.
She became the first female president
of a London legion branch, serving from
It was aboard ship that she met a
1989 to 1991.
young Canadian army soldier, Earle
Faulkner, who would become her
Faulkner helped to pave the way for the
husband.
many female presidents to follow,
herself included, says Barbara
"I had learned in Scotland that the
MacIsaac, acting manager of the
Canadians were quite boisterous,"
branch.
Joan recalls.
"Joan was a wonderful member with a
"So, when Earle asked me (after
wonderful sense of humour, but most of
meeting her only two weeks earlier) to
all she is a lady," says MacIsaac, who
marry me, I thought he was joking."
enjoys Parkwood visits with her friend.
But Faulkner said yes.
"Joan has a real calming influence on
In 1944 the pair wed in Italy, Joan in a people. She can look at problems from
borrowed dress, the entire ship's crew all sides and come up with a solution."
serving as wedding party and
Deb Wiltshire, director of Parkwood's
celebrants.
veterans care program, said the
"I suppose back then you didn't know
hospital works with the Department of
what tomorrow would bring, so you
Veterans Affairs to prepare for the
made your choices a little quickly."
changing needs of veterans.
On July 1, 1945, Faulkner joined up
with her Canadian husband at
Toronto's Union Station -- oblivious to
the fact it was Canada Day.
"All those waving flags, all those
people, I remember thinking what an
incredible welcome," she says.
Reality set in swiftly.
regrets about her own war experience.
"You did what you felt you had to do."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
MARY-JANE EGAN , London Free Press
Section: Veterans
Regiment to celebrate 125th
anniversary
Hundreds of former members of the
Royal Canadian Regiment, Canada's
oldest continuously serving infantry
unit, will gather in Kingston this
weekend to mark the regiment's 125th
anniversary.
More than 600 Royals from New
Zealand, Australia, Europe, the United
States and all over Canada will
descend on Legion Branch 560 on
Montreal Street for the reunion, which
was two-and-a-half years in the
planning.
Most of the regiment's top brass will be
For example, the hospital, which offers in the city for the weekend, as will a
convoy of Light Armored Vehicles from
day trips for the vets, who can also
enjoy a pint at the hospital pub the Iron CFB Petawawa.
Duke, has opened an operational
The regimental colours will be brought
stress injury clinic that serves all ages to Kingston by an RCR color party for a
of the armed forces including
memorial service to be held on Sunday
reservists, regular forces and veterans. morning at the legion.
Parkwood is one of three veterans'
hospitals in Ontario.
Retired Sgt.-Maj. Jack O'Brien, who is
organizing the reunion, said the
regiment, while never headquartered
here, has a history in the city and
Kingston is a central location that
offered all the amenities they require for
the reunion.
Joan and Earle settled in on his family's
Wiltshire acknowledges it will be a sad
Listowel-area farm. Her memories of
day when the last Second World War
that first Canadian winter remain razor
vet's voice is silenced in the hospital.
sharp.
Faulkner says she'd like to see more
"I thought I was in the Arctic," she
Second World War history taught in
laughs.
Members of the regiment, which is now
schools.
based in London, Petawawa and
The farm had no electricity, and
But she laments the fact Canada is still Gagetown, N. B., mustered here to fight
Faulkner recalls how she would
at war, sharply reciting the fact "we've in conflicts from the Boer War and the
automatically enter a room and make a
lost 88 Canadians in Afghanistan."
Northwest Rebellion to the Pacific
motion to flick on a non-existing switch - "we had hydro in England," she notes. She says she hopes her grandchildren theatre in the Second World War.
won't end up in a war zone, but has no Additionally, the sole surviving
Page 14
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
Canadian veteran of the First World
War, Jack Babcock, was a member of
the RCR. Babcock now lives in
Spokane, Wash., but he was born in
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Det Kabul delivered the new equipment www.forces.gc.ca/site/home_e.asp.
and supplies, including a desperately
Cpl Evans is with MSGU Det at the
needed Braille printer.
Canadian Embassy in Kabul.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Cpl Jeff Evans, The Maple Leaf
Section: Afghanistan
Holleford, north of Kingston,. Babcock,
who enlisted underage,
was designated as a reinforcement for
the regiment but the war ended before
he could join the troops in the trenches.
A number of Royals continue to work at
CFB Kingston or Royal Military College
for training purposes or choose to retire
here.
"There are a lot of Royals from this
area who will be at the reunion, but
we've got people coming from all over
the world," said O'Brien.
While the regiment was officially stood
up on Dec. 21, 1883, O'Brien said the
reunion was being held in August to
take advantage of the better weather.
Events for regimental members will
take place inside and outside the legion
all weekend.
CF pilot recaptures the magic
Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan Arif
Lalani (back, fourth from left), members of
MSGU Det Kabul, and staff and students of
the Kabul Government Vocational School
for the Blind gather around much-needed
new equipment amassed and donated
through the Military Police Fund for Blind
Children.
Credit: Capt Dan Dubois, The Maple Leaf
Successful fundraising activities,
organized by members of the MSGU,
garnered C$8 000. Along with the
Braille printer, which was the original
goal of the fundraising, the MSGU also
purchased a Dari translator program for
the printer, Braille paper and plastic
Most of those attending will be retired
paper, tape recorders, blank tape
members of the regiment. O'Brien
noted many current members are in the cassettes and other school items
required by the school.
midst of preparing to deploy to
Afghanistan - some are scheduled to
The school has 140 students and some
leave this weekend - which is limiting
staff that were either born blind or lost
the participation of serving members.
their sight as casualties of war. The
students are taught to read, type, play
The regiment has been involved in
musical instruments, use computers
nearly every conflict and operation
and make crafts. A woodworking shop
where Canadian Forces units or
located at the school allows students to
personnel have been deployed.
learn to make wooden broom handles
Besides a distinguished combat record
and brushes that they sell to help
in the First and Second world wars and
finance the school.
Korea, the regiment was also deployed
during Desert Storm in the early 1990s After a meeting with the principal to
learn the needs of the school, MSGU
and served on peacekeeping
members rallied to the cause with
operations in Bosnia and Macedonia,
fundraising activities including 50/50
among others.
draws, a hockey pool, a spaghetti night,
Thursday, July 31, 2008 and draws for handcrafted Afghan
IAN ELLIOT WHIG-STANDARD MILITARY wooden furniture and items donated by
REPORTER
Section: Veterans Canadian staff at the embassy.
2Lt Kent Pearce and LCol (Ret) Gordon
Hatch prepare their glider for flight.
For Captain Debra Vucko, a cadet
instructor from Victoria, flying is as
good as it gets.
“Whether it was my 30th, my 300th or
even my 3 000th flight,” she says,
“every flight is new and exciting to me,
as I recapture the magic every time I
get into an airplane.”
Capt Vucko has made her 3 000th
flight, and completed more than 620
hours of powered flight and 225 hours
in gliders. Her flight record has earned
her a certificate of achievement,
presented June 18 by LieutenantColonel Viljo Kippel, commanding
officer of Regional Gliding School in
Comox.
“Capt Vucko is an asset to the Regional
Gliding School and to the Air Cadet
program,” LCol Kippel says. “This is
quite a momentous accomplishment,
and everyone at the school enjoys
working with her.”
As is the case for most air cadets, Capt
Vucko, who joined as a teenager in
1974, began her flying career when she
The help and support of the staff of the was selected first for the gliding
scholarship program and then for the
Canadian Embassy in Kabul were
MP Fund for Blind Children
private power pilot scholarship
invaluable. Their hard work ensured
helps in Afghanistan
that the school has the items necessary program. Capt. Vucko enrolled in the
CF Reserve Force in 1980 as a cadet
to better teach and bring some joy to
The Kabul Government Vocational
instructor with 135 (Challenger) Royal
some
of
the
children
of
Afghanistan.
School for the Blind has received some
Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in
essential new equipment and supplies The Military Police Fund for Blind
Vancouver.
thanks to Military Security Guard Unit
Children is active anywhere there are
Detachment (MSGU Det) Kabul and the military police. For information on this
Capt Vucko met her husband through
Military Police Fund for Blind Children. Canadian organization, read “CF
the cadets; they have two teenage
children. She is a medical laboratory
community
supports
MP
fund”
in
Issue
Arif Lalani, Canadian Ambassador to
technologist and plans to continue
18
of
The
Maple
Leaf
at
Afghanistan, and members of MSGU
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 15
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
flying for as long as she can.
Week Ending August 1, 2008
Corporal Andrew “Boomer”
Eykelenboom, who was killed by a
Cadet instructor recognized
suicide bomber in August 2006,
Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret) Gordon Hatch presented TFK deputy commander
received recognition June 18 for his
Colonel Jamie Cade, with a cheque for
impressive fight record, racked up
C$80 000.
through years of service with the Air
Force, Regional Gliding School in
Comox and as an air cadet instructor.
LCol (Ret) Hatch has logged his 4
000th flight, and has completed more
than 5 500 hours of powered flight and
about 900 hours in gliders.
“Completing 4 000 glider flights is a
very rare accomplishment,” said LCol
Viljo Kippel, commanding officer of the
Regional Gliding School, as he
presented LCol (Ret) Hatch with his
certificate of achievement.
LCol (Ret) Hatch joined the Royal
Canadian Air Force in 1963 and, for 27
years, held several postings and flew
numerous CF aircraft. He became a
Reserve Officer in 1990 and was
selected as the Deputy Commanding
Officer of Regional Gliding School. For
the next ten years, he completed
hundreds of glider flights and taught
hundreds of air cadets before stepping
down from his post.
“Air Cadets is one of the best youth
organizations out there that is available
to today’s youth,” he says.
LCol (Ret) Hatch retired from the CF in
May but continues to volunteer with his
local air cadet squadron.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Maple leaf
Section: Miscellaneous
Pride and determination:
Celebrating Canada’s birthday
in Kandahar
KANDAHAR — Kandahar Air Field was
transformed Canada Day as dashes of
red and white were added to the muted
dusty beige landscape of the air base.
CF personnel and civilian staff
participated in a variety of Canada Day
activities, carried miniature Canadian
flags, played with red Frisbees and
wore red and white shirts and maple
leaf temporary tattoos.
The festivities began with an emotional
presentation ceremony at the Task
Force Kandahar (TFK) HQ monument
to fallen soldiers. Mrs. Maureen
Eykelenboom, mother of medic
Page 16
Haskell, of the Joint Task Force
Afghanistan all source intelligence cell,
“I was filled with a lot of pride about
being Canadian.” Her mother,
Commander Bonita Thornton, is also intheatre, serving as TFK senior legal
advisor.
As evening set in, Canadian personnel
moved to New Canada House, where
comedian Mike MacDonald regaled
them with his wit and humour. Then, it
was back to the boardwalk for the final
Canada Day event, a concert by
country singer George Canyon. Before
the first song was even played,
however, the telltale whistling sound
and subsequent bang of a rocket
With his Canada Day show on hold because impacting the ground was heard, but
of a rocket attack, country singer George the festivities continued in the concrete
Canyon takes the opportunity to sign the
blast shelters. Although it was not Mr.
blast shelter's concrete wall by lighter-light. Canyon’s first visit to KAF, it was his
first rocket attack, which he marked by
Credit: CPO Stevo McNeil
inscribing the concrete wall of the
“We in Canada, in our safety, in our
shelter by lighter-light. And after the ‘all
beautiful country, in our land of
clear’ was given, the show went on.
opportunity – we have so much,” Mrs.
“It was the best Canada Day ever,” said
Eykelenboom said. “And we need to
Sergeant Maranda Robertson, an
learn in this world that [from] those to
analyst working in the information
whom much is given, much is
operations cell. “I haven't been to many
expected.”
concerts, so being 10 feet from the
Ordinary Canadians raised the money, stage was amazing.” When the band
which will go into the Afghanistan
launched into the Johnny Cash classic
Assistance Trust Fund, to be used for
‘Ring of Fire’, the audience sang along
small projects assisting Afghans.
and the speakers were turned up so
Medics treating Afghan villagers in Spin our insurgent neighbours could partake
Boldak discovered five-year-old
in our Canada Day merriment.
Habibur Rahman, for example, who has
“The whole band was really down-todolichocephalism, a birth defect
resulting in major facial disfigurement. earth,” Sgt Robertson said. “They all
just seemed so happy to be able to
Money from the fund will be used to
send Habibur to Karachi, Pakistan for a come here and put on a show for the
soldiers. That means a lot. It’s nice to
consultation with specialists. Then,
know that people back home support
further funding will be considered for
us and appreciate the hard work we are
Habibur’s treatment.
doing here.”
KAF Canada Day celebrations provided
During the day’s festivities, the work of
both an opportunity to reflect on the
importance of the Canadian mission in colleagues in the field during Canada
Day was not far from mind.
Afghanistan and a much-needed
chance to kick back and enjoy the
“Many spent the day engaged with the
company of friends and colleagues.
enemy in remote places around
Afghanistan,” said Captain Peter Boyle,
Members of TFK enjoyed a barbeque
and cold drinks on the boardwalk, and a Calgary Highlander with the national
support element and one of the event
had their photos taken with the Grey
organizers. “Their efforts in providing
Cup (in KAF accompanied by Rough
Rider alumni and hall-of-famers Roger security so that the Afghan people will
be able to build a nation with
Aldag and Steve Mazurak). A giant
Canada Day cake was shared around, democratic principals are the true
reasons to celebrate on Canada Day.”
eliciting cheers and an impromptu
rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.
Capt Dumouchel-Connock is a TFK
“As I walked around the boardwalk with PAO
my mother,” said Corporal Sonya
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Capt Sonia Dumouchel-Connock, The Maple
couldLeaf
this be?
Section: Afghanistan
In this specific case, Leroux, 45. did
tours in Afghanistan in 2002, '04, '05
and '06.
Soldier shouldn't face battle
on the homefront
He has already bravely gone into battle
for this country and should never have
had to battle against it.
But that's what injured war veteran
Petty Officer Robert Leroux, and
others, have had to do to get their
proper pension and medical care after
serving so heroically in Afghanistan.
Their adversary this time wasn't bombs
and bullets but was red tape and
regulations.
"I don't understand it, either," said the
26-year veteran of the Canadian Armed
Forces who was medically discharged
with honour in March. "I already did my
part for king and country."
And he did. Four times in Afghanistan
to be exact. He has the medals to show
for it. And the wounds. Some physical.
Some mental. What he said he didn't
have for more than four months after
being medically discharged this spring,
was his financial compensation
entitlements that he more than earned.
"For the first time I missed a mortgage
payment," said the separated father of
three, who hails originally from
Burlington. "And now my credit has
taken a dive."
claims and that of the others. If there is
merit, the resources should be
deployed this week to end this crisis
and humiliation of our courageous
veterans.
"As part of signal's intelligence we were
It's that simple. No need for litigation or
always at the pointy end," he said,
inquiry. If there is a backlog of claims,
adding there was lots of killing and
fix it today and don't put another
death.
Canadian warrior through this kind of
In many cases, he was the investigator dance.
on bomb scenes where his friends
It may not happen that fast. I have all
were killed by a Taliban IED.
the appropriate calls out and am
"The only things you find at a bomb
prepared to tell the other side if there is
scene are hands, the head and feet,"
one.
he said, visibly tense. "It's a hard job.
No one I spoke with inside the military
It's not one of the things you look
yesterday wanted to address it -- some
forward to."
citing confidentiality.
In a small coffee shop, he looks
"That's what we are running into," said
nervously around at each person.
Leroux. "They always say they are
"I know everybody's face," he said,
sympathetic but they also say there is
adding he understands he's home in
nothing they can do about it."
Canada but keeping track of faces to
Good thing our soldiers never say that
stay alive in Afghanistan has proven to
when going into battle against the
be a difficult habit to shake.
Taliban.
As is the memory of Feb. 16, 2006.
"I don't want this to be negative toward
"The threat was sniper fire," he said.
the military," he said adamantly. "They
"We did a quick turn."
have done a great job and so have the
He went flying out of his Bison vehicle doctors working with me on my specific
and landed on his head. More than two injuries. I have my pension coming in
years later he still suffers from postnow. I am doing this for all of the guys
concussion syndrome, as well as neck, coming home who will have to face
back and leg pain.
this."
But it's the mental part of the package
that has him struggling the most.
"I had no idea what post traumatic
stress syndrome would do to you,"' he
said.
And so am I. Don't create conflict for
people who have had enough conflict.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
JOE WARMINGTON, SUN MEDIA
Section: Veterans
"You don't sleep, there is anger,
resentment, guilt, sexual dysfunction
and fatigue."
Veterans Affairs wants
Chicoutimi survivors given
same consideration as war
This is the guy our country made go 16
vets
weeks and six days without receiving
his pension cheque. There is just no
excuse for this. He's already fought the
ruthless Taliban.
He also said because of the same
bureaucratic loophole that created the It's not right to make a guy fight to
above dilemma, he and his children are make ends meet upon his medical
not fully covered medically until Nov. 1. discharge.
He said upon discharge he had to find
his own doctors -- including several
specialists such as a psychiatrist.
"It has been so hard," he said. "I had to
borrow money from family to survive. I
literally got down to half a tank of gas
"And I am not alone," he said. "I put this and $2 in my pocket."
up on my own Facebook site and I
Now here's what I think should happen
found a lot of people have had the
today.
same problem."
Right from the top there should be an
Now I know what you are thinking. How immediate investigation into Leroux's
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
OTTAWA - Sailors who survived the
devastating fire aboard HMCS
Chicoutimi almost four years ago could
be eligible for the same kind of benefits
Page 17
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
consideration as veterans of the Afghan The designation opens up a series of
where it had begun its journey.
war, if one federal department gets its benefits and considerations that sailors
Surviving crewmembers lived among
way.
might otherwise be denied.
the thick soot and ash of the fire and as
Veterans Affairs Canada has proposed The final decision on whether to grant many as 28 sailors developed
breathing conditions - or post traumatic
that service on the ill-fated submarine
the classification, according to the
stress, according to the veterans affairs
be declared "a Special Duty Operation," legislation, rests with the defence
records.
according to documents obtained by
minister, who has the authority to
The Canadian Press under access to
retroactively declare a mission or
The fire was caused when a rogue
information laws.
operation to be "special duty."
wave washed over the conning tower,
flowing through an open and
Such a designation "would mean that
Last March, the veterans affairs
submerging high-voltage lines where
the submariners would have 24/7
minister ordered an urgent review of
connector insulation had worn down.
coverage for injury incurred during and how survivors of the submarine fire
arising out of service," said a March 13, were being treated after it was revealed
Thursday, July 31, 2008
2008 briefing note prepared for
that many crew suffer from debilitating
Murray Brewster, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Section: Veterans
Veterans Affairs Minister Greg
illnesses.
Thompson.
In a series of interviews with The
The Defence Department's chief of
Canadian Press, more than a dozen
Government of Canada
military personnel was consulted about survivors spoke about their failing
Remembers the Korean War
the change, the documents said.
health and disputes with veterans
with Commemorative Cruise
affairs over health and pension
But the military appears cool to the
and Presentation of Memorial
entitlements.
idea.
Cross in Quebec City
Records obtained under access to
National Defence declined repeated
information show 12 of the 28
interview requests over two days and
crewmembers who applied for benefits
issued only an emailed response.
had received either an unfavourable
"The incident has not been determined ruling - or an outright denial.
to be a Special Duty Area," wrote
In a couple instances veteran's
Quebec City – The Honourable Greg
department spokesman Jonathan
bureaucrats were "unable to assess
Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs,
Juteau.
(requests); required medical info (was) today spoke to Canadian and Korean
"However, all members onboard the
not available," said the records.
Veterans during a commemorative
Chicoutimi were considered on duty
It took the military three years to finalize cruise in Quebec City hosted by the
and all injuries considered attributable
Association du 22e Régiment. Minister
tests on chemical properties of the
to service; therefore they can apply for
Thompson also presented to Theresa
smoke inhaled by the sailors on the
a disability award" through Veterans
Chicoutimi. An analysis of the long-term Lavoie-Mullins, widow of Veteran
Affairs.
health impact was recently conducted Richard Mullins, a Memorial
It is unclear what kind of precedent - if and the navy held a town hall meeting Cross—one of Canada’s most highlyany - would be set since the warship
with past and present crewmembers to regarded honours. Mr. Mullins, who
served overseas in the Korean War,
was not involved in combat, but on its
explain the results.
was remembered for his service and
maiden voyage to Canada when it was
Since the plight of the survivors was
dedication during the ceremony.
crippled by an electrical fire.
made public in early March, both the
"We are here to honour you—the brave
Veterans Affairs spokeswoman Janice military and veterans affairs have
Canadian and Korean Veterans who
Summerby says providing a special
conducted an extensive followup.
courageously stepped forward when
duty designation allows for the
The veterans service has identified at
you were needed," said Minister
smoother managing the benefits for
least six sailors who had not applied for Thompson. "We are inspired by your
both the bureaucrats and the sailors
benefits and an additional 14 men who extraordinary efforts and we admire
because "it removes the need to have a
served on the submarine, but were not your perseverance."
direct link between your disability and
listed in the department's data base your service."
an oversight that could have prevented Daniel Petit, Member of Parliament for
Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles
In most benefits cases, veterans have them from obtaining benefits.
and Gil-sou Shin, Consul General for
to prove their condition is related to an
An electrical fire in Oct. 2004 crippled
the Republic of Korea also spoke to the
event that happened during their
Chicoutimi, the last of four used
Veterans.
service.
submarines purchased from the British
The cruise aboard the M/S JacquesWhenever a Canadian Forces
to be delivered to the Canadian navy.
members is sent to a war zone, a
Lt. Chris Saunders, 32, of Halifax, died Cartier was organized to mark the 55th
anniversary of the Korean War
disaster area or on a hazardous
of smoke inhalation and eight other
Armistice. Korean and Canadian
assignment, the task is considered
crewmembers were injured.
Veterans were reunited aboard the
"special duty" in the eyes of defence
It took five days to tow the warship was cruise with an interpreter present. Both
and veterans affairs bureaucrats.
towed back to Faslane, Scotland,
Canadian and traditional Korean
Page 18
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Week Ending August 1, 2008
elements such as Korean dishes,
incense, and performances by a
Korean choir in traditional costume
were part of the event. A sunset
ceremony featured the release of white
doves and the laying of 516 white roses
into the St. Lawrence River to
remember the 516 Canadians who died
during or as a result of the Korean War.
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Director; Marilyn Janzen, Board Chair,
Shirley Smith, 1st Vice President,
Leduc Branch #108 and Tom Smith,
Sergeant at Arms, Leduc Branch #108.
If both sides agree on a contract, it
could be beneficial to both sides, Mr.
St. Louis acknowledged. The city would
be collecting consistent lease payments
and the legion would save money on
Stratford Legion to call Allman repairs among other costs.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Leduc Perspective
Section: RCL
The Memorial Cross, often referred to
arena home
as the Silver Cross, was created in
1919 to commemorate those who died
in the First World War. It has historically
been awarded to mothers and widows,
or the eldest surviving next of kin, of
Canadian Forces members who died
on active duty or whose death was
consequently attributed to such duty.
From 1950 to 1953, more than 26,000
Canadians served in Korea—working
to restore peace and stability to the
area. On July 27, 1953, the Korean
War Armistice was signed, ending three
years of fighting. An additional 7,000
Canadians served between the signing
of the Armistice and the end of 1955,
with some Canadian troops remaining
until 1957.
“Everything we do here we’re going to
try to do there,” said Jim Millar, branch
8 president. “But we’re in negotiations
with the city so we don’t know yet.”
Could be out of St. Patrick Street
location by fall.
“I think it would be best for both parties,
that’s just my opinion,” Mr. Millar said.
Mr. Millar had no concerns about the
size of the hall accommodating
members.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Laura Cudworth, The Beacon & Herald
Section: RCL
By Remembrance Day local veterans
could be marching to the cenotaph from Orillia Legion hopes to raise
cash for medal
their new home in the William Allman
Memorial Arena.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8
is selling its building at St. Patrick and
Church streets because the cost to
keep the building — with rising heating
and maintenance costs and fewer
members — has become prohibitive.
For more information on the Memorial
Cross or the Korean War and events in
your area, visit the Veterans Affairs
Members have been looking for a new,
Canada Web site.
more cost-effective place to set up the
Thursday, July 31, 2008 legion and may have found it in the
Veteran Affairs Canada upper-floor, 288-square-metre hall
Section: Veterans above the entrance to the arena. The
room doesn’t overlook the ice pad and
is completely separate from the sports
Leduc Royal Canadian Legion facility.
Medal awarded 65 years ago for fire
chief's bravery.
If not for the quick and heroic action of
the local fire chief in 1943, Orillia's
Royal Canadian Legion might have
been blown to smithereens, says legion
general manager Bruce McRae.
After an explosion on board a Fairmile
warship at the Hunter Boat Works,
Orillia fire Capt. Elgin R. Jones entered
The city and legion are currently
the burning engine room to seal a
negotiating and staff were drafting a
lease agreement today, said David St. leaking tank containing more than
Louis, Stratford’s director of community 2,000 gallons of high-octane fuel.
services. That contract will eventually
If the fuel tank had exploded, the legion
go to council — perhaps by September
in a converted railway station beside
or October — and to legion members
the boat works might have been
for approval.
levelled, said McRae.
The hall isn’t currently well used, Mr.
"Not only was the CPR station spared,
St. Louis said. It has been used for the
but with fuel storage along the
Lakeside Seniors’ Golf Program and
waterfront, and Canada Wood's
other functions but doesn’t have a
stockpiles of lumber along the rail line,
permanent tenant.
the threat to our downtown would have
Royal Canadian Legion-Leduc
been obvious to the chief."
“We’re looking to relocate those
presented Black Gold Health
Foundation with a donation of $10,000. groups. I think we can come up with
For his valour, Elgin was presented
something good for (Lakeside Seniors’
In keeping with the Foundation’s
with a King's Police and Fire Service
Golf),” he said.
mandate, the funds will be put toward
Medal, one of only 52 presented in
enhancing health care within Leduc
The upstairs hall has a kitchen and the Canada's history.
Community Hospital and the Health
hall could likely be licensed by the
Fire Lt. Daniel McLeish, who hosed
Centres of Beaumont, Calmar and
Liquor Control Board of Ontario
down flames while Elgin worked on the
Thorsby.
because it’s a private club, Mr. St.
fuel tank, also received a King's medal.
Louis said.
Lorraine Popik, Foundation Executive
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 19
donates
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
When Elgin's medal recently turned up his 39th birthday, Tom died from
for sale on eBay, the local fire
wounds suffered in battle.
department decide to raise the $6,000
purchase price to bring the medal back
to Orillia where Elgin left no
descendants.
The legion hopes to donate $1,000
toward the medal purchase, subject to
membership approval, said McRae.
The medal would be the equivalent of
the Victoria Cross, the military's highest
honour, said McRae, noting that since
1909, when King George proposed this
medal, most have been awarded to
police for acts of heroism.
In almost a century, only 11 of these
medals of valour have been awarded to
Canadian firefighters, said McRae.
Over the Orillia legion's 82- year
history, there have many who have
worn uniforms in service of their
country through our Armed Forces, as
well as wearing uniforms in the
protection of their communities through
the police or fire department, said
McRae.
Week Ending August 1, 2008
planning, by celebrating the
community's heritage and honouring a
man who gave his life for Canada's
freedom in the First World War."
The Fleetwood Community Association
has chosen its Fleetwood Community
Centre Plaza as the location where the
life-size statue of Lance Cpl. Fleetwood
will be placed. The association also
hopes to enhance the plaza with a
number of other renovations including
signage, benches and decorative
landscaping. British Columbian sculptor
Nathan Scott has been commissioned
for the project which should be finished
this fall.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Kevin Diakiw - Surrey North Delta Leader
Section: Veterans
He's taping veterans' stories
to pay a debt
A statue of First World War veteran Tom
Fleetwood will be erected in the community
Orillia fire Chief Ralph Dominelli said he
that bears his name.
Credit: Surrey Public Library photo
is grateful for the legion's assistance
and is looking forward to others coming Edith applied to the provincial
forward to help bring this very special
government in Victoria for a charter to
medal back to Orillia.
name her community in honour of Tom.
"It's an honour that the legion has got
The community of Fleetwood was born. Randy Young, on his Harley-Davidson that
on board to help us," said Dominelli.
he is carrying coast-to-coast in the trailer
Tom's name is also found on the
The fire department has struck a
behind him during his Rally for Veterans
cenotaph in front of the Surrey Museum tour. He says the purpose of the trip is ‘to
fundraising committee and
announcements about future events to and Archives building.
build up the respect of young people for
will be made soon, said Dominelli.
veterans.’
Now, the province is providing a grant
of $65,000 to assist in creating a statue SAINT JOHN - Randy Young moves
of Tom.
around a bunch of cinder blocks and
hops from one side to the other of a
"By commissioning this statue the
trailer he created by cutting a third of
community of Fleetwood will have a
Statue of Tom Fleetwood to
lasting monument to a vital piece of its the old travel trailer away with his
circular saw. The ritual is part of his
honour war veteran
history," said Surrey-Tynehead MLA
Dave Hayer. "It is initiative such as this journey, getting his Harley-Davidson off
He sailed from England to Surrey in
the trailer that's towed by his aged
about 1910 to meet with his sister Edith that shows just how important local
motor home called the Blue Bomber.
history is to our residents."
and husband James Francis, who
settled at about what is now 160 Street The Fleetwood Community Association "I get to ride my Harley around and
have a few thousand coffees and a few
and Fraser Highway.
was also pleased with the plan to
beers with veterans," says Young.
construct a statue of Tom.
Then in August 1914, the First World
Paying back a debt he said he owes to
War began.
"This project has been a vision of our
three veterans that acted as a father
association for the past 10 years and
Arthur Thomas (Tom) Fleetwood,
figure to him when he grew up without
would not have been possible without
acting out of loyalty to his home
one, the 47-year-old will travel the
country, enlisted, and in 1915 he joined the support of the province and the
country over the next two years visiting
city," said Rick Hart, president of
the 47th Battalion of the Canadian
Royal Canadian Legions and veterans'
Expeditionary Forces and was shipped Fleetwood Community Association. "It homes and videotaping their stories.
will bring together a legacy to preserve
to France.
the history of the past and add vitality
"I found it in a barn," the London, Ont.,
On Sept. 8, 1917, just two days after
and cultural resonance to urban
native said of his 1974 Harley.
Page 20
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Friday, August 01, 2008
COLIN MCKIM, THE PACKET AND TIMES
Section: RCL
Week Ending August 1, 2008
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Section: Veterans
The big blue motor home with the
fighter planes and bombers on the side
may be the first thing noticed when he
Second-degree murder
pulls into a parking lot, but the Harley
conviction for RCL Murderer
and the custom paint job tell a very
special story. Painted in army olive
green are renditions of D-Day, the
storied Corvette naval ship, a pilot, a
sailor, planes, unit insignias and a very
special picture of the man that started it
all - Harry Watts. The 85-year-old
inspired Young to begin the crosscountry journey and collect the stories
of veterans.
Watts was a dispatch rider, some of the
bravest of the brave, or craziest,
depending on how you looked at it.
"Those guys were crazy out there on
those motorcycles," said Young.
And, he said, they all volunteered for
the craziness.
Friends of Veterans Canada is the
group that Young is leading. The
group's website,
www.friendsofveterans.ca, contains the
story of Watts and why Young has
spent $18,000 of his own money to
make the trip. Along with accepting
donations, he sells T-shirts
emblazoned with the group's logo and
its message in a bid to raise funds.
"That's the goal of this thing, to build up
the respect of young people for
veterans."
Freedom, he said, costs money and he
believes the debt remains outstanding.
"It was not free. It was blood, sweat and
guts."
Young can be reached through his web
page and is writing a regular diary of
his journey. He'll spend the next few
days in Saint John recording the stories
of area veterans. He's asking students
to videotape local veterans that visit
their school on Nov. 11 and tell stories
about the war - the camaraderie, the
heroics, the honour and the horror of it.
Whether they are straight video tape or
a mega-production, Young said the
tapes will all be judged by a panel of
veterans and the winning entry will
receive a trip to next year's Second
World War anniversary ceremonies in
Holland. The prize will be presented to
the veteran who spoke at the school.
"Who doesn't like to hear a good war
story?"
Friday, August 01, 2008
JEFF DUCHARME, TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
taking his regular dose of medication
for depression, said that he cursed
twice at Mr. Vanderpluijm, who pushed
him in response.
Mr. Gregory, who at six-foot-three and
230 pounds was seven inches taller
and more than 100 pounds heavier
than Mr. Vanderpluijm, said he fell off
his stool and angrily got up and
punched the victim.
Mr. Vanderpluijm was thrown
backwards by the force of the blow. Mr.
Gregory then knelt on him and punched
him several more times in the head
Jamie John Gregory
area. He said the victim was bleeding
from the mouth and making a gurgling
Credit: Ian Fairclough
noise, so he grabbed a fire extinguisher
29-year-old patron bludgeoned legion
and smashed him in the head three
bartender to death.
times because he thought the man was
ANNAPOLIS ROYAL — An Annapolis suffering. He then pinched the
veteran’s nostrils and put paper towel
County man has been convicted of
second-degree murder in the killing of a over his mouth in an effort to stop the
Royal Canadian Legion bartender three gurgling sound.
days before Christmas in 2006.
Mr. Vanderpluijm suffered skull and
facial bone fractures, eight fractured
Defence lawyer Joel Pink had argued
ribs and damage to his neck, including
that Jamie John Gregory, 29, was
two fractures of a bone. He also had
provoked into attacking Peter
bruising to his face, head, shoulders,
Vanderpluijm in the Lawrencetown
arms, kidney and the back of his hands,
legion when the 59-year-old retired
along with some lacerations on his
sailor and Persian Gulf War veteran
pushed him off his stool on the night of head. An autopsy showed he died of
blunt force trauma to the head.
Dec. 22.
Had the judge accepted that there was After the attack, Mr. Gregory emptied
the cash register and took two bottles
reasonable provocation and that Mr.
of liquor from the bar to try to make it
Gregory reacted as one might expect
look like there had been a robbery. He
an ordinary person to react, the
accused would have been found guilty was arrested the next day.
instead of manslaughter.
Justice Coady noted there had been no
"I am unable to conclude that the punch animosity between the two men before
the attack.
thrown by Jamie Gregory meets the
objective standards of the ordinary
After the verdict, members of Mr.
man," Justice Kevin Coady said
Vanderpluijm’s family hugged and
Thursday when he rendered his verdict cried.
in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in
"It’s like you’re happy and sad at the
Annapolis Royal.
same time," daughter Donna said of the
"His response . . . was not proportional verdict, explaining that while she’s
and did not comply with the standard of pleased Mr. Gregory was convicted of
self-control and restraint that is
the more serious charge, her father’s
expected from all members of our
violent death "is going to be with us for
society."
the rest of our lives."
During Mr. Gregory’s trial in May,
Mr. Vanderpluijm’s other daughter,
testimony and statements showed that Julie, said she had been confident the
Mr. Vanderpluijm had wanted to shut
verdict would be for second-degree
down the legion’s video lottery
murder, and now the family must look
machines a few minutes early and
ahead to the sentencing in October.
close the establishment for the night,
but Mr. Gregory wasn’t ready to leave. "I don’t think there can ever be closure,
regardless of what the sentence is,"
In his statement to police, Mr. Gregory, she said.
who had been drinking and was not
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)
Page 21
WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 30
Week Ending August 1, 2008
Mr. Vanderpluijm’s widow Rosalind said "The helicopters (will) provide,
that "I have a lot of things to say, but it’s obviously, mobility," Vance said. "They
all anger."
provide a way to move our people more
quickly to trouble spots."
Asked for comment, Mr. Pink said that
he needs "some time to reflect on what Vance, the former commander of The
Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian
the judge said. We will review his
Regiment (2RCR) at Canadian Forces
comments and decision and decide
Base Gagetown, said the Chinooks will
what our next step will be."
also improve surveillance by enhancing
Second-degree murder carries an
the ability of troops to better observe
automatic life sentence, with no chance
what is going on in their area of
of parole for a minimum of 10 years.
operation.
Crown attorney Lloyd Lombard said he
The federal government is spending
will argue that Mr. Gregory should
$375 million to acquire six heavy-lift
spend much more than 10 years in
Chinooks from the U.S. Army. They are
prison before he’s eligible for parole.
designed to transport artillery, troops,
Friday, August 01, 2008 ammunition, fuel and supplies within
IAN FAIRCLOUGH The Chronicle Herald
military theatres of operation.
Section: RCL
Helicopters to keep troops off
dangerous roads in
Afghanistan
The Chinook is a multi-mission, heavy-lift
transport helicopter. Its primary mission is to
move troops, artillery, ammunition, fuel,
water, barrier materials, supplies and
equipment on the battlefield. Its secondary
missions include medical evacuation,
disaster relief, search and rescue, aircraft
recovery, fire fighting, parachute drops,
heavy construction and civil development.
Chinook helicopters were introduced in
1962 as the CH-47 Chinook, and models A,
B and C were deployed in Vietnam. As the
product of a modernization program, which
included refurbishing existing CH-47s, the
first CH-47Ds were delivered in 1982 and
were produced until 1994.
Until those choppers are in place, the
Department of National Defence will
lease up to eight Russian-built
helicopters to ferry supplies around the
battlefield in Afghanistan and lessen
the chances of encountering roadside
bombs. Improvised explosive devices
have taken a toll on Canadian troops
who have been forced to frequently
travel dangerous roads.
planes.
Bob Lockhart of Fredericton, a former
lieutenant-colonel in the reserves, has
spent time as a photographer with
Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
He said there's no doubt that the vast
majority of Canadian casualties in that
country are road-related. The
helicopters will make a difference and
are long overdue, he said.
"They will definitely save lives,"
Lockhart said.
Vance said aside from the helicopters,
Afghanistan-bound Canadian troops
arriving in February will also benefit
from a U.S. battle group that's expected
to arrive in the region and from an
Afghan army that continues to get
better.
Friday, August 01, 2008
MICHAEL STAPLES, The Daily Gleaner
Section: Afghanistan
Dean Black, a retired lieutenant-colonel
and former commander of the 403
Tactical Helicopter Squadron at
Gagetown, said the Chinooks can
move a lot of troops, supplies and
artillery pieces quickly.
"Helicopter travel can certainly make
things a lot easier," said Black, now the
executive director of the Air Force
Association of Canada. "It's one of the
few helicopters that's able to operate in
that kind of a demanding environment
from a density altitude perspective."
Black said the military once owned
seven Chinooks. They were purchased
in the early 1970s and sold in the mid1990s.
"The first one crashed on its way from
the plant to the ceremony to accept
The arrival early next year of six CH-47- them," Black said. "The crew was lost,
D Chinook transport helicopters for use unfortunately. But of the eight that we
by Canadian troops in Afghanistan will bought, we retained seven. They were
of great use and they will be again."
ensure that the current and future
needs of soldiers will be met, says the The purchase of the Chinooks is
commander-designate of Joint Task
connected to one of the
Force Afghanistan.
recommendations of the Manley
Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance, who will assume commission report on Afghanistan,
control of the mission in February, said released last winter. The federal
government has until February to
the helicopters, which will help keep
Canadian troops off dangerous roads, secure the arrival of the helicopters and
a flight of unmanned surveillance
should be in theatre at that time.
Page 22
The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)