Lest we forget
Posted 3 months ago
Early this year several of us sat down in the Tillsonburg Legion for a pleasant conversation with two vets. No, they were not grizzled old men but rather two very intelligent and articulate young men in their prime of life. Trevor Claus (25) and Adam Holmes (23) are veterans of the war in Afghanistan. Both are of Delhi and belong to the 2 RCHA (Royal Canadian Horse Artillery) and at the time both were Bombardiers (think corporal). I met Trevor several months later and found that he had been commissioned directly to Lieutenant and was retraining as a helicopter pilot.
We were intensely interested in what they had to tell us about their experiences in Afghanistan. Their families had very mixed feelings and great concern about their deployment but gave them full support. In everything they said, what shone through was their great personal commitment to their comrades, their unit, their mission, their nation but perhaps not so much to the war itself although they insisted it to be just. Both spoke of it as "a duty, a responsibility and an honour" and would happily return tomorrow. They were thankful not to be peacekeepers, calling it "an impossible and thankless duty".
The Canadian mission was described as "to train and support the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police and the Provincial Reconstruction Teams". Outside the wire is the primary duty. We are not just sitting in a fortified perimeter. The Afghan people are engaged by personal contact and by "shuras" which are a local gathering of respected elders. Attempts are made to determine local needs and to assist in reconstruction mostly by enabling the local people to help themselves. Adam pointed out that once trust is established the locals have pointed out where the Taliban were hiding, where bombs (IEDs) were concealed and sometimes actually ordered the Taliban out of their villages. Building trust is all important.
They felt that civilian casualties, collateral damage and even friendly fire were almost inevitable in "the fog of war" but everything possible was being done to avoid such incidents by means of strict rules of engagement. Both expressed concern for the media image. They regard the Taliban and Al'Queda as smart, determined and very tough opponents. NATO allies are highly regarded and they felt that those same allies greatly respected Canadian military training and professionalism. "Canada is building a world wide positive image."
Finally they were extremely grateful for the moral support Canadians have expressed particularly the "highway of heros" for our returning dead and the ongoing support of the wounded in programs like OSISS (operational stress injury support system).
In their own words "Remembrance is not just about 'old wars' because each war has shaped Canada's national identity." We have to be grateful that young men and women like this are still willing to stand in harms way to protect us and assist others.
Alastair MacDonald
Poppy Committee
Royal Canadian Legion, branch 153
