Notes On Korean War, Vietnam and Afghanistan Peacekeeping

The following is a brief description of some of the historical events and major battles of the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Sarnia and Lambton citizens participated in all these wars, and some would make the supreme sacrifice.

The term “United Nations” was first used in January of 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy and Japan. The United Nations organization officially began in 1945, replacing its forerunner, the League of Nations which had been createdat the conclusion of World War I. As the Second World War drew to a close, a United Nations Charter was drawn up by 50 countries, including Canada. The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945 when the United Nations Charter was ratified. The UN was designed to promote co-operation among sovereign states in which each would give up some of its sovereignty in the common interest of all nations to promote peace, security, economic development, social justice and fundamental human rights and freedoms. The United Nations first tried to impose its will militarily in 1950, when it supported South Korea against North Korea in the Korean War.^{2N, 3W}

Only five years after the end of World War II, the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, when the Soviet-trained and equipped army of North Korea invaded South Korea. The June 26, 1950 Sarnia (Canadian) Observer front page read, “Korea Reds Push Near Capital – North Urges ‘Surrender’ In Broadcast.” Sarnians would learn that North Korean Communist forces had pierced through two full divisions to the outskirts of Seoul and were demanding the surrender of the South Korean army. An estimated 6,000 had been killed or wounded on both sides, and the United States was immediately sending planes and material. The first Canadian military response was made by the RCN less than two weeks after the outbreak of hostilities. Three destroyers, HMCS Cayuga, Athabaskan and Sioux set sail for the Far East and, eventually Canada would participate in the Korean War under UN Command, with air, naval and ground contributions.

In late July of 1950, the Sarnia Armory announced that following receipt of orders from Western Ontario Area Headquarters in London, intensive recruiting for the Canadian Army would begin. Recruits were needed for both the active force and for the reserve units of the Canadian army in response to the outbreak of war in Korea. When Staff Sergeant A.G. Spooner, in charge of the local recruiting drive, was asked if he expected many recruits in the area, he replied, “It certainly looks like it. I got inquiries one on top of the other, just as soon as the Observer got onto the street, last night and they started again this morning, almost as soon as I opened the doors at nine o’clock.” The prospect of possibly going to Korea, Staff Sergeant Spooner felt, might attract a number of adventurous youngsters. He added, “Though goodness knows, a lad joining the permanent force and electing for a parachute unit would get about as much adventure as he’d ever need.” For their part, the Canadian Army was facilitating the enlisting of recruits. Potential recruits, for example, were being told that the standards for entry to the active force had been considerably reduced; for instance, where previously a recruit was required to have grade 10, and sometimes grade 12 educational qualifications, recruiting officers had now been ordered to take grade 8 qualifications. Sarnia recruits were sent to London for a medical examination, received a refund of their fare from Sarnia, and if they qualified, they were in. A number of Sarnia-Lambton youths also reportedly joined the United States forces at recruiting stations in Port Huron and Detroit, the idea being that there was a better chance of getting into the fray faster via the American forces.^N

In early August of 1950, Prime Minister St. Laurent announced that a special Canadian force of ground troops would be raised for service in Korea. The Government stated that because of the world crisis, they would take “all the qualified men” they could get, with no set limitation on the number of men enlisted in the regular and reserve forces. On August 8, 1950, a full page ad appeared in The Sarnia Observer with the headline; THE CANADIAN ARMY NEEDS MEN NOW! – For the Canadian Army Special Forces. The special volunteer brigade was being raised “to meet aggression in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the North Atlantic Treaty.” Enlistment standards were that recruits had to be physically fit, mentally alert, between the ages of 19 and 35 inclusive (19 to 45 for tradesmen), and either single or married. Preference would be given to veterans of the last war. Canada promised to provide pensions, care for the wounded, veterans’ benefits and a guarantee that the men would get their jobs back. A private on entry into the army would receive $122 monthly in basic pay and a subsistence allowance, with an additional $30 monthly if married. Men were needed for the Infantry (Royal Canadian Regiment, Princess Patricia’s and the “Van Doos” Royal 22 Regiment); Artillery (2nd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Regiment); Army Service Corps; Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; and the Medical Corps.

In the first day following the publication of the above advertisement, the Sarnia Armory reported being besieged by applicants eager to join the Canadian infantry brigade. Staff Sergeant A.G. Spooner said he was “swamped.” He added, “I think the majority of the men who came in here, went straight off to London after an interview.” Canadian army headquarters in London stated that more than 60 Lambton district men were handled during the first two hours of recruiting, including forty from Sarnia.^N

In late August of 1950, the The Sarnia Observer featured a story on what was believed to be the first known Sarnian to have been in action in Korea. Eddie Doyle, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Doyle of 124 North Mackenzie Street, spent his 21st birthday, August 2, in action against the North Koreans with the 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Army. Eddie Doyle was born in Detroit, but was educated at Lochiel Street School before working for Electric Auto-Lite and the Lambton Awning and Canvas Company. Eddie enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1949. After training in Kentucky and being posted with the first Cavalry Division, Eddie and his division were hastily sent to Korea in May 1950. He landed at Taejong, May 16, and had gone into battle immediately. In a letter to his parents in Sarnia he wrote, “We didn’t know it but we were surrounded. I spent my 21st birthday in the thick of the fighting. I dug so many foxholes, I don’t remember.” He didn’t think much of the country he was in – it was terribly hot, “Oh, for some blueberry pie and iced tea” he wrote.

In late May of 1951, the reality of the Korean War hit home in Sarnia with the May 31, 1951 Sarnia Observer front page headline, “Sarnia Man, 27, Father of Two, Dies in Korea.” Private Patrick O’Connor, who had served in World War Two, the son of James Philip and Angela Loretta O’Connor of Sarnia, husband of Vera Irene O’Connor and father of four (not two) young children, all under the age of four, was killed in action only one month after arriving in Korea. Patrick’s older brother, James Michael Barry O’Connor, a member of the RCAF, had lost his life in World War Two. Both O’Connor brothers’ stories are included in this project.

The following is a portion of an editorial from the June 1, 1951 Sarnia Observer:

The first Sarnian to make the supreme sacrifice in the Korean War has been Private Patrick William O’Connor… He has died, as did his brother, Warrant Officer Barry O’Connor and others in the Second World War, in an effort to preserve our way of life….Private O’Connor after having served during the previous hostilities and in consideration of the sacrifice of one life already made by his family in that struggle against German domination, might have been excused had he chosen to ignore the call for volunteers to combat the current Communist aggression and remain at home with his wife and young family. The fact that he did not do so but rather again answered his country’s call should be an inspiration to others to emulate his patriotism and valor… The sympathy of the community goes out to those who are bereft by the scourge of war. Casualties among our fighting men bring home to us all the tragedy of such conflicts but they also emphasize that our freedoms are not cheaply bought or preserved.

On June 7th, 1951, a plaque to honor the memory of former students of Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School who were killed during World War II was unveiled at a public ceremony held in the school auditorium. Sarnia Mayor W.C. Nelson, military and educational dignitaries, and relatives and friends of the men being honored were among the guests present. As strains of the “Last Post” and “Reveille” re-echoed throughout the auditorium and flags were lowered, then raised, by representatives of the three branches of the armed service, the plaque was unveiled by Robert Dobbins, the oldest soldier in seniority on the staff. The bronze plaque, two feet by three feet, had the names of 111 former pupils who made the supreme sacrifice in the Second World War. Lieut.-Col. W. Eric Harris, former commanding officer of the 26th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery spoke to those gathered: “We come here today on the seventh anniversary of D-Day to publicly testify and proclaim that the memory of those who died in war will remain forever green, fresh and lively in our hearts. Let us hope and pray that in spite of threats and fears of another war current in the world today, there will be still not another call to graduates of this school, a call which they already have met twice in a generation. They did not die in vain. Today we have a free world, united in the face of potential aggression, because of their sacrifice.”^N A record of the “Sarnia Collegiate Institute War Memorial Plaque” is included in this project.

Though intermittent armistice talks started in July 1951, more Canadians, ironically, were wounded or killed after, not before, the peace talks began. The reason is that while talks dragged on, UN front-line commanders were not allowed to mount any major offensives. Their orders were to dig in and to hold. While company-sized attacks were sometimes mounted to improve defences or to keep the enemy off balance, the war was mostly fought in no man’s land with patrolling, night raids and artillery barrages. During this time, Canadian troops languished in hilltop defensive positions surrounded by mines and barbed wire, occasionally sending patrols out at night to test the enemy’s defences. The Chinese, meanwhile, struck at will, often with waves of men, inflicting casualties and wearing down Canadian morale.^{D, N and} ^2E

Three years of Korean War involved tough fighting on steep hills, across dangerous valleys and through dense jungle, with weather ranging from stifling heat to extreme cold, and with soldiers having to endure long marches, bugs, snakes, bad food and disease. Approximately 22,000 Canadian soldiers and more than 4,000 sailors and airmen served in the Korean theatre. Many became casualties, including 516 who paid the ultimate sacrifice. After the war “ended”, approximately 7,000 Canadians continued to serve in the theatre between the cease-fire and August of 1957. ^2E

The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953. The Sarnia Observer front page headline on that day read, “SHOOTING ENDS IN KOREA – Armies to Retire, Form Buffer Zone.” The following is a portion of the main story:

SEOUL – Shooting stopped along the Korean battlefront at 10 p.m. tonight, 9 a.m. Monday EDT, bringing to an abrupt halt 37 months of death and destruction. While ground fighting was all but nil in the final hours, mounting Communist artillery fire took its toll of Allied soldiers up to the last minute. At 10 p.m., a hush fell over the front. The last man to die may never be named. Nor, perhaps will the last hero. The front, usually aflame at this hour of night, just grew dark. Men heaved sighs of relief, but with great caution. As the clock ticked off the seconds, they grew more brave.

Silence came after a smashing artillery duel between Allied and Red guns that began in mid-afternoon and built up a deafening crescendo shortly before 10 p.m. All day and into the night the Reds sent artillery and mortar barrages screaming into Allied lines east of Kumhwa on the central front… Allied artillery boomed back trying to silence the guns. Associated Press correspondent Randolph said all firing stopped at 9:43 p.m. A few seconds after 10 p.m. wild

yells broke out from the U.S. troops. Even as the shooting ended, litter jeeps and ambulances wound down dusty hill trails from outpost ridges, bringing moaning, broken men to rear hospitals.

With the signing of the armistice document by generals of the United Nations and North Korea, the nervous truce began with troops of each side pulling back 1 ¼ miles (2 km). A buffer ‘demilitarized’ zone 2 ½ miles (4 km) wide and running the entire length of the 155-mile front was established. The task of exchanging prisoners began approximately one week later. The exchange included the release of an estimated 14 Canadians, 922 British, 3,313 Americans and approximately 8,000 South Koreans, along with 74,000 North Korean and Red Chinese held by the UN command.

The July 27 Sarnia Observer also published comments from a number of prominent Sarnia citizens on the armistice in Korea. They spoke of having great joy with the signing of the truce and expressed a few cautionary words; for example, Mayor W.C. Nelson said, Surely the world will welcome this step towards peace, and hope it holds to the day when our young people can plan their future free from the threat of war and its attendant destruction. However, there should be no lessening of our defence program. The policy of the United Nations should be one of unrelenting scientific research and development so that we may attain and never allow to weaken a defensive strength behind which we can feel reasonably safe and which none will dare challenge. Possibly then, some of our effort can be directed toward helping the unfortunate peoples and so assure our own continuing progress. This armistice may thus present a great opportunity for human achievement.

In the United States, the war was initially described by President Harry Truman as a “police action” as it was an undeclared military action, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. The Korean War is more often referred to as “The Forgotten War” for three reasons: first, the virtual “stalemate” of the on-going war over time took the war off the front pages of newspapers and Canadians lost interest; secondly, it fell between the Second World War and the Vietnam War, the latter having media coverage which provided people with daily news reports; and lastly, the Korean War ended as an armistice, where there was no victor. Boundaries between North and South Korea were simply readjusted around the 38th Parallel. Even today, technically both North and South Korea are still at war, separated only by the Demilitarized Zone between them. Canada’s contribution during the Korean War enabled South Korea to evolve into a free society, allowing its people to build a strong and prosperous democracy versus that of the completely totalitarian, impoverished North Korea.^2E

It is estimated that more than 50 men from Sarnia-Lambton served in the Korean War theatre.^NThree would lose their lives in Korea, their remains buried in United Nations Cemetery in Busan, South Korea. Privates Edward Joseph Knight and Patrick William O’Connor have their names inscribed on the Sarnia cenotaph, Corporal John Richard Toole has his name inscribed on the Point Edward Memorial. All three also have a plaque on the Canadian Korean War Memorial.

The Canadian Korean War Memorial is located at Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton, Ontario. The Wall of Remembrance was dedicated in July of 1997. The curved 61 m-long polished granite wall contains 516 bronze plaques, one for each of the volunteer Canadian soldiers who died in Korea. The plaques are replicas of those gracing the graves in Busan, South Korea. On one wall of the Memorial is a poem written by Jack LaChance. Jack LaChance served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Korea. After his honourable discharge in 1952, he resided and worked in business in Sarnia. The following is LaChance’s poem engraved on the Memorial:

Each uniquely mounted nameplate

On this Korea Veterans’ Wall

Tells the story of a Person

Who rallied to their country’s call

With courage and with Vigor

They trained and went to was

And shielded us from danger

On the South Korean shores

They gave their lives for freedom

That we all share today

In a far-off foreign country

Where most of their bodies lay

We still hear the buglar sounding

Each stirring note of his “Last Call”

While viewing all the nameplates

On this Korea Veterans’ Wall

Located in Germain Park is one of Sarnia’s military landmarks, a Royal Canadian Air Force Memorial. It is the F-86 MkV Sabre Golden Hawk fighter jet, number 23164. The plane was a surplus jet, one that had come to Sarnia earlier. Originally it had been stored in a warehouse and was later damaged by fire in 1970. In September of 1973, as a monument to honour the airmen who died in the Battle of Britain of World War II, it was dedicated in Germain Park.

The Germain Park jet is a Canadair CL-13 Sabre, a variant of the North American F-86 Sabre. In 1948, the Canadian government decided that the F-86 would be the next fighter jet of the RCAF. Canadair Limited in Montreal produced the Canadian Sabres, under project number CL-13. Six versions of the CL-13 were produced—from the Sabre Mk. 1 to Sabre Mk. 6. The Germain Park Sabre is a Sabre Mark. 5. The first Canadair CL-13 Sabre flight took place in 1950. Production of the jet increased during the Korean War, and they were produced until 1958, with a total of 1,815 CL-13s built in Canada. They were used by the RCAF and also exported to several NATO allies. Canada did not send any fighter squadrons to Korea, but it did supply sixty F-86 Mk 2 Sabres to the United States Air Force. Canadian pilots were also sent there on “exchange” with the United States Air Force, where they flew in 1,036 sorties in Korea. For the United States Air Force, the F-86 was used very successfully as its primary air-to-air fighter jet against the Soviet-built MiG-15s. The F-86 was the RCAF’s principal fighter during the first decade of the Cold War, with 12 squadrons based in Europe and several stations in Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Force retired the F-86 Sabre from fighter operations in 1963.

The F-86 jet in Germain Park is painted in the metallic gold and red colours of the RCAF “Golden Hawks” aerobatics flying team. The “Golden Hawks” were a Canadian military aerobatic flying team established in 1959 to celebrate the R.C.A.F.’s 35th anniversary and the “Golden” 50th anniversary of Canadian flight. The initial six-plane team flew Mk V aircraft, later the Mk VI, and the team was very popular, doing many shows a year across North America. The Golden Hawks were the predecessors of the modern-day Canadian Forces “Snowbirds” aerobatics flying team. The Golden Hawks team continued in operation until February 1964. The F-86 in Germain Park was never an active member plane of the Golden Hawks.

In the fall of 2013, Sarnia’s Golden Hawk was removed from its Germain Park pedestal to undergo an extensive restoration thanks to the efforts of a volunteer team of aeronautic enthusiasts, including the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA Flight 7) and members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 44 Sarnia Imperial Squadron. The Sabre jet’s most notable Golden Hawk pilot, F/L Jim McCombe and his flight crew–LAC Harnum and LAC Campbell—were honoured by having their names lettered beneath the canopy trim in the tradition of the Golden Hawks. Sarnia’s Golden Hawk was remounted on its pedestal in Germain Park in the fall of 2014. It was re-dedicated as part of a tribute to the Battle of Britain, and in honour of all of the RCAF pilots and personnel who have served for this country, past and present, and also in honour of the Golden Hawks aerobatic team, including the pilots, crew chiefs, and ground personnel.

Regarding the Vietnam War, no “official declaration of war” was ever made between North Vietnam (allies China and the Soviet Union) and South Vietnam (principal ally, the United States). Conflict in the region stretched back to the mid-1940s. By May 1954, war had essentially begun, with full active United States units introduced in 1965, in the middle of the Cold War era. The Vietnam War “ended” in April 1975. During the Vietnam War, the Canadian government maintained that it was an impartial and objective peacekeeper, with the aim to help negotiate for peace and to administer aid to victims of the war; however, along with providing technical assistance, the Canadian government and Canadian industry did help the United States by sending medical equipment, military supplies, ammunition, and raw materials for the manufacture of napalm and Agent Orange.

It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 Canadians volunteered for service in Vietnam within the branches of the United States military, serving in the army, navy, air force and marines. Of this number, approximately 12,000 Canadians actually went to Vietnam, and an estimated number of fewer than 5,000 Canadians served in Vietnam. This cross-border enlistment was not unprecedented; both the First and Second World Wars saw thousands of Americans join the Canadian Forces before the United States officially declared war on Germany. For many Canadians who went to Vietnam, the process of enlisting was just a matter of crossing the border and getting a post office box or using a friend’s address. Often, they joined because their father or their brother or uncle had served in the military, and they wanted to maintain the tradition. Of the Canadians who served in Vietnam, some estimate that between 400 and 1000 lost their lives. A number are still listed as “Missing in Action”.

The true number of Canadians who volunteered, fought and died in Vietnam will likely never be known. Many crossed at a border city and listed that town as their place of residence. Others had dual citizenship and were enlisted as “Americans”, while more were already members of the U.S. military prior to the outbreak of war.

The Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The North Wall) in Windsor, Ontario, which was dedicated in July 1995, has the names of approximately 121 known young Canadians who lost their lives or are MIA in the Vietnam War.

This author could not uncover any record of any Sarnia or Lambton individual who had lost his or her life while serving in the Vietnam War. There was certainly evidence, however, that a number of men from Sarnia and Lambton County did serve in the Vietnam War and returned to Sarnia/Lambton.

The Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at the National War Memorial in Confederation Square, Ottawa. The Tomb was added to the war memorial in the year 2000. It was created to honour the Canadians whether they be navy, army, air force or merchant marine, who died or may die for their country in all conflicts.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa holds the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died near Vimy Ridge, France during World War I. The body of the soldier was formerly buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in Souchez, France, near the memorial at Vimy Ridge. It was selected among the over 1,600 graves of unknown Canadians buried in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge. The remains were exhumed in May 2000, the coffin flown in a Canadian Forces aircraft to Ottawa, accompanied by a guard of honour, a chaplain, Royal Canadian Legion veterans, and representatives of Canadian youth. After lying in state for three days, the remains were transported to the National War Memorial by a horsedrawn carriage in a funeral procession accompanied by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, veterans, and members of the RCMP. The body of the unknown soldier was then re-interred in a sarcophagus in front of the War Memorial.

At the first Remembrance Day following the tomb’s installation, a new tradition of respect formed spontaneously as attendees placed their poppies on the tomb. Now a widely practiced tradition, others leave cut flowers, photographs, or letters to the deceased. The tomb honours more than 116, 000 Canadians who have sacrificed their lives in the cause of peace and freedom.

Following World War II, Canada, like many countries, looked for ways to prevent war. During the Suez Crisis of 1956, Canada’s Lester B. Pearson proposed that a multinational United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force be sent to Egypt to separate the Israeli, British and French troops from the Egyptian troops. On November 24, 1956, the first Canadian Peacekeepers, as part of the UN, set foot in Egypt. It was then that the term ‘peacekeeping’ entered popular vocabulary.^DThrough years of commitment, Canada has played a prominent role and established itself as a nation of peacekeepers throughout the world.

As peacekeepers, Canadian Forces have provided numerous roles: supervising cease-fires and withdrawal of opposing forces; delivering humanitarian aid; supervising elections; repatriating refugees; disarming warring factions; restoring shattered landscapes (eg. clearing of mines); and nurturing stable governments and human rights.^D

As peacekeepers, Canadian soldiers have demonstrated a long-standing willingness to put their lives on the line to help others achieve peace and to preserve and to defend freedom. Many have given their lives, and many more have been wounded, their injuries to body and to mind lasting a lifetime. These brave Canadian peacekeepers include a number of men and women from Sarnia.

Canada has participated in the majority of peace support operations mandated by the United Security Council over the years, with Canadians serving in more than forty international peace support operations. This includes peacekeeping missions in Egypt, the Congo, Indonesia, West New Guinea, Yemen, the Dominican Republic, India-Pakistan, Pakistan, Iran-Iraq, Cyprus, the Middle East, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Angola, Iraq-Kuwait, Namibia, the Western Sahara, El Salvador, Cambodia, Bosnia, Mozambique, Somalia, Haiti, Uganda-Rwanda, Croatia, Kosovo, the Balkans, Guatemala, East Timor, Ethiopia, East Timor, Sudan, Darfur and Afghanistan.

Canada’s Peacekeeping role in Afghanistan began in late 2001, in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. In early October of 2001, the HMCS Halifax was directed to head for the Arabian Sea as part of Canada’s counter-terrorism efforts. The first group of approximately 40 Canadian commando soldiers from Joint Task Force 2 was sent secretly into Afghanistan in early December 2001. The first contingents of regular Canadian troops arrived in Afghanistan in January-February 2002, and were initially stationed near Kabul. Starting in 2006, Canada took a larger role starting in 2006 after the Canadian troops were redeployed to the dangerous Kandahar province. At that time, 2 500 Canadian Forces personnel were in Afghanistan, with nearly half of them comprising the battle group, along with tanks, artillery, helicopters and drones.

Canada had several reasons for participating in the mission in Afghanistan: to defend Canada’s national interests; to ensure Canadian leadership in world affairs; to identify and to neutralize al-Qaeda members in that country; to topple the Taliban regime, which was supporting international terrorism; and to help Afghanistan rebuild and create a better governed, more stable and viable country. More than 40 000 Canadian troops would serve in Afghanistan, rotating through different campaigns there. It was the largest deployment of Canadian troops since World War II.

Canada withdrew the bulk of its troops from Afghanistan in July of 2011, ending its combat role on the front lines there. Though its combat role was over, Canadian military remained in Afghanistan. Canada’s role there was diverse: protecting the future of Afghan children and youth through developing education and health; advancing security by enforcing the rule of law and protecting human rights; promoting regional diplomacy; and helping deliver humanitarian assistance.

In late 2013, approximately 1 000 Canadian Forces personnel were still deployed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force. The ISAF was renamed the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Its role was to help train and mentor the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. In mid-March of 2014, the remaining Canadian troops left Afghaistan, officially ending Canda’s military involvement there as part of NATO. The twelve plus years Canadian Peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan came at a cost 158 Canadian soldiers lives and over 2100 wounded. Fourteen of the Afghanistan fallen soldiers are from Southwestern Ontario, including two from Lambton County.

On March 12, 2014, Canada’s military personnel officially withdrew from Afghansitan. At an understated departure ceremony held under heavy guard at NATO headquarters in Kabul, the Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan told the remaining soldiers there prior to their withdrawal, “Your strength has protected the weak; your bravery has brought hope to hopeless; and the helping hand you have extended to the Afghan people has given them faith that a better future is within their grasp.” The last of the Canadian troops left Afghanistan aboard military transport planes on March 15, 2014.

On May 9, 2014, the “National Day of Honour” was commemorated across Canada to honour the legacy of the Afghanistan heroes. The Government of Canada set aside this day to mark the end of the country’s military mission in Afghanistan. Ceremonies that included vigils, parades and moments of silence were held in towns and cities across the country, including in Ottawa and in Sarnia. This one-time event was set aside by the Government for two principal reasons: to recognize and to honour the members of the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan; and to pay tribute to the fallen, to the sacrifices of the wounded, and to the special burden borne by the Canadian Armed Forces families. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was one of the dignitaries who spoke at the ceremony in Ottawa. Part of what he said included, “Canadians have always been willing to shoulder our share of the burden in defence of our freedoms and of the values we share with our fellow human beings. In the spirit of Vimy, that is what you did in Afghanistan where the fight was as fierce as any Canadian has ever seen. That is why the dates 2001-2014 will be chiseled into the stone of the National War Memorial.”

Creed

If they should ask you,

Why do you fight?

Tell them, For Freedom. For the right

To live in peace; to worship God;

To build a cottage, turn a sod

That is my own; to trust my friends;

To know that when the work day ends,

A wife and children wait to greet

Me with a smile. I fight to meet

The future unashamed; to read

What books I will; to choose the creed

I wish; face politicians unafraid,

And criticize, if need be, laws they’ve made.

These are the web of life; for these I lend

My strength; these are the rights that I defend.

By Dick Diespecker

Notes On Korean War, Vietnam and Afghanistan Peacekeeping

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