Forgotten Veterans of Today

After I was rushed to the Hospital (via Norwegien Military med techs) I was put in Isolation at a Norwegien Military Hospital (the Norwiegen med staff were great). I stayed about a week but my burns had to be covered for the trip back to CFB Petawawa; 8 hours in flight and a 5 hour ambulance drive to the Base hospital. There they soaked the dressing and tried carefully to take off the dressing; in the process some of the healing skin came off. It hurt like shit but I didn't complain and I can prove it. I then spent another week to 10 day in isolation to promote healing. My face healed with no real scars and my mouth and throat the same ... But no one asked me how did I feel? Well when you hear (on the flight home) some Sgts friends of the drunk say " we should have let him burn" Nice eh? Since then I never trusted another soldier with my life again (Unless he/she was Vetted by me over a period of time). But VAC say that's not a OSI - well what is?

After a few months later the repelling accident, that I previous mention. I had numerous bumps, bangs, fist fights (w/other CF members or defending a Military member) I guess I wasn't well liked but I stuck with it until I couldn't take it anymore.... So I got from 81-82 (In that period I was accepted in the US National Guard directed entry but I return to the CF Cause I received a letter that if I came back I would not lose that year and I would have the same seniority etc.. and I don't regret it CAUSE I LOVE my country and like a fool I would serve tomorrow) From 82-85 I was in Germany I served as a troop 2IC with 128 AAD BTY Baden and in a short period we lost three of our guys; one shot himself in the head, one got hit by a train and the other had a vehicle accident. Myself and others had to clean the members Apt, it was full of brain matter and bone (it wasn't pretty).

Once I return to Canada in 85 I was posted to Cornwallis to be a Squad NCO, and I did a good job! In Sept 85 after a 10k run I noticed my heart beating funny and I was weak I went to the MIR and by the time I was looked at my heart felt fine,, I then had more and more of this episodes I told them it was my heart and they said NOPE you suffer from panic attacks well that was true I was panicking cause I heart would beat irregular. I ask for a stress test they said nothing was wrong! (BUT WHEN I GOT OUT, 1997 I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A-FIB IRREGULAR HEART BEAT THAT IS BROUGHT ON BY STRESS AND OVER DOING IT) I asked how long I had it? Dr. "since you were young" at that time I was on 3 phyc meds but if they would have listened to me I would have required a low dose of Metropol. Then I hurt my back in 1990 lifting just a 6kg piece of equipment, and herniated my disk L4 L5 that I hurt my back over the years anyway I had surgery,,

In 1991 my daughter and 1st Wife were killed by a drunk driver. Just 3 week after I buried them I was sent on course but I couldn't finish or even start, I was RTU'ed and that when they really put up the pressure I was posted to CFB Petawawa again with the SSF again where I had many problems with my job and 2nd wife... BUT the VAC says it was all in your head. And it's my fault. Thank VAC ps I got 1/5 for being nuts and 3/5 for my Back.. I feel very lucky to get that.

I Served from Jan - Sept 1976 with 3rd FD engineer regt.; then from Sept. 1976 to Sept 1981 with 2RCHA; 82-85 128 AAD; 85-87 CFRS; 87-90 FD Arty school 90 -93 remustered medical Supply 7C1 Base Supply; 93-96 2 Svc Bn Pet,and CMED.

Well I can go back to March 1978 NATO Artic ex, Norway....At end EX we arrived in Barufoss after standing out waiting for transport that was suppose to be at 1600 - they arrived at 2200hrs. So we were wet, cold and starving; some of the Senior NCOs had a little too much to drink. Once we got to the tent area we started moving in our assigned tents I was bringing kit into the straw floored tent and one of the Sgts that was drinking poured natphta into a Norigen wood heater and you guess it he got the Naphta can on fire and tried toss it outside, as the can was on the way out (of the Tent) I was on the way in then boom like a flamethrower hit's me in the Face! A witness said the flames were 3 ft high from my head. I tried to Roll to no avail (cause of the straw floor) I thought I was DEAD. Luckily I only suffered 2nd and some mild 3rd degree burn on my face and inside of mouth and throat.