Well here we go..
The storyline started on
May 14 1992, riding along a convoy to Sarajevo in war torn country, Former
Yugoslavia. I will leave to historians to declare who won what and who was the
lesser or worse of the bad guys in the Balkans. We joined the Battle Group in Lahr Germany in early April 92, I recall that day as a VanDoo Officer (R22R) told me and Doug Martin that we were taking the spot of a valuable bayonet, but that's not the story..
The morning of the 10
May 92, we departed Croatia heading to shoot a video interview with MGen Lewis
MacKenzie, located in Sarajevo, at a time where Serbia and Croatia were
fighting borders and territories. My road trip partners on the small convoy
were Doug Martin (PAO), Gerry Barrett (Photog), Monty Penney (Medic), Dan Morin
our VanDoo Infantry Bodyguard, Guy Belisle (Infantry Officer), and
couple other guys from the UNPROFOR Battlegroup.
On the morning of the 14
May 1992, both the Bosnia and the Serbian military forces decided to take heavy
shots at each other in order to move up their territory within the city of
Sarajevo. We just happened to be in the middle of the mix as our quarters were
near the exit to the Airport. In any modern wars, controlling airports and
radio/TV station are pretty important I’ve learned..
The shelling on our
position and around the area, was from that morning and for 3 days non-stop. On
the 4th day, MGen Lewis MacKenzie managed to get a cease-fire in order for the
HQ staff and us to get out of the city. We eventually returned on the 1 July
1992 to re-open the Airport for a Air Bridge to help the population victim of
the war. The UNPROFOR 'Roto 0' lasted 6 months like most tours for
Canadian soldiers in the 90'. Now with the training required and all that is
related to UN Rotations preps, you can expect to be away from your family
for at least 9 months.
So I got to return home
to Canada on a Hercules CC-130 on the 10th Sept with all of my Betacam tapes.
We were half dozen passengers plus aircrew on the plane. We had to wait to
embark on the plane as a Sgt. from 4 CER (Combat Engineer Regiment) killed by a
road side mine earlier that week was also returning home. The ride home was
very silent.
Looking back, It was the
very first time that a PA (Public Affairs) team comprise of a PAO and Video
/Still shooters to be attached for 6 months to a Battle Group on a UN Mission.
_____________________
And the rest is.. Not
the history especially when it comes to PTSD..
I can honestly say that I
have coped over the years with stress and anxiety by using what i call my 'Do
and don't'. They are all Rule #1
Rule #1: Forget fireworks for the rest of
your life
Rule #1: When you fly, aisles seat only,
and enter plane last
Rule #1: Avoid subway, bus, and tunnels
Rule #1: No crowds and if so reserve your
seat with an exit plan
I actually broke rule #1a
recently to find myself back where I was 24 years ago.. Thanks to my friends
Patrick S. and Guy P. I was able to get out off the streets of downtown
Ottawa where Fireworks were in full gear.
Subsequently the
sleepless nights and the Anxiety have returned, but this time with the guidance
of my good Friend Mike L. and Mary P., I got to meet pretty special and
dedicated folks at (VAC) Veterans Affairs Canada and will start the long road
to what I hope will be helpful. Either way how worse could it actually
be?
I intend to write and
talk on my progress as the months go by. My intent is solely to demystify what
it means to be in this kind of s ate and thinking that all is good. Also,
maybe, just maybe if there is someone out there who is felling the same
symptoms can see that help is out there, but shouldn't take like me 24 year to
do something about it.
 |
Standing by my Iltis Jeep May 1992. the vehicle that took us around totally unprotected the was zone was destroyed by bombing on the early morning of May 14, at the Rainbow Hotel in Sarajevo. The Building was a residence that had been build for the Olympics just a few years before.
(Photo: Gerry Barrett)
|
________
Video segment that I shot in My 1992, later published by a Former Swedish Soldier
(click on YouTube link, below)
__________
I've added a short Audio file of the recording from our Balcony on the morning of May 14, 1992
