SARAJEVO 1992

[Tim Robinson]

Ex N COY soldiers post your Croatia/Sarajevo pics here.

[Mike Blais]

Good pictures

[towgunner72]

Hard to believe it was 17 years ago this month that we boarded the train and headed out on the grand tour of Germany, Austria, and finally Slvenia and Croatia. I still remember getting off the train and seeing  Colonel Jones approach and state that it was good that the fighting troops had finally arrived. It was a good tour lots of fun hearing Angus Lush lose his stutter the night of the shelling, Roger Sheppard starting to smoke again after how many years.

Cheers
Stew
8 Pl Hq Nov Coy
Apr-Oct 1992
   

[Mike Blais]

Stew, give us your impression what it was like when, for the first time since Korea, the Regiment fell prey to enemy artillery/mortar fire. How did the lads respond, who was doing what, that kind of stuff.

This is part of our regimental history that has yet to be told and I hope that anybody reading this thread that was there takes the opportunity to step forward and tell the rest of us what it was like in Sarejevo in 92.

I was in Baden at the time, remustered spitsucker. The young fellow who lived upstairs from me was a Royal and gave me a piece of shrapnel from the barrage. We sat around the picnic table in front of the Q talking for hours, brother, what a story. Pretty cool.
 

[ranrad]

Yes , really good pics.. i hope this will be a start poimnt to gather, with the help of those who were there, the Regimantal History of that war..thanks  for putting them up and getting it going..ranrad

[Gord Vaillancourt]

Hi brothers, i was there also, 6pl N-COY. Once we arrived and unloaded the tracks off the train, had the little chat from the CO of the Vandoos since we were attached to them, did a little road move to a town called Sirac, we set up camp in the school grounds, got the mods all set up, sorted out the cots and basically hung out with locals and their kids for some P.R. They were pretty courious about us. Later that evening, we all took part in our O-groups and basically tried to settle in. Not sure what time it was when in the distance we can hear the guns go off and the erie whistling sounds of the artillary rounds coming in. Well, basically, all hell broke loose and tripled time it to the tracks hoping one on the rounds wouldn't land on your heard. You could pretty well time it when to hit the ground. Unforturnately at the time, we were told to lock up the tracks so it wasn't a good feeling to know that as a driver, you had to climb up top and open up thru the drivers hatch, climb thru the vehicle and open the back hatch and let the troops in. 4 to 5 rounds were air bursts which was the most nerve racking feeling when up top the carriers if you know what i mean. It was later said that the rounds were mortar fire but all mortarmen know, mortar rounds don't produce a whistling sound on incoming, it was later determined both mortar and arty were used.
Needless to say,we got the hell out of there for a couple hours until it was later determined to be safe. It was a very restless nite to say. I'm sure alot of troops learned to sleep with their buckets on, i slept in my drivers seat being a driver at the time(what little sleep i had). Early that morning, we were all awaken to what we thought was another attack but it was only the sound of one of the emerson burner blast, some nervous troop was lighting one and off course we all know whats happens when you use to much fuel, not funny at all. I always a thought a blue beret was an easy target. Lets just say, the trust towards the locals was hindered for a while.
Pro Patria

[Mike Blais]

Atta boy, Gord. Good read. well done!

[Gord Vaillancourt]

A Soldier's Perspective: Where Do We Stand?
By: Warrant Officer Grant Gervais, Bravo Company, 1 RCR

(Reproduced from Pro Patria, Issue No. 74, April 1993.)

The former Yugoslavia; war torn, homes destroyed, villages leveled. Families homeless, starving, dying. Children living inhumanely, eating food at dump sites, living in cardboard huts, waiting for the next load of garbage so they can have their next meal. Families without heat or running water at 20 below zero, attempting to survive with half a home, the other half a pile of rubble. Look left, look right, same scene, except to the right no family, just a 70-year-old woman, alone, attempting to rebuild her home for countless number of times. For her, there's no retirement in Florida, no old age pension, no old age home.

For her, well, she's uncertain if she will see the roof reconstructed. She may die of exposure tonight as one other 80-year-old woman did, found one early morning with half her fingers gnawed off by rats.

Now let me explain. I am a married, 32 year old father of two. My occupation is simple in some ways, but complex in others. I am a soldier of 14 years, presently serving as a United Nations Peacekeeper in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Stressful, yes, especially because all of our families and us have been separated by half a continent and an ocean for so long. Gratifying? Exceptionally!

Helping in this unnecessary volcano of hatred seems to ease the pain and allow some security to the population's normally shattered lifestyle. As one can imagine, its not a pretty site here due to the scars of war running rampant throughout this country .War crimes, " ethic cleansing" and outrageous atrocities, are committed by three sides not just one, as we see it, and not how the press prints it.

My question to all Canadians, or better yet all North Americans is "Where do we stand?" Do we really appreciate our lifestyle? Think of the money we make, the food we eat, the clothes we have, the educational system for our children, our homes, the holidays. ..and the list goes on. Or do we just sit around our plush homes after a hard (or easy) day's work and complain about the raise we didn't get this year, or how the government is taking away our hard earned money to payoff the deficit. Maybe we should live as the Yugoslavians do for a week or two. Wash clothes by hand, dry them on a line at 20 below zero, three or four times a week in a home riddled with bullet holes. Maybe we should just live in Sarajevo for a week or two and witness the "hell " the families are going through here.

Yes this is reality, and its witnessed by a soldier who has seen both sides. I'm now on the outside looking in, and what I see disheartens me. I see Canadians, so lucky to be born in the richest country in the world, who have money, homes and retirement and still complain about how bad things are. Still, we argue over a language barrier, which can easily be solved through something simply called give and take.

When a nine year old boy comes up to you on the street and attempts to sell you three hand grenades that he has stuffed in his worn jacket, the ones which he had probably taken from a dead soldier, that's when you have to ask yourself, "where do we stand".

Pro Patria

[ranrad]

Now these are a real dandy start.. very good reads here Gord and Grant..thank for putting them up.. a few minutes of reading told me several things about that wr , that most out there do not know..ranrad

[Gord Vaillancourt]

November Company, 3 RCR Awarded CF Unit Commendation
CANFORGEN 128/01
The Government of Canada has approved the creation of the Commander-In-Chief (CinC) Unit Commendation. It may be awarded to any unit or sub-unit of the CF, or to any similar organization of a foreign armed force working with or in conjunction with the CF, that has performed an extraordinary deed or activity of a rare high standard in extremely hazardous circumstances in a theatre of operations.

CANFORGEN 091/02
The Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation is awarded to the 1st R22eR Battle Group (including N Coy, 3 RCR) for having opened the airport in the besieged city of Sarajevo in July 1992. While surrounded and being shot at by belligerents on all sides, the BG steadfastly executed its mission, securing the Sarajevo airport for humanitarian relief flights and escorting these relief convoys into the city. As a result of their presence, the anti-aircraft weapons, howitzers and tanks stationed around the airport were soon forced to draw back. The superb effort of the BG led directly to the provision of critical aid for the war ravaged citizens of Sarajevo and helped in large measure establish the un in the eyes of the community as a vital force for world peace and security.

Pro Patria

[Gord Vaillancourt]

Impressions in a Foreign Land
By: Major Bernd Horn, OC B Company, 1 RCR

(Reproduced from Pro Patria, Issue No. 74, April 1993.)

As the D-10 lumbered in for its final approach, the airplane settled into an audible hush. Anxious faces were pressed to plexiglass windows, all gazing down onto a foreign land. What experiences would unravel in the next six months? Lost in their own thoughts and reflections few noted the Zagreb Airport quickly coming into view. The Croatian airport was easily discernible by mounds of relief supplies stored on the surrounding tarmac. In the background white UN vehicles darted about creating an image of The perpetual motion as yet more supplies were being systematically unloaded from yet another military relief flight. The 116 Canadian peacekeepers from Bravo Company, 1 RCR, attached to 2 RCR for Operation Cavalier, quickly adjusted to their new environment. The rolling, rugged landscape of former

Yugoslavia has an ability to captivate the interloper. Unfortunately, the bitter, savage struggle which epitomizes the civil war which is still raging in areas, has left its scar on both the land and its people. As one travels through the countryside the empty shells of houses, burnt out buildings, bullet riddled vehicles and other wreckage pay mute testimony to man's inherent destructiveness.

The land tells a story of a merciless struggle waged to destroy the military, economic and social fabric of opposing ethnic factions . Orchards deliberately and systematically destroyed, churches, schools and hospitals pounded to rubble and indiscriminate destruction of residential areas strain the belief of the existence of humanity in this otherwise beautiful land.

While some villages lay totally devastated and abandoned, others begin to show signs of returning life. Slowly a few intrepid individuals have returned to rebuild their shattered lives and homes. Their courage in turn shows renewed hope in others and soon a visible migration of people returning to their homes begins. In these areas people carry on oblivious to the destruction which surrounds them. The human spirit once again proves to be an unconquerable force.

As UN convoys and patrols pass, children too young to understand the events that have transpired wave energetically, faces crowned with innocent smiles. The elderly stare in stoic silence. One can only imagine their thoughts. .Yet another "occupying" force. As the convoy passes they quietly return to their plots 'of land and farm yards which look untouched by this century's rapid and profound technological advances. Only in the eyes and faces of the recently demobilized men of military age does defiance and resentment meet the gaze of the UN peacekeeper. One can only attempt to understand their bitterness and reluctance to lay down arms, for the mistrust and ethnic hatred runs deep and far .

For Bravo company the impressions have been formed from their experience in but a small area of Croatia between Lipik and Daruvar . The experience to date prompted the following comment from the CSM, "those who wish to separate in Canada should come and take a look at (former) Yugoslavia and see what happens when people cannot live together."

[Mike Blais]

Gord, you are on a roll.

Pro Patria! 

[ranrad]

More great stuff here guys, thanks,, and my congrats to you all on that prestigious award.. i think  not many in Canada know of it.. i hope they will soon..keep the good material coming guys.. ranrad

[Chris Carter]

I remember that first day in Sirac as well. I was the signaler for Gord Romards platoon. I forget the actual platoon number (sorry but 17 years some numbers do fade); definitely N Coy of course. Gord Romard will probably come in here eventually and rip me a new one for forgetting! LOL

Yeah pretty much what Gord V talks about; we set up camp pretty quick. There was already some sea containers on location with supplies. Our mod tents were up and our bunk areas sorted out. I remember we had a big community group meeting; General MacKenzie visited; did the PR thing with locals and what not for a while.

I think it was close to 8:00pm or thereabouts when Cpl John Ferguson and myself were tasked with establishing some line communications between company HQ and the platoons. We were in a wide open field area not far from the tracks when we both heard the thump, thumps in the distance. I remember commenting to John, "that is not a good sound!" Sure enough seconds later they are lighting up the sky with air burst rounds and the shrapnel is going everywhere. One round must of went off close to John and I cause we were in one spot one second and the next we're looking at each other several feet away lying on the ground. One of the mod tents took some shrapnel I heard and ripped into guys cots and kit bags. One of the carriers that was up near the community centre where we ate and stuff had took some shrapnel in the trim vane while Cpl Bill Young was climbing up to unlock it.

Yeah the locked carriers hampered somewhat a quicker exit out to defensive position areas; which would then later serve as the established platoon areas. Our platoon bugged out to the soccer field area and that would be one of our primary posts until the move to Sarejevo.

Our platoon the following day was tasked to investigate the surrounding area and we did check over and photograph some mortar tubes. They had been moved clearly in the opposite direction to our HQ camp location. There was also indication of recent use and so forth. However I think considering Day 2 of our tour, no one hurt; which was a miracle in itself, the issue was dealt with at a higher level.

I believe to this day it was a sick form of "welcome."

But I do know this; a lot of guys were asked to write down what they were doing, where they were, and so forth their experience during this actual incident. It was collected by one of the officers working the CP. Maybe the best source of information on where those incident reports went or are; would be General Devlin who was our OC at the time.

[Gord Vaillancourt]

Hi Chris, seems like yesturday those events to place. Something one will never forget.
Gord.V.
Pro Patria.