A few posts about Indigenous Veterans over the last day have brought up a few things.

Eric Curtis Qualtier was with C-Coy 9 Pl during our 06 tour. I knew him through my boys, a few of them were close friends.

He was one of the most genuinely kind men I’d met, quick to laugh. During the Battle of the White School, Aug 3-06 we were heavily out numbered and fighting an experienced and highly motivated force.

The heat that day broke 60c. If there is a hell, it’s modelled on that place.

Curtis was up at the school buildings with a handful of men

As we approach Remembrance Day there are more frequent texts and calls with the dudes. Catching up ( and making sure we’re all still here secretly )

We remember our fallen but also the guys who impacted our lives in an immeasurable way.

Ben is one of those ( left ) Prior to the 06 tour I was ‘given’ Ben because I kept launching guys out of my section and I was supposed to do the same with him.
Some in the CoC didnt like Ben ( not cuz he’s a ginger ) that’s just how it is.

I didnt know him at all. He was 23 and stubborn. A little cocky.

Recently the common pushback when discussing peaceable solutions, is “but chuck what if Russia invaded Canada”

Yes it’s fun to pretend Red Dawn might happen and you’re going to single handedly stop some inept 3rd tier soldiers.

No. We lose fast. Horribly fast. We arent Ukraine. We dont have a massive army with previous combat experience. We dont have the kit, equipment or training cadre.
Go on CanMilTwitter and see what stands between you and Ivan.

We cant muster a proper Battle Group and if we could, where to deploy it?

I took a few days to put some thoughts in order wrt the veteran being offered suicide as a treatment.

Since this happened it’s been the inevitable, primary focus of every vet I’ve spoken to.
Rarely have I seen such rage and anger.

This will have follow-on effects. For most vets, the mere act of reaching out is a monumental moment.

Vets calibrate this potential moment based on how their friends have faired. Or other known experiences.

‘If I reach out what happens next?’
Not just vets, anyone in this situation has that same feeling.

The absolute level of belt-fed copium.

We should be studying this war in detail to be ready for the next one. Instead the West offers up this garbage from senior US Def mbrs.

‘Managed retrograde’…yesterday the UA fled several positions and a force of 600 surrendered en mass.

https://twitter.com/caitlindoornbos/status/1540319753188872192

Numerous units broke and several key points were lost.
And entire cauldron was closed and wiped out in less than 2 days. Surrendered or killed.

‘Eke out inches’…the RA now holds 20% of Ukraine. Roughly the equivalent of Britain in area.

Negotiations need to happen.

My 1st tour was Bosnia in 94. Bit of a civil war going on. Ethnic cleansing and general mayhem.
Spent most of the time patrolling villages that had been cleansed or fought over.
Here and there we’d meet survivors. People holding on.
We’d spend time talking with them,

https://twitter.com/_evelynrae/status/1450434760111636481

And a question I would always is ask is how did things get so bad so fast. Keep in mind that Bosnia had hosted the winter olympics only a few years before the war started.

All of them, from each side or faction said the same thing.
It started with language.

15 years ago today we fought the Battle of the White School.

By the end of the day 4 men had been killed and 16 wounded or injured.
I had known Chris and Vaughan for years.
I didnt know Kevin and Bryce but most of the younger guys did. Under Col Hope, 9 platoon from C-Coy had been maneuvering with Recce Platoon throughout the early morning in an area known to have a large taliban force.
Near the White School.
The LAV Chris was driving struck an IED, killing him and wounded the rest.

15 years ago today we were ambushed in Sangin.

Left- Mark, 21
Sitting- Tony, 21
The ginger touching me-Ben, 23
( I was older )

Outnumbered, over run and written off, we never lost faith in each other. We’d been in heavy fighting for some time, and the powers above thought our Platoon was do for a light day.
We were tasked with a BDA in Sangin, where Jdams had been dropped on taliban positions near the district centre.
We knew zero about this area.
And it would bite us.

Thread:
Recently some fine folks in Ottawa had a closed dedication for the Afghanistan War Memorial.
This ensured things were ‘dignified’ and had the ‘proper reverence’ as if letting the families of the fallen, veterans + the public attend would taint affairs. The public has supported Canadian soldiers and veterans in a big way, one of which is the Highway of Heroes
Dignified
Solemn
And unifying.
When you’re over there and you see how your fallen are being honoured like this, you feel it.
But the public couldnt attend.