Mistassini, Lac-St-Jean, QC, Canada
Jean-Guy Boulianne
Current Location: Franklin, QC, Canada
In 1993 when participating in the mission with the Peacekeeping Forces in Croatia. This mission was to protect the Serbian enclave against the Croats. Deployed with the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment as a Master-Corporal, Construction Engineering Tradesman/Carpenter. Our mission was to patrol the forward lines of our troops to provide them with logistical building materials and other needs. This mission was a highlight of my career in every respect.
Having served the first part of my career as an infantryman. In 1982 I requested a change of trade and was transferred to the Construction Engineers. Our mission in the former Yugoslavia was to defend the Serbs against Croatian attacks in the area known as "Medack Pocket".
The strongest moment and what really marked and moved me of this mission was the distress of the children abandoned in an indescribable misery. These women alone are supporting their children and family with pain and misery, because the father is on duty and fighting at the front. This misery of his children really touched my heart.
On 22 December 1993, a message arrived from the administrative office telling me that my father was dying and I had to go to his bedside in Québec, Canada. During my holiday after my father's funeral. While thinking about the situation in Croatia on his mothers and their children. I asked myself why not bring back shoes for children in the former Yugoslavia. I began to tour the aid associations in the town of Loretteville and the surrounding area. Such as the St-Vincent-de-Paul Society and other aid centres. I asked them to give me children's shoes for a humanitarian cause, and the response was very generous.
Being on a special vacation in Canada due to the death of my father. I had to go back alone, I had more than fifty pairs of shoes in my large military bag (Duffel Bag). I thought to myself what a unique opportunity I have! Being the direct link to provide shoes to children without intermediaries.
On my return to Croatia, I gathered several mothers who were mostly working on maintenance or other household tasks for the Canadians to give the shoes to the children. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life to hand over these beautiful gifts and to see the look in the children's eyes when they took their shoes.
At the end of my journey, my mission had taken on a meaning and a semblance of humanity in this great conflict in which we were involved and witnessed as a member of the United Nations with the Peacekeeping Forces in the former Yugoslavia.
Biography
In 1970 at the age of 18, influenced by the October crisis when Québec was under martial law and war measures. I applied to join the Canadian Forces during the recruitment tour at the Armed Forces Mobile Trailer passing through Mistassini. In January 1971 I received the call from the recruiting centre to report to the recruit course at CFB St-Jean-sur-Richelieu on February 7. I had to adjust quickly from civilian life to the military life of the Armed Forces, a huge contrast.
After six weeks of very intense recruit training, marching and military dress, especially learning to live in a group and socialize in barracks with other recruits who will be your friends for life. Following my recruit course, I reported to the Citadel of Québec of the 2nd battalion of the R22R to follow the combat training at CFB Valcartier for the handling of firearms and combat. After a very intense summer of training, my first peacekeeping mission came quickly in the fall of that year at the age of nineteen.
The 2nd Battalion was deployed for six months to Cyprus in the autumn of 1971–1972. I was very young, impressed and surrounded by soldiers who served in WW2 1939–1945 and Korea 1953. We were a bit mortified to be around all these R22R veterans. Six months service in Cyprus with the Peacekeepers on the line between Turkey and Greece. Having so little experience we had to show a lot of professionalism despite our young age.
Back in Canada, I was selected for the red guard at the Citadel of Québec (dressed in red and wearing a bear hair helmet weighing 11 lbs). It was a once in a lifetime experience to wear this uniform. After two years of service in the red guard.
In the spring of 1973, I received a message for a deployment with NATO to CFB Lahr in Germany Europe from 1973–1976 and 1979–1982. Cold War period, NATO military exercise on the Eastern Bloc border. Unforgettable moment; in 1979 visit of the wall and the famous "Charly Point" in Berlin, Germany.
In 1975, participated with 750 veterans "from Canada" of the 2nd war, parade for the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Italy (See photo General Triquet RIP). Parade about 100 active Canadian military in several Canadian cemeteries in Italy. Ortona, Monte Casino, Casa Baradi, and Vimy.
In 1978 my marriage to Sylvia Himmelsbach, my son Michel was born in Lahr, Germany. Our union will soon be 49 years old. In 1980 I applied for a change of profession and left Germany. On my return to Canada 1982 at the rank of Sergeant Infantryman at CFB St-Hubert, first stage of trade Carpenter Construction Engineering. Fall 1982 trade change course at CFB Chilliwack B.C. for the next 7 months.
On my return to CFB St-Hubert, from 1982 to 1988 to perfect my trade. (And demoted from Infantry Sergeant to Corporal in Construction Engineering). In October 1986, I was deployed to CFS Alert for six months to maintain the station, five months at night, the lunar landscape and the intense cold of the North Pole are still among the most beautiful memories of my career.
Another departure, in the summer of 1988, transferred to CFB Valcartier, base maintenance section, construction engineering section, carpentry workshop. Two years later transfer to the 5th Field Engineer Regiment in the carpentry workshop for two years. From 1988 to 1997 I participated in several major projects,
SFC Bermuda; construction of a community centre and many other projects. In 1993, my deployment to Ex-Yugoslavia as a Battalion Carpenter see (anthology attached) on my United Nations Peacekeeping mission. In 1995 trade qualification to level 5/6A in Chilliwack. I retired from the Canadian Forces on 07 April 1997 for medical reasons
Photo of me, in former Yugoslavia "somewhere in Croatia," Op-Harmony 1993. UN Peacekeeping Mission.
Photo of me, 19 years old, on UN Peacekeeping Mission Cyprus 1971.