Penticton, BC, Canada
Sean Smith
Current Location: Campbell River, BC, Canada
You’re Not Turkish, are you?
In January 1989, while serving with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (RC) on Op Snowgoose 50 in Cyprus, a windstorm tore through the Ortona Sector of the Buffer Zone, damaging the defensive positions on both sides of the Green Line. As a result, a long schedule of UN escorts had to be set up to ensure that when the Greek and Turkish Forces conducted repairs to their positions, nothing new was added or improved on the line. And that was why I was standing on the patrol track when a head popped out of one of the gun ports.
“Y’all waiting to do the escort for us?” It took me a minute to process what I just heard. A very distinctive Kentucky drawl came from someone dressed in a Turkish Army uniform of the 17th Wolf Battalion, that moved into the line back in October 1988. Everything about him looked like every other Turk on the line, but when he spoke, he sounded like a good ol’ boy from the South. It was, to say the least, weird.
“Um. Yeah. Sorry, but you don’t sound Turkish.” “Hell, son. I was born in Turkey, but my family moved to the U.S. when I was 3. I was raised in Kentucky. I don’t even speak Turkish good. I’m not Muslim, I like booze, and I can’t stand the food. I would kill for a bowl of grits.
“So how the heck did you end up here?” “After I graduated, I went to visit my grandparents in Turkey for the Summer. Next thing I know, someone is knocking on my door and telling me that I was a Turkish citizen, and I was 17, so I got conscripted into the Turkish Army! Before I know it, I’m doing basic training and then I end up here. Six months ago, I was drinkin’ beers with the guys on the football field and now I am here, standing on a tower looking at you guys and a bunch of soldiers that I am supposed to be mad at!”
I couldn’t help it. I started to laugh. It was the funniest thing I had ever heard! He was a little mad at first, but then he started to laugh, too. It was just that absurd. “Well, everyone should be here in about 10 or 20 minutes. At least I think it will be 10 or 20 minutes. I’m still trying to learn the language and I miss about half of what the Sergeant says to me. You take it easy, man.”
Man, wait until I tell the guys in the Section House, I thought. A Kentuckian in the Wolf Battalion.
Biography
Lieutenant Sean Smith, CD, was born in Penticton, BC, in September 1968. His Father had served with the Royal Canadian Signals Corps from 1960 until 1966 when he left the Army and joined GMAC. His mother was a Registered Nurse, and his family moved around quite a bit until settling in Vernon, his parents' hometown, in 1974. Sean was raised around Veterans, with his grandfather and his great uncles having all served in WWII. Sean had a fascination with all things military. He joined the Navy League Cadets in 1979, then Air Cadets in 1981.
When he turned 17, he joined the Army Primary Reserves with ‘A’ Squadron, British Columbia Dragoons, in 1986. Sean completed Basic Training, Armoured Recce Course, and AVGP Course, taking every opportunity to work with the unit when the chance arose. In early 1988, the opportunity to do a UN Tour overseas came up, when the Lord Strathcona Horse was looking for Reservists to augment the Regiment when they were to deploy to Cyprus in September of that year. Sean jumped at the chance to serve with the Regiment that his Great-Grandfather served with in South Africa. After completing pre-deployment training with the Regiment in Calgary, Sean shipped out to Cyprus on 12 September 1988, exactly 25 years to the day that his father had shipped out for his UN duty in the Belgian Congo in 1963. Sean was attached to 4 Troop, Rural Squadron, standing duty at Observation Posts from the Louroujina Pocket to Nicosia.
Following his return to Canada in March of 1989, Sean went back to training with his unit, completing his Combat Leadership Course at the PPCLI Battle School, until an opportunity to fill a position at FMCHQ in St-Hubert, QC, came up. In December 1989, Sean arrived in Montréal to work in the Graphic Department at Mobile Command HQ. While working at FMCHQ, he accepted a tasking to support 4th Air Defence in Lahr, West Germany, but a funny thing happened on his way to Europe. Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Not long after arriving, Sean found himself supporting the MCE shop at 4 CMBG HQ, until the end of the Gulf War and his return back to FMC. In 1992 Sean left FMCHQ and returned to his unit to work as an Instructor at the Vernon Battle School.
In January 1993, Sean took a tasking in support of the Public Affairs Office at Land Force Western Area HQ, where he would work for the next 7 years in positions ranging from Support NCO for the Western Area Militia Command and Staff College to his final position as the Intra and Internet Coordinator for Western Area. In 2000, Sean had moved his position to 19 Wing Comox so he could be with his new wife in Campbell River, until his position was returned to Edmonton in 2001. At that time, Sean decided to call it a career and left the Canadian Forces. Six months after setting his departure date, Sean served his last day in uniform 11 September 2001.
In 2018, Sean returned to uniform as a Cadet Instructor Cadre officer, working with 363 Captain Brian Barker Squadron in Campbell River, BC, as their Training Officer. In 2022, Sean moved over to 2943 PPCLI Army Cadet Corps as their Training Officer, tasked with assisting in rebuilding the Corps, post-COVID. Sean will be taking over the Commanding Officer role in 2024.
Sean has been married to Andrea, a Principal in the Campbell River School District, since 2000 and has two sons, Ian, and Benjamin.
On CS-79 Pegasus Gate, Ortona Sector, looking towards the Old City Wall, Nicosia, Cyprus January 1989.
Medals Ceremony at Ledra Palace, Nicosia, Cyprus in December 1988.