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Topic: Master Corporal Jody Mitic Rides again. (Read 951 times)
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Budda
Newbie
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Posts: 4
Pro Patria
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I am pleased with the way Veterans are getting treated these days.
I wish we could bring the rest home undamaged
Keep up the good fight
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BJ MacLean
B.J. / Rusty
Veteran 500+ Member
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Posts: 839
Pro Patria
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Wow
This is the way all the troops should be treated when they get back with any injuries. hats off to all that took part.
makes a guy happy to be a Canadian.
BJ.
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B.J. MacLean
35 Yrs
Always a Proud Royal
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 3690
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Excellent.... But aren't those things kind of dangerous? 
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Don Marche
Ultimate 1000+ Member
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Posts: 1262
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WOW!! good stuff, sure is good to see.
Pro Patria
Don
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1964-1965 RCR Depot North West Canada Pl,
A Coy 2 RCR London
1965-1968 B Coy 2 RCR Fort York Germany,
Promoted to Cpl 68.
1968-1973 D Coy 1 RCR London,
Promoted M\Cpl 69
1970 Cyprus
Promoted to Sgt 73
Took my release in Sep 1973 Rank Sgt
Pro Patria
SSM, Peace Keeping, UN-Cyprus, Queen's Jubilee, CD1
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Young Ken
Veteran 300+ Member
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Posts: 399
Fort York - 2 RCR 67-70 * 1 RCR Recce 70-74
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It is nice to know that at least one Canadian disabled Vet is being treated right by Canada. I don’t believe Ottawa was involved in this story nor were they responsible for this Vet being treated correctly.
As happy as I am for this Soldier it is somewhat dampened by the fact that Ottawa has been no more help to him as they have been to the Suffield volunteers, Golf War syndrome or the Gagetown Victims of Toxic Chemicals.
Soldiers returning disabled from Afghanistan will no doubt have the same problems from Ottawa and the VAC as all of us have had.
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Pro Patria
Ken Young
Kentar@telus.net
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 5452
Pro Patria
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Hi Jody
Way to go for your positive sense on this matter and I tip my hat to those who made it possible for you to Ride Again.
Jim
PS I had a stoke and I will never Ride Again!!!
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 2487
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Wow, really nice to see all this , and i am amazed at the great attitude and fortitude of you Jody...jolly good show, go get em, ride em hard and fast and fun...ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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george burrows
redpatch43
Veteran 100+ Member
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Posts: 192
2002
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I have to agree with all of you, it is sure nice to see a good recovery like this one. Heads Up -- Hear comes Jody>
Pro Patria.
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tgcan54
Cpl Gottlieb, Thomas H.
Hero Member
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Posts: 29
Looking for some of the RCR Buddies
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Good job done the contributors to make sure Jody has a better life.
Jody, good luck Bud. All the best to you and your family in the future.
Tom
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 3690
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Scarborough schoolkids meet a real superhero - a Canadian Afghanistan veteran who now walks on titanium legs
By JOE WARMINGTON
To walk a mile in Jody Mitic's shoes you have to stand on titanium.
And, like all "superheroes," have plenty of courage.
The trained sniper in the Royal Canadian Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces showed just how much he has once again yesterday as he took a step in the right direction.
And then another.
Yes, less than five months after he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan, blowing off both of his feet and lower legs, the 30-year-old Brampton native yesterday took his first steps outside without any assistance.
Take that, Taliban. You didn't see that coming -- just as Mitic didn't expect to be blown up so heinously. Your gutless sneak attack may have had him down. But not for long.
"I think he's actually a little taller now," teases his brother Cory of Jody's new magic legs, attached to stumps below his knees.
"If you are going to have any amputation they say the one below the knees is the good kind," Jody says with humour.
Strong kid.
For Mitic a step in any direction is amazing considering he should actually be dead or certainly wheelchair bound. But those who planned for that don't know Master Cpl. Jody Mitic.
Watch and learn. Some sixth graders, ages 11 and 12, did exactly that at Kennedy Public School in Scarborough.
They were witness to the big step in Mitic's recovery but the inspiring went both ways.
"I thought since I was coming to the school today I would leave my cane in the truck," said Mitic.
The kids inspired him.
"It felt good to walk in here without it. I had walked around in my apartment but never outside like this. Up until now I was afraid of falling.
It was the first time and other than almost (tumbling) at the door of the classroom it went well," he said laughing.
The kids with names like Jimmy, Meghan, Patrick, Kingsley, Vivien, Irvin, Milo, Ruina, Chloe were thrilled to be part of it. Real nice kids in Mr. (David) Pollard and Ms (Erika) Csombok's class.
Smart. They were right up to speed on Mitic and all of the realities of the war in Afghanistan.
And man did they have some good questions for him: "What do you think of people who say you shouldn't be there?" was one.
"How do you handle when people stare?" was another.
And the toughest was "did you kill anyone?" Mitic handled them well: "Until the job is done, you can't leave," he said, adding Canadian soldiers have helped ensure that girls can now go to school and boys are permitted to read more than just one sanctioned religious book.
On being stared at he said, "I don't worry about it." He said it happens but that's okay.
On the tougher question of being a soldier in combat and what can happen he said, "I won't answer that today but maybe when you are 18 we can meet and we can talk about it."
It was a pretty interesting day of learning for sure. It was a lesson in reality that the students have been working on for months. They called it their "superhero project". They compared what they see with Spider-Man with the kind of efforts and sacrifice soldiers like Mitic make on behalf of them.
It was their way of showing support but also at having a frank look at the world.
Mitic said he was heartened by the invite and the warm sentiment. "But I don't feel like a superhero. I am not a superhero because I stepped on a land mine," he said. "I feel I was just doing my job." It's a difficult job. He was walking in a line and the three soldiers in front of him stepped right over the trap, which was a heavy bomb just waiting for someone to step in the wrong place.
Jody was the one. When the bomb went off, his pals went into overdrive to save him. "I did my best to not go into shock for them," he said.
Soon after he was in surgery. Then airlifted to Germany. And then airlifted again to Sunnybrook hospital and then to St. John's Rehab Centre.
And yesterday he's walking again.
"I hope to be able to be able to go back," he said. "I may not be able to run around chasing the Taliban as before but maybe I could do some paperwork or help the guys get their equipment ready. It's a good goal to maybe go back. But it could take a couple of years." He actually doesn't know what the future holds. Recently engaged, he'd love to stay in the service for another 10 years and finish out a 20-year commitment if possible. He loves his country.
All of the wounded I have spoken with seem to share the same sentiment.
Capt. Wayne Johnston, who has been working on the Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warrior Fund to help get wounded soldiers CDs, DVDs and other time occupiers during recovery, tells me there's a tremendous amount of loyalty these men and women have to their fellow soldiers still in battle.
Every day he admires their commitment.
Jody Mitic and all of the rest of them are heroes as far as I am concerned.
And while it is true you can take away his legs he has shown it's not going to take away his ability to walk.
The students of Kennedy Public School saw that first hand in their superhero yesterday.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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greenham
Newbie
Offline
Posts: 4
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I am pleased with the way Veterans are getting treated these days.
I wish we could bring the rest home undamaged
Keep up the good fight
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Chet Malone
Hero Member
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Posts: 67
Pro Patria
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All the best to Jody, he is an inspiration to all of us. Such conviction deserves our respect and even though he's to modest to admit it, he is a Canadian hero.
Pro Patria.
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Battle school depot 79/80 Petawawa
1RCR London Dukes coy 1980
3RCR 1980 - 1984 Baden
3RCR 1984 -1986 Winnipeg Kapyong Barracks
Infantry school Tpt Pl Gagetown 1986 - 1988
3RCR 1988 - 1992 Baden Q Coy Bn Tpt.
4RCR London 1992 - 1999 Reg force cadre
31 Bge HQ 1999-2001 Desk jockey.
Medical release in London 2001
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