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Topic: SACRIFICE MEDAL QUALIFYING DATE (Read 547 times)
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Fred Doucette
Full Member
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Posts: 14
Pro Patria
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Hello Fellow Royals
Below is a letter I sent off to the PM, MND, MVAC, Leader of Liberals, NDP, Bloc and GGC, concerning subj medal which has a qualifying date of 07 Oct 2001. You can read all of the details of the medal at www.forces.gc.ca. I have put this dialogue here for your interest and discussion. I doubt that any concerns put fwd by Veterans and serving Soldiers will not be heard until well after the election. Take care all the best.
Sincerely
Fred Doucette
I hope that this letter finds you healthy, well and enjoying this great Canadian summer. With respect, today I was shocked, dismayed and insulted to see that Government of Canada, Armed Forces and Commander in Chief have authorized a medal that acknowledges a Soldiers sacrifice on operations. Now don’t get me wrong the recognition is long overdue, however, for some unbelievable reason the qualifying date for the medal is 07 Oct 2001. Again the Government of Canada, Armed Forces and the Commander in Chief have gone out of their way to insult all of those Soldiers wounded on operations prior to 2001. I don’t understand why Canada continues to forget and ignore the sacrifices of those who served in places other than Afghanistan. The artillery shell that wounded me in Sarajevo in 1995 was from a very hostile force, the mine that removed my friend Maj (retd) Bruce Henwoods legs in Croatia in 1995 was hostile, Sgt Ralph, MCpl Isfeld killed by a mines in Croatia, I could go on and on. Canadian soldiers were dying and being wounded all over the world prior to 2001 and we have been forgotten and now we’ve been slapped in the face by our ungrateful country. I know that there will be a bureaucratic (or as Soldiers call it “Bean Counter”) answer for why 2001 was selected but we who served will see it as an excuse not an answer. I have a feeling that it will be the “lack of documentation” excuse which always works in favour of the system. So I guess the Veterans Affairs pension I (as do most of the wounded) receive for my injury has not documented the details and facts of my wounds nor the attached citation for my Mentioned in Dispatches or the Wound Stripe Certificate.
I know that I will not be the only Veteran or Soldier that will be insulted by this arbitrary date of 07 Oct 2001 and I will do everything in my power to make them, the media and hopefully the people of Canada aware of this injustice. I ask you to do what you can to honour the wounded and dead of our missions prior to 2001 and have the qualifying date for this Honour changed. Take care all the best
Respectfully
Fred Doucette Capt (retd)
Pro Patria (translation For Country)
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Roik [mailto:Richard.Roik@vac-acc.gc.ca]
Sent: September-02-08 6:35 PM
To: billywillbond@shaw.ca; archivaire@sympatico.ca
Cc: freddoucette@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Sacrifice Medal
Fred,
I am very sad to read your email.
If there is only one thing I can stress, it is that what I have written is
what I know of the standard rules and response I get when inquiring about
medals.
When I say "this is what I know so far," it also means that I have forwarded
your inquiry to my colleagues at DND for an update and explanation. I am
just not sure when I will receive it, and Minister Thompson wanted me to let
you know that we received your email and are acting upon it.
I regret having upset you.
Sincerely,
Richard"
From: freddoucette@hotmail.com
To: richard.roik@vac-acc.gc.ca
Subject: RE: Sacrifice Medal
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 16:16:49 -0300
Mr Roik
Thank you for your prompt reply, however it is a new medal and precedent has
no bearing, look at the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (retroactive to
as far back as Canadians have participated in UN missions) the Special
Service Medal NATO Bar (no precedence on qualifying date). I may sound
bitter but this is the answer that I expected from a Government and a people
that has NO sense of Duty, Honour and Service. I regret to have risked my
life in the service of this country and its ungreatful people and I will no
longer take pride in my 32 years of service and six operational tours.
Sincerely
I use to sign off with Pro Patria (for Country) but I now realise how
foolish that was.
Fred Doucette
> Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:53:12 -0300
> From: Richard.Roik@vac-acc.gc.ca
> To: freddoucette@hotmail.com
> Subject: Sacrifice Medal
>
> Fred:
>
> Good afternoon. Minister Thompson has received your email today and he
> has asked me to write to you ASAP with what we know so far regarding the
> Sacrifice Medal.
>
> Unfortunately, I think you will find it disappointing.
>
> The Sacrifice Medal would have been created by Rideau Hall, in
> consultation with the Department of National Defence. And, from what I
> know about this process, new medals cannot be made retroactive.
>
> That's why, for example, when we expanded eligibility for the Silver
> Cross, the changes were effective from the day of the announcement.
>
> In this case, the eligibility can be justifiably made retroactive to
> October 2001 because the Afghan mission remains ongoing — therefore,
> the medal can be made open-ended for anyone who is or has been injured
> or killed on this specific mission. Going back any further, however,
> would breach long-standing protocols.
>
> I know you may not find that very satisfying. And I know Minister
> Thompson agrees with your suggestion that all Veterans deserve to be
> recognized and honoured for their service and sacrifice. Unfortunately,
> it appears the tradition in this particular case is well established in
> legal and other history.
>
> Sincerely,
> Richard
>
> Richard Roik
> Director of Communications / Directeur des Communications
> Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs / Cabinet du Ministre des
> Anciens Combattants
> Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
> 613.995.6264
Richard,
Sir, If the government fails to recognize people like LCol George Flint (a
hero of WW2 and the Korean War) who was shot by the Israelis when he went to
the aid of a wounded Jordanian, or the Buffalo Nine who were shot down by
missile fire from the Syrians then the Government and the Bureaucrats are
not doing their jobs properly. The families of these fallen comrades are no
less deserving of a medal, than those brave lads who were killed by the US
friendly fire in Afghanistan. They gave the CPSM to everyone who ever
served on a PK Msn - could they not, at least do so with the medal of
sacrifice for our wounded and the 120 who gave their lives in the service of
peace? Again I applaud the Government for doing away with the wound stripe
and replacing it with a recognition medal, however, the start up date is, as
pointed out by Fred Doucette, who served his Queen and Country on nine
separate missions abroad, are ridiculous, to say the least. These are my
personal opinions and are not necessarily those of CAVUNP and or anyone
else. Be well Sir -
Peace is our Hope for Mankind - billy - secty Mark Isfeld Memorial Chapter -
http://www.island.net/~cavunp www.petitiononline.com/vets8
PS if you get an opportunity get your department to pick up a copy of Fred's
book "Empty Casings" with a forward by Romeo Dallaire, please do so - In
fact VAC should purchase enough copies and it should be required reading and
distributed to all of your staff all across this great Nation- it is a
Canadian Modern Military History Story of the first order -
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Brian Morrison
Jr. Member
Offline
Posts: 8
Pro Patria
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Well said Fred.
When my wife mentioned to me that there was a new medal that I qualify for but only one thing that stood in the way was the date.
I was with G Company in Screbrenica (April - May 1993) when my section 13A was ambushed and MCPL Achtenburg had his legs shotup pretty bad. Well to say the least we had one the firefight. Although MCPL Achtenburg was physically wounded I had no physical wound to show for that fight. All I had where the nightmares of blood curdling screams coming from Andy as he was hit. It wasn't until 2000 that I was diagnosed with what they call PTSD from that tour. I have been mediacally released from the forces because of it not to mentioned the stress and abuse I had put my family through.
As I like to say physically wounded or suffering mental illness we were all swept under the rug and forgotton.
I really don't know what else to say at the moment as I am just starting to ramble but I was just as shocked as you where.
It's just not right!
Pro Patria
Sgt Brian Morrison (retd) (Pipes and Drums)
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1989 - 1994 2 RCR
1994 - 1995 CFSMUS (Pipe Major's Course)
1995 - 1996 2 RCR
1996 - 1998 CFB Borden (CFSMUS Pipe Band Wing)
1998 - 2004 Pipe Major 14 Wing Greenwood
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 2657
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Nice entry here Brian, and i hope others will come forward with their stories..even tho they are stories of neglect on the part of our gov and DND..they need to be heard by all Cdns.. it will give them an education found no where else, and perhaps, perhaps , even bring about decent treatment of veterans....ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Mary Ann
Jr. Member
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Posts: 6
Pro Patria
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I am disappointed, again another date used to forget about the soldiers that are deserving. The Former Yugoslavia, the forgotten war, now the forgotten soldiers.
Honestly, I thought this was a medal for the wives, who are very deserving, we sacrifriced our lives here in Canada after our husbands were sacrifriced by Canada to serve SDA. Sacrifice, more like sacrilege. Canada sacrified our sons, daughters, husbands for the higher good. Now, they are trying to make everyone feel good, when really it is an insult to many.
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Mary Ann
Jr. Member
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Posts: 6
Pro Patria
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I am disappointed, again another date used to forget about the soldiers that are deserving. The Former Yugoslavia, the forgotten war, now the forgotten soldiers.
Honestly, I thought this was a medal for the wives, who are very deserving, we sacrifriced our lives here in Canada after our husbands were sacrifriced by Canada to serve SDA. Sacrifice, more like sacrilege. Canada sacrified our sons, daughters, husbands for the higher good. Now, they are trying to make everyone feel good, when really it is an insult to many.
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 3964
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Mary Ann
God bless you!
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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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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Very well said Mary Ann, and thank you..from me and all the forgotten.. it is a debacle now.. so.. thats an end of it for me.. nuff said..from me,.. ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Glen TW Thomson
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Posts: 29
Pro Patria
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Toronto Star, 6 Nov/08 article says an outcry from frormer peacekeepers and families of slain soldiers has prompted the department to reveiw the eligibility rules for the new created "Sacrifice Medal."
A ceremony to honour the the first recipients has been postponed from its scheduled date of Nov. 12/08 while a reveiw a takes place, Governor-General Michaelle Jean said in a recent letter to the Premier of Saskatchewan. The decision to reveiw the criteria comes after apublic backlash on behalf of those soldiers who were exculded: peacekeepers from the pre-2001era and the families of soldiers killed accidentally in Afghanistan.
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