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Recognizing reservists’ sacrifices

By Stacey Lavallie Just eight days after his first child was born, Cpl. Michael Young packed his bags and left his wife and baby behind for nearly 10 months to serve in Afghanistan. The timing was "bad luck," he said.
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Soldiers pay a moment of silent respect to fallen reservist Gaétan Roberge, who was killed by a bomb while serving overseas. He, and other reservists who have served in Afghanistan between 2008-10, were honoured by 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada March 31. Photo by Stacey Lavallie

By Stacey Lavallie
 

Just eight days after his first child was born, Cpl. Michael Young packed his bags and left his wife and baby behind for nearly 10 months to serve in Afghanistan.

The timing was "bad luck," he said.

For the entirety of his time overseas, his daughter and his wife were foremost in his mind, and the rare times he could phone home or use the Internet was spent talking to them.

Returning home was an emotional event, he said. Not only was the airport crowded with his immediate family, his aunts, uncles and cousins were there. But he only had eyes for his wife and daughter — the little girl he hadn't seen since she was eight days old.

Cpl. Ian Henri came home early, after the vehicle he was travelling in struck a road-side bomb, though he wasn't allowed to say if anyone else was hurt or how badly he had been hurt. He did say he would fully recover from the injury and was looking forward to not having to use a cane and returning to service.

Henri had been serving in the Panjwaii district near Kandahar when the explosion happened.

Leaving behind family and facing a risk of injury on an daily basis is only part of the sacrifice Canadian reservists make when heading to serve Canada in conflicts overseas. Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge had just returned from a Christmas leave two weeks before he was killed by a bomb.

These sacrifices were honoured by the 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada March 31, at an open house at the Riverside Drive armoury. Roughly 15 soldiers were on hand to receive plaques recognizing their service, while some others received service medals. Some weren't there because they had moved onto full service or had been discharged.

Roberge was also honoured with a moment of silence and a plaque, which was presented to his widow.

Almost every seat in the house was full and bleachers set up at the back were full. Each of the soldiers, who served between 2008 and 2010, were called up to talk about his or her time in Afghanistan.

Soldiers pay a moment of silent respect to fallen reservist Gaétan Roberge, who was killed by a bomb while serving overseas. He, and other reservists who have served in Afghanistan between 2008-10, were honoured by 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada March 31. Photo by Stacey Lavallie

Soldiers pay a moment of silent respect to fallen reservist Gaétan Roberge, who was killed by a bomb while serving overseas. He, and other reservists who have served in Afghanistan between 2008-10, were honoured by 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada March 31. Photo by Stacey Lavallie

Master Cpl. Jenny Bingham, the only woman from the reserves honoured at the ceremony, interrupted her university career to serve in Afghanistan. She co-ordinated efforts and equipment between the Canadian forces and other military units.

"While people were used to seeing women serve, I was replacing a man who was about a foot taller than me and about a foot wider," she said with a laugh. "But by the end of my time there, (the skeptics) were the first to defend me when others questioned me (because I was a woman)."

Earning respect from the soldiers with whom she served — both those in the Canadian Forces and the soldiers from other countries — was one adjustment for Bingham. She said "as soon as you landed, it all changed. You were always on guard."

The oppressive heat and smell were some of the hardest things to get used to, she said. Because of a lack of water and sanitation, a lot of people in the areas she served didn't bathe on a regular basis.

"It was like a fish factory," she said. "When you first walk in, (the smell) hits you right in the gut. But after a while, you don't notice it anymore."

The people in Afghanistan are a lot like people in Canada, she said — but at the same time are very different. "They worry about making ends meet, just like we do," she said. "They worry about their jobs or school."

After her tour in Afghanistan, she said the "small things" that hadn't bothered her were now an aggravation to her as she readjusted to normal life. After two-thirds of a year of being continuously on guard and watching the world around her for danger, it was a big change to get back to Canada.

Since coming home, Bingham has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but still serves as a reservist and said she intends to until she's not able. "If I was called on again, I'd go," she said.
 

 


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