Captain Harrison K. Bird M.C.

For Remembrance day this year, I wanted to talk about my friend Harrison.

Captain Harrison K. Bird M.C. was an American from New York State who joined the Canadian Army a bit more than a year after World War II started.  (More than a year before his nation entered the war).  He had studied in England and all of his school friends were already serving and fighting, and he felt he had to do his part.  So, in the Autumn of 1940, like many of his countrymen at the time, he decided to go North and join the Canadian Army. 

He was enrolled in the First Survey Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery, and was soon in England training.  He was one of the first soldiers trained on the new invention of “Azdic” or “Radar” (although he hated the training, because he hated math, and there was plenty of that involved).  He then used those skills to help direct anti-aircraft guns defending Britain.  He rose to the rank of Sergeant before he was able to enter officer training, which was his goal. 

He went through officer’s training as a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).  Years later he always delighted in telling the story of when he was on a bus in London at the time and a boy ran up and asked him what the “PPCLI” on his shoulder stood for.  A friend of his said “That’s the 151’st Polish Paratroop Regiment”, and the kid said “Oh!  I knew it was a good one!” 

After he was trained he became a member of The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), one of only two motorized infantry regiments in the Canadian Army.  His regiment was the infantry component of the Fourth Canadian Armoured Brigade, which consisted of three armoured regiments (tanks) and one infantry battalion (his “Lake Soups”).    He was in “A” Company of the Battalion, assigned primarily to support the 21’s Armoured Regiment – The Governor General’s Foot Guards. 

These units fought so closely together that they developed strong bonds with each other. The companies of the Lake Superior Regiment painted their vehicles with the cap badges of the armoured regiments they supported most, and in turn, the armoured regiments painted the Lake Superior Regiment’s badge on their turrets. 

This is why in the photo, you see Harrison standing beside his half-track (named “Annabelle”) with the cap star of the Governor General’s Foot Guards (GGFG) painted on the door. 

Harrison fought all the way through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany until the end of the war, aside from some recovery time when he was wounded.  He was awarded his Military Cross (which is mentioned in the official Canadian History of World War II) for patrolling across the river Maas during the winter of 1944-45.  His company commander was wounded; he took command of the patrol, bringing them back safe, along with a couple of prisoners. 

At the end of the war, he stayed on in Europe for a time as a member of the occupation force, where he was promoted to Captain. 

After the war he wrote several books about U.S. military history, and was a historian at Fort Ticonderoga N.Y.  He was a dedicated member of the Lake Superior Regiment (now the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment) Association, and attended their reunions into the late 1980s.  

He kept a handwritten list of the names of the soldiers under his command that died in the war, tucked under the glass covering his desk at home, and he read those names every day. Whenever I hear the phrase "We will remember them.", I think about Harrison reading these names every day.

Harrison had an affinity for bulldogs, and always had one as a pet.  One of them he named “Maas” after the river.  All of them are buried in his family graveyard at Hulett’s Landing N.Y. with small headstones with their names engraved.

Harrison was the Godfather to my second cousin, so he was like a member of my family.  In 1984 I joined the Canadian Army - The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, a regiment that Harrison had fought alongside during the war.  From this point on, I became a favourite of his in the family, and he was mine.  When I later transferred to the Governor General’s Foot Guards, he was even happier.  It was a joy to sit and talk “Army stuff” with him. 

Unfortunately, he passed away just a few months before I took command of the Governor General’s Foot Guards.  I will always remember the inspiration he gave me. 

Harrison was lucky and survived the war (I have the handwritten journal he kept through the war – he had some very close calls!).  He remembered the fallen every day after the war.  He motivated me when I became a soldier.   So, while I remember all others that paid the ultimate price, I also remember him.  

How Do You Use a Moment of Silence?

On Remembrance Day, at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month, we take a minute of silence, usually between the playing of “The Last Post” and “Reveille”.  This is a moment to remember the sacrifice of those who have served our nation in war and paid the ultimate price. 

But, what are you supposed to do in that minute?  The human brain can think of a lot in one minute. How do you use that time?

When I was a boy, I didn’t really know what to do during that minute.  I thought a little bit about what our teachers had told us about Remembrance Day, and some images of war passed through my mind.  I thought of people signing a paper for peace on a train in a forest in France.  I looked at my Grandfather’s medal.  My Mother would sometimes let me pin it on and sometimes take it to school (he was awarded it for fighting the Bolsheviks in Poland in 1919-1921).  I thought about him being shot twice (once in the hand, and once in the leg), and wondered what that might have been like.  Then I would look around at the other kids and wonder what they were thinking about.  I would wonder how much of the minute of silence was left.  I would wonder what else to do.  I might look at the flag.  I might look at the teacher. I would wonder if I was thinking about what I was supposed to be thinking.  Maybe I was supposed to think of nothing, as if I was dead?  Sometimes I would think about what it was like to be a soldier.  I would wonder again how much time was left in the minute of silence, and feel a bit guilty, as I was sure I was not supposed to be thinking about that. 

When I was a bit older, I had more of an idea of what I should be thinking about.  I would spend more of that minute thinking about soldiers leaving home, and never returning.  I would think about battles, and uniforms and soldiers and marching.  I would think about the pictures of the military cemeteries and all those identical gravestones.  I still did not feel the full weight of the thought that each one of those stones represented one person, one life that was gone, that was given.  I did think about the dates on those stones, and ages of those soldiers, and try to wrap my mind around the fact that they stopped having birthdays, they stopped getting older, that everything for them just… stopped.  That is what they say in the poem – “They shall not grow old”.  Those words hit me a bit harder, in my teenage mind.  I still would look at the other people in the minute of silence, and wonder what they were thinking.  Was I thinking of the right things?  I would marvel at just how much I could think of in one minute.  I would wonder how much time was left.  Then I would think again about those soldiers not growing old. 

When I became a soldier, I became part of an infantry regiment.  That regiment had been places and fought battles.  That regiment was made up of people from my local area that had gone off to fight.  I saw our memorials, and the names of those who served in the same regiment as me, who never came home.  I read our regiment’s history, and I knew about the battles that it had been in.  I then met veterans who had been in my regiment, and could talk about those battles first hand, and could talk about friends they had lost.  That is what I would think about when I was a young soldier during the minute of silence. 

My family had a very close friend who was very proud of me joining the Army.  When I became an Officer, I visited this family friend, and we had many long talks.  He was an American who came to Canada in 1940, when World War II was a year old, and still a year before his country would enter it.  He had friends in England who had been fighting for a year, and he was growing frustrated that he could not help the cause.  So he found a way, as many Americans did at that time, by coming north and joining the Canadian Army.  He became an Infantry Officer, and led a platoon in combat in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.  He was wounded in action, recovered, and fought until victory.  He was awarded the Military Cross for patrolling across the river Maas in the winter of 1944/45, taking command of the patrol when his Company Commander was wounded, and taking some prisoners along the way.  He gave me the diary he kept during the war.  I have read it several times.  Once, when I was sitting at his desk, he pointed out a small piece of memo paper stuck under the glass covering the desktop.  It had seven names he had handwritten on it. These were the names of the seven soldiers that were killed when they were under his command.  He told me he read those names every day.  All these things were added to what I think about during the minute of silence.

  

Now, in my mid 40’s, having commanded my Regiment and (reluctantly) retired from service, I have even more to think about in the minute of silence on Remembrance Day.  Now I personally know soldiers who have died (too young) in service to our county.   I now personally know soldiers who have been wounded.  I don’t just have photos and names.  I have memories of being with them, conversations with them, laughing and joking with them, training with them, soldiering with them.  They were friends. 

I think about them in the moment of silence.  I also still look around at the other people during the moment of silence, and wonder what they are thinking about.  It doesn’t matter what.  I’m just glad that so many people are remembering in their own way, and that we are remembering all together.   

I don’t know what else will be added to my thoughts during the minute of silence in the future.  I hope it’s not more names and faces, whether I knew them or not. 

We Shall Remember Them.

Dedicated to :

Master Corporal John William Ternapolski  (March 25, 1993 – Kiseljak, Bosnia)

Major Paeta Derek Hess-Von Kruedener MSC CD (July 25, 2006 – Patrol Base Khiam, Lebanon)

Warrant Officer Gaétan Joseph Francis Maxime Roberge CD (December 27, 2008 - Southern Afghanistan)

Captain Harrison K. Bird MC

-- CR

Something Positive For My Friends on this Solemn Day of Remembrance 9/11 2011

As we take time today to remember the tragedy of the attacks of 10 years ago, I wanted to share with you something positive that happened that day, something I find inspiring and reaffirms my belief in the goodness and hopefulness of humanity, despite what the terrorists might have wanted you to believe.  

On that awful, scary day 10 years ago, hundreds of planes bound for the United States were over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and were too far into their flights to turn back when the airspace over the U.S. was shut down.   Over 200 planes were re-routed to land in Canada.   In particular, 38 planes containing 6700 people were landed at Gander, Newfoundland – a town with a population of 9600. 

What happened in Gander over the next three days was a remarkable display of friendship, help and care that stands out as an example for us all.    People opened their homes and took in the stranded passengers, giving them their food and beds and use of their facilities.   Stores unlocked their doors and gave clothing, sleeping bags, blankets, and camping supplies – whatever was needed to look after this huge growth in population.  

Today, 10 years later, thousands of these people are returning to Gander, to reunite with the close friends they made at that time.  Gander was recognized with an International Resiliency award at a special gala in Washington D.C. this week, and mentioned specifically in a letter from President Obama to Canada to thank Canada for its friendship and help at the time of 9/11.

It you want the full story, I encourage you to read this book “The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland”, by Tim DeFede.

http://www.amazon.ca/Day-World-Came-Town-Newfoundland/dp/0060513608

This book never fails to make me feel good when I read it, and I’m sure it will for you too.  Or just do an internet search for articles on Gander and 9/11 and research for yourself.  

When we are confronted by the dark side of what people can do, it is comforting to remember that our good nature can win through.  

From today onwards – 9/11 2011 – this day will now be an annual National Day of Service in Canada. 

As we pause today to remember the victims, and recognize the efforts of the thousands who ran forward to help, let’s also remember that the good side of humanity is something we must cherish and take hope from.

National Anthems at Public Events

The following is the text of a letter sent to the CBC radio program Q with Jian Gomeshi.  It was sent in response to a sports panel discussion on the playing of national anthems at sporting events, and in particular the fact that anthems are always televised for hockey playoff games, unlike many other sports. 

The letter was read as "Letter of the Day" on the program on 12 May 2010.
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Text of Letter
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When I was growing up in the 70's and early 80's, they used to play the national anthem at the movie theatre before the show, and everyone would stand up and show proper respect (remove hats, stop eating popcorn, etc.)

The last time I can remember this happening was when I went to see a movie at the base movie theatre at CFB Gagetown N.B. in 1989. (Haven't been to a base theatre since though).

I guess the anthem has been eliminated at the movies because they now have so much other stuff to cram in before the film starts.

It is sad that we've lost this tradition - today people don't know what to do when the anthem is played.

In 2002 (as a Major) I commanded the welcoming Guard and the Band for G8 Summit at the Calgary Airport. There was a crew of high school age kids responsible for rolling out the red carpet to the leaders' jets. I was surprised to then see them then perch on chairs with their baseball hats on while the leaders arrived and the anthems were played. (I did fill them in on the right etiquette).

Folks wouldn't need to be told over a PA system how to behave if we hadn't eliminated the National Anthem from the start of so many public events.

That said - I do like the theme music your show starts with!

;^D

[-Author's Name-]
Lieutenant - Colonel
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End of Letter Text
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Audio File of Letters Segment of Q (12 May 2010)


Audio File of Q Show Introduction inspired by this Letter (13 May 2010)

-- CR

Red Mittens Rule!

I must preface this for those who do not know me. The Olympic Games are one of the most important things in my life and excite me beyond belief. I know more Olympic trivia than almost everyone I’ve ever met. I suppose that being half Greek (and a Greek citizen to boot) makes it part of my blood – perhaps even my religion.

So, why did I wait until two months after the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games ended before I wrote about my red mittens? I wanted to make sure I was still as excited about them after the games were over as I was when I first saw them in September 2009 – that the “fad” did not end with the games.

It’s nice when an Olympic apparel item becomes an international “hit” like the red mittens have become. Canada seems to be the only nation that has been capable of this so far. It first happened with the “Po-boy” hat that came out for the Nagano Games in 1998. The U.S. team was so miffed that they looked bad next to the spiffy Canadians that for the Salt Lake Games in 2002 they hired the same Canadian company to outfit them!

It’s bad when the Olympic clothing company touts an item as being the next big “it” Olympic Item – like the Bay did with their Trapper hat in 2006 and worst of all - that weird scarf / buff / headband thingy for Beijing in 2008.

It is nicer when the item just sparks pride and grows on its own – like the mittens for Vancouver.

Since the mittens nearly didn't make it off the drawing board, we sure are lucky that they came into being. As soon as I saw them I knew I had to have a pair – but the Bay was always sold out.

Months went by – I kept dropping by the Bay and Zellers to find out that they “just sold out”. Meanwhile I had to see the lucky ones with red mittens on Canada AM every morning in photos sent of them being worn in all sorts of situations all over the country and the world.

When I put my name on the waiting list at the Bay, they didn’t even tell me (until I called to check over a month later) that they had torn up the list, as it had gotten too big to be manageable. The mitts were on a first come – first get ‘em basis whenever a shipment came in.

I saw on the news how they were selling out across the country and were getting close to a million pairs sold. All I wanted were three pairs – one for me, and one for each of my parents as Christmas gifts.

Even the Members of Parliament all had pairs on when Barbara Ann Scott brought the Olympic Flame into the House of Commons!

On the 12th of December 2009 I went to Parliament Hill to see the holy object of my church of the Olympic Games – the flame lit at Olympia! There were thousands of people there and it was almost like Canada Day in December. The torch relay sponsors were handing out goodies – a mini-tambourine from RBC, a super neat battery powered 3-colour (Vancouver Games colour scheme) glowy Coke bottle (from guess who?), and several styles of commemorative flags and pennants. I also got to hold a bearer’s torch, as well as a 1988 Calgary Olympic torch that a woman had brought along with her. (Her husband had been a highly placed government Pooh-Bah in the Ministry of Sport back in the day – that’s where the perks are!) Coca Cola had a neat exhibit (in a rolling museum) of torches from many Olympic Games past – including London 1948, Montreal 1976, Calgary 1988, Athens 2004, Torino 2006, Beijing 2008 and of course Vancouver 2010. I was in Olympic – Geek heaven!

Tears came to my eyes when I felt the heat of the flame as it went by me on that cold December evening. 

When the festivities were over I turned to walk back down Wellington Street and towards home when…

There it was - a caravan selling all the Olympic stuff you could want – including the mittens! I waited along with the throng for my turn and finally secured my coveted three pairs! I gladly forked over the money ($10 each – what a bargain) and felt good that the proceeds were going to support our athletes. (I only hope the MPs paid for theirs!).

Finally I was in the red mitten club. Why do we like them so much? Every time I was wearing them and saw someone else with a pair – we exchanged a look of kinship. Much like Harley – Davidson riders exchange a little low wave when they meet in passing on a highway. When I went to Winterlude people referred to each other as “mitten buddies”. When my Father went to the “anti-prorogation” rally on Parliament Hill he said a little girl was smiling at him because they were wearing the same mittens.

I think wearing them made us all feel a part of something – a club or even the fraternity of nationhood. We sure felt good about the Games themselves, and I think the mittens helped us feel a part of this big moment for our nation.

After Canada won the greatest hockey game ever played I wandered up Elgin Street along with thousands of other proud Canadians. High – fives were the order of the evening, and more than once I heard – “He’s got the mittens – High five him!” as people would run across the street to deliberately high five me. I got good laughs when I would ask, "Does all this mean we won the curling?”

Also they look good! They are cosily warm, comfy and fuzzy inside. They are fun to wave with and be waved at with. They are bright and visible and good for signalling taxis or stopping a car when crossing a road.

I never (to this day) have gone out wearing my pair without spotting at least (the very least) one other pair on someone else. Incidentally – except on television during the games – I have to this date only seen 2 males other than me wearing them. (Not counting my Dad). I’m not complaining – if guys don’t want to be in the club – fine by me! I’m super proud to wear mine!

There have been copycats – fake red mittens being sold in Vancouver with a rather “underweight” inuksuk emblem. What about the Swedish Olympic team with their blue mittens with the gold crosses? Nice mittens but a stolen idea!

The good thing is that people have not lost their interest in wearing them after the games.

On April 9’th I was walking along the Rideau Canal (after attending the Vimy memorial service at the National Cenotaph) and came across a newlywed couple taking wedding photos near the Rideau Locks. It was a pretty cold day (hence my mittens being on) and the bride was wearing a sleeveless / strapless number and looked like she was turning blue. As a joke I said she could use a set of mittens. She immediately beamed and asked to borrow mine so that they could take a wedding photo with her waving in them. Of course I obliged – although I think I might have felt even warmer than her when she had my mittens on.

I wore mine as recently as yesterday when we got another cold blast in this whacky weathered spring we’re having. I suppose these mittens are now a collector’s item even though 3 million pairs were sold in the end. I will continue to wear mine as long as I can and for years into the future.

My only question is one of etiquette – it is a fashion faux pas if I mix my outfit by wearing Vancouver Olympic mittens at the same time as my Athens Olympic baseball hat?


-- CR

Update: 29 Apr 2010 - a "Constituency Assistant" for my Member of Parliament is looking into the question of whether the MPs paid for their red mittens or not. If asking the question over one’s shoulder doesn't give the answer, I think I already know what it is... 

Update: 10 May 2010 - Cold weather for May both yesterday and today - but the "mitten buddy" streak continues - met someone else wearing them when I was wearing mine while walking the Rideau Canal both days. Still no word from my MP's office...hmmm... 

Am I a Hypocrite on Free Speech?

Ok I feel like a bit of a hypocrite on the free speech issue after last week (22-28 Mar 2010). When there was all the kerfuffle over Ann Coulter's planned speech at University of Ottawa (Related CBC Article) I sided with her. Even though I have been offended by what Coulter has said in the past, I feel that at a University ideas should be expressed freely and debated openly - it is a place for open minds. Besides – preventing someone to speak because you believe them to have an inappropriate message presumes a lack of judgement, intelligence or rationalisation on the part of the members of the audience. Surely a University audience is capable of evaluating what a speaker says and determining for themselves if they believe what the person says or if the person is a crackpot.

Subsequently. I felt the opposite when 16 professors at the University of Regina stated that they were against the University taking part in the Project Hero scholarship program (which grants full tuition for children of Canadian Soldiers killed in the line of duty). They feel it encourages the militarization of our government and expansion of Canada's imperialism. I felt that these 16 professors should be terminated (from their employment) outright.

Regina Leader Post Article

CTV Article

Ok. So I take a deep breath and think this through. I guess I'm being a hypocrite. After some thought, I decide I should stick to my belief in free speech - these professors should be allowed to express their ignorant, moronic and ill-informed ideas.

Ok – that said…Look - No Soldier, and definitely no child of a Soldier, nor even the Department of National Defence has anything to do with what missions the military is assigned - even if the nation were imperialistic. Now, my degree is in Engineering, but I read a lot of History as a hobby, and think myself quite well informed on the news - so to the best of my knowledge Canada does not have any colonies- we are not an imperialistic, or militaristically governed nation.

It surprises me that there must be such a shortage of people out there applying for jobs as professors that Universities have to hire ignorant ilk like Jeffery Webber (jeffery.webber@uregina.ca) and his 15 buddies. Doctor (geez, who granted him that degree?) Webber has only been at the University of Regina for seven months, and judging by his bio/sketch on the University’s web site – has a rather tilted view of the world. Judging by his interests and background (Jeffery Webber CV) he would probably be comfortable in North Korea, or most likely Cuba (given his interest in Latin America) – as those nations surely have no militarization or imperialist streaks in their governments. One of them is bound to be the Marxist, Socialist paradise he seeks. I suppose China wouldn’t do anymore since it has become a capitalist dictatorship – but I digress.

These anti academics do not seem to understand how our country works, how our military works, and our history - therefore they are not suitable to educate our youth.

I feel sorry for any student subjected to any of these unaware, narrow-minded un-educators. If people like “Professor” Webber are providing first and second year students with their first steps into Political Science – these students need to also be provided with an alternative point of view so that they can weigh things for themselves.

I guess I’m lucky that I don’t have a child that wants to attend the University of Regina, and that I didn’t step on a land mine when I was serving my tour in Bosnia.

Ok. Whew. Enough said – but I am still really really steamed at these guys.

“I don’t agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
- Voltaire

“Time wounds all heels.”
- Me

Ok. I’m going to go calm down. Below are the names and e-mails of the 16 professors if you wish to contact them, as many others and I have. I have also included the University President’s e-mail.

-- C R

The 16 “Professors”:

joyce.green@uregina.ca
John.Conway@uregina.ca
George Buri (no email found)
Emily.Eaton@uregina.ca
jeffery.webber@uregina.ca
david.webster@uregina.ca
Annette.Desmarais@uregina.ca
darlene.juschka@uregina.ca
Meredith.Cherland@uregina.ca
Garson.Hunter@uregina.ca
John W. Warnock (no email found)
leesa.streifler@uregina.ca
william.arnal@uregina.ca
Carol.Schick@uregina.ca
Ken.Montgomery@uregina.ca
Andre.Magnan@uregina.ca

President of University of Regina:

Dr.Vianne Timmons
The.President@uregina.ca

Executive Administrator to the President
Anna.Willey@uregina.ca
Filling in for Anna Willey while she’s away
Rozanne.tennent@uregina.ca
President's Receptionist:
Dianne.Turner@uregina.ca