For our first People of Timmins story, and in honour of our veterans on Remembrance Day, we interviewed veteran Thomas Daniel Chalmers.
Q: When did you serve in the military, and what was your role?
A: I first joined the Algonquin Regiment in March 2005. I served for about 13 years. I was Infantry when I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. I served in the battle group overseas with Oscar company of the 3rd battalion Royal Canadian regiment. In my infantry section, I was a c7 m203 gunner. I also was a tactical combat casualty care member of my section to which I had to perform medical type treatments before a medic would be on scene to assist him personally.
Q: What would an average day in Afghanistan look like for you?
A: An average day in Afghanistan usually started out as an early morning patrol where we would first go pick-up an interpreter within our FOB patrol through the town or village or the green space, which was the farm land.
During patrols, we would face ground covered with numerous IEDs. If we found one, we would cordon the area to keep the locals and anyone else out of the area and wait for the quick reaction force to come with the explosive ordinance disposal team and bip (blow in place) the device. Also, a lot of times we would travel through green space (farm land/grape fields) where we would face ambush by machine gun fire.
During patrols, we would always take the hardest route to avoid IEDs. For example, we would climb a six-foot wall rather then walk-through the gated area as that’s where the enemy would place the IED because they knew it would be the easiest route.
A lot of times we would speak with locals and also give children candy or writing utensils. Children like writing instruments as it made them look like a talib. A talib is a student, and students were more respected.
After patrolling, we would usually hang up our combats to dry from our body sweat. We would usually eat a ration or lunch if your camp had a kitchen. At night, we would receive order on our next patrol and what we were doing tomorrow.
Q: What about the days that weren't so average? Were there any days that were exceptional? For example, days that were exceptionally scary, sad, or fun?
A: There were a lot of sad times hearing about people in your company or people who you trained with that were injured or killed. It would take its toll on all of us because of the brotherhood between our fellow Canadian soldiers. Each one of us had to face the fact that that could have been me.
Fun times were mostly just being around great friends and that you could have a good laugh with and conversation, talk about home stories, friends, family, etc. Also for fun we’d have our laptops, or PSPs at the time, the gym we would always go down at night to exercise if we had a gym in the camp. Also we used to fight camel spiders and scorpions in mop buckets for entertainment. Sometimes we would make our own traps to catch mice and kill them as they would get in our food.
Scary times would be getting lit up or engaged by the enemy usually with machine gun fire, sometimes RPG’s. IEDs were always a threat. They were everywhere in some places. Patrols would be on about 200 metre distances as at that distance we would have found one or many. If a vehicle was ever destroyed, we would clean up what’s left as the enemy would use anything and everything against us.
Q: What did you like most about your time in the military?
A: What I liked most about the military is the fellow members I served with. They have become family. I can rely on them still to this day. They are pretty much family.
Q: What have you been doing since you returned from Afghanistan?
A: After Afghanistan, I was happy to be home, but later lost as the routine we had was gone. The team I worked with was too. It is hard to reintegrate myself in a place where people take things for granted: a shower, real food, family, friends, etc. I started working in confined space rescue when home and worked in the hydrovac industry and working with high pressure water. I do a lot of maintenance at mines and lumber mills. Most people within the industry know me.
Q: Remembrance Day is coming up soon. What are you plans on Remembrance Day?
A: On Remembrance Day, I will probably meet up with members I served with in the Algonquin regiment, tell stories at the South Porcupine legion, and attend the ceremony. After, I usually head to the armouries behind the Bon Air Motel and meet with the rest of my Algonquins.
Q: What do you wish people knew or understood better about Remembrance Day or about the military in general?
A: Without serving members of the military, everything people take for granted can be lost. People just don’t understand how good we’ve got it here. And a number of other people protect the freedoms we all get to enjoy. We are all willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms they have and the lives they live.
Q: Okay. We're going to wrap this up with three rapid fire questions. Ready? (Wait, that one doesn't count!)
Are you the oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or an only child?
A: I am the youngest child
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment?
A: Being caught with my pants down in Kindergarten.
Q: How many tattoos do you have (if any)?
A: I don’t have any tattoos as God made me good enough already. ;)
Thank you for participating in this interview and for sharing your personal stories with us. Most of all, thank you for your service to our country. We will not forget.
