'It’s like an emotional roller coaster': Veteran reflects on 9/11 and Canada’s role in Afghanistan
Even after 20 years, few have forgotten where they were or how they felt seeing the attacks in the United States.
Capt. Rick Dumas, now retired from the Canadian military, was stationed in Winnipeg at the time and had just returned from a tour in Bosnia.
“Unless you’re a Second World War vet or Korean War vet that would have been the defining WTF moment for everybody, and that pucker factor was especially real for those that were waiting for a warning order,” said Dumas.
That order would be for Canadian troops to prepare to join the war on terror.
“This is the first time that article 5 in NATO was evoked. And article 5 basically states that any member country that is attacked, all other member countries are obligated to come to its defence,” he said.
Canadian specialized forces arrived in Afghanistan in November 2001, then Dumas said the first battle group arrived in January.
“We’re in the Bosnia mode so we’re prepared for a conventional type of warfare. Uniformed adversaries but this is completely different and it’s changed the way we operate from here on in, to this day,” Dumas said.
(Supplied)
He was deployed to Afghanistan twice, the first time in 2006 then again in 2008. He lost many friends and colleagues during the war and evaded a suicide bomber. But as a seasoned soldier, he knew he had to keep his emotions in check.
“Focus on your job,” he said. “Focus on taking care of one another and you’ve got no time to think about the rhetoric and the unfortunate consequences that might happen.”
Advice he hoped two of his sons would remember. Also soldiers, they too were deployed to Afghanistan.
(Supplied)
Dumas remembers a time he saw news of an IED attack when one of them was there.
“I thought I was okay with it but then the doorbell rang and I jumped off of my seat hoping to god that it wasn’t the chaplain,” said Dumas.
“I was so relieved and happy I almost cried. It was a girl guide selling cookies. I bought two boxes and kissed her on the forehead,” he said with a chuckle.
(Supplied)
Dumas is proud of the job Canadian soldiers did while in Afghanistan.
“The Canadians punched well above their weight, and I say this with immense pride. In every task we were assigned we excelled, we went well beyond expectations,” he said.
“And so as far as was it worth it? Time will tell.”
“When I think about that, it’s like an emotional roller coaster because we did a lot of great things,” he added.
(Supplied)
What he’s not happy about, however, is how Canada handled the evacuations.
“The writing was on the wall, and to find out that the Canadian Embassy had packed up and left before the evacuation operation started, that’s completely unacceptable, and I don’t know that it’s forgivable,” he said.
One lesson Dumas hopes Canadians can take away from the experience in Afghanistan and 9/11 is the national unity those moments in time provided.
“You would think that after that experience and how we had to pull together that somehow there wouldn’t be the political or social disunity in our country now. I think it’s kind of a shame that we’re not closer in how we tackle our domestic and foreign problems.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.