Returning to Civilian Life

Heroes Remember

Returning to Civilian Life

Transcript

Just to go back home, oh yeah, my wife will tell you some days she was ready to leave me. I just got, I got so intense about things like say, you know, like I said, little stuff, like the wastage of the food and things like that. I can't go into big crowded areas anymore because I get so uptight. I've got to keep my back to the wall basically all the time because you never know. It's almost like a type of paranoia. Bad enough I got hearing losses to start with so I don't hear everything all the time to start with and I don't want to miss what's going on and I'm getting to the point where everything is all the same noise and it feels like, it's almost like a form of claustrophobia. You almost got to be up high again because really that is what the UN does, kind of sits higher, kind of watch things so you want to be the tower watch keeper, you don't want to be the one on the ground in the middle of it all. You want to be able to act, react and not, I want to be able to act and not react, I guess would be a better way. I used to just, my anger would snap like that sometimes. I couldn't control it and it wasn't my wife's fault, it wasn't the kids, it was just coming out at them. Luckily I'm not violent that way so I would force it back onto myself and I was very self-destructive for a long time.

Description

Mr. Beresford shares his difficulties in adjusting to life at home after his tour in Cambodia.

Tony Beresford

Mr. Tony Beresford was born in Windsor, Ontario June 11, 1961. He grew up in a military family where his father served in the Navy and his mother in the Air Force. Military life was a very positive decision for Mr. Beresford who first joined the Navy reserves in Windsor and after serving there for three years, joined the regular force. Mr. Beresford later joined the Canadian Forces where he decided to obtain a trade in electronics technician and ended up advancing as a fire controls technician, a very unique trade to the military. In 1992 Mr. Beresford went overseas on his first tour to Cambodia as part of 92 Transport Company. In addition to in-Canada service, Mr. Beresford was sent on tour to Bosnia in 1999. Military being a big part of his life, Mr. Beresford met and married his wife who also served with the Canadian Forces. After 30 years service, Mr. Beresford retired and resides in Ontario with his family.

Meta Data