Presence of IED’s

Heroes Remember

Presence of IED’s

Transcript

In 2007 everybody compares it to… it was like the Wild West. As soon as you leave the camp you were ramped up and then even when we got to a place called Patrol Base Wilson. We were there for I think probably three months and we went over to Ma Sum Ghar was another camp. Every time you walk out you’re hyped up and you’re at a 100%. Pretty much that tour you’re at 100% all the time. As soon as you drive out the gate you got your roadside bombers. Even in your camp we had a guy called Rocket man. For about three weeks every night he’d come and shoot rockets in the camp and at the same time every night, it would be around the same time and, you know, we were down in the Taliban’s homeland in Kandahar and nobody wanted us there. And with the IED’s, you know, IED’s are everywhere. Roadside bombers are just waiting for you. We were driving back and it was the vehicle behind us got hit with a suicide bomber. Things go pretty hectic pretty quick. As soon as you hear the boom, like I was saying before you just go back into your training where there’s an outside perimeter, you know, an inside perimeter and then, you know, if there’s casualties you sort out the casualties and then you just carry on. There’s not really too much time to think because something else could be coming down.

Description

In 2007, Mr. Reist speaks about the deployment to Afghanistan being very different and far more dangerous.

Mike Reist

Mr. Mike Reist was born December 18, 1969 in Waterloo, Ontario. Having had a great uncle as a role model, Mike made the choice to join the Canadian Forces, only advising his family of these intentions two weeks prior to attending infantry training. Mike joined with 2 RCR, 2nd Battalion Infantry Division and held rank of warrant officer. Mike has a long record of service overseas - Cyprus 1991, Bosnia 1992,’96, ’99, Africa 2000, Afghanistan 2003, ’07 and Haiti in 2005. Mike had 27½ years of military service. Mike is very proud of his military career and is quoted as saying, “It’s the best thing that ever happened!” Upon medical release, Mike was stricken with PTSD and has become an advocate in speaking out about this condition. He is presently active with the Soldier On program and has competed in the Invictus Games in Toronto 2017 as part of Team Canada’s wheelchair rugby. Mike presently resides in Gagetown, New Brunswick with his wife and family.

Meta Data