I just wanted to go in the Army

Heroes Remember

I just wanted to go in the Army

Transcript

We didn’t have much to do. We were, there’s nothing to do on the reserve. We were restless, I guess, you could call us, and we wanted something, something to do. And then, right here there was nothing to do so we had a little more to do in the Army. More interesting, so that's the reason why we joined the Army. I didn’t even think about getting killed or going to the front lines or anything like that. Just, you just want to go in the Army. And we had, they get us, buy our uniforms and everything. We had clothing, they feed us, and then I told my mother, “If I go in the Army, that I could give you half my wages and you’ll have some money coming to you.” So, she let me go to join the Army. So, that’s the reason why I, we, went. I think all the rest of the young people that joined the Army was in the same way. They didn’t have to go, we didn’t have to go, but we went anyway. Done the same thing as they did over there, which is white people. And in the Army there was no discrimination at all, we were all used the same. We were all equal. So I liked the Army life. Well, I know I was in the Army, I was proud to be in the Army. It didn’t surprise me, because I was in uniform. I was the same as all the rest of them, and they were the same as I was. So we were just one. So I didn’t find any surprise at all. I felt good when I... wearing the uniform and all Army boots and everything, and you were warm. You go outside, they call you out in the morning even for breakfast parade. And then in the winter time like this, it’s frost, real frosty in the morning, ‘cause we go out about seven o’clock. And then you hear them crunching the frost on the snow. It sounds good with your boots. And you’re nice and warm and you know you’re going to get something good to eat for breakfast. And from then on, after breakfast we just keep on training. There’s about 30 in a hut. Thirty in one place where we sleep. And there was probably 300 in all, in what there is, in other different companies there, different regiments. Like there’s West Novies, North Novies, and Carlton-York, that’s where I was, three different regiments. So they all, we all ate in the same ranks so I don’t know how many they are. But, anyway, in our... There was about 300 in our bunch. That’s only a holding unit. And then we go there a little while and then send us out to the regiment.

Description

Mr. Moulton describes his reasons for enlisting, and being treated as an equal in the service.

Donald Moulton

Mr. Moulton was born in Tobique, New Brunswick on March 29, 1923. As both of his parents were ill, he lived with relatives and attended different schools. Unable to find work in Canada, Mr. Moulton worked in the United States in both the lumbering and manufacturing businesses as a seasonal employee. He enlisted in the Army and shipped overseas as an infantryman. However, after developing foot problems, Mr. Moulton was transferred to the Ordinance Corps where he served as a truck driver for four years, transporting goods throughout Great Britain. In 2005, he took part in the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey to France and Belgium. Mr. Moulton currently resides in Tobique, New Brunswick.

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