Advanced Search

Del Villano, Gary: my service in 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (March 9, 2017)

Downloadable Content

Download selected audio

Interviewee: Del Villano, Gary

An interview/narrative of Gary Del Villano's experiences in 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. Interview took place on March 9, 2017 in Victoria, B.C.

ABSTRACT: Gary Del Villano paints a detailed picture of his service in West Germany. He talks about what led him to join the military, as well as his jobs before settling on the military. He talks about his deployment, and what was necessary to achieve it. He then talks about what would have been the Brigade’s reaction in the event of Soviet hostility. He also talks about how the training worked between the different ranks within the Brigade. He then moves towards the chemical warfare plans, and the strengths of the Brigade itself as well as units from other countries (Germany, Britain). He then wraps up a look back at the entirety of his military career, as well as some differences between his time and modern day military. 0:33-3:55- Background, growing up, joining the military. 4:00-7:30-Deployment to West Germany, Transfer to Lord Strathcona Horse, 4 Brigade’s Nuclear capabilities. 7:30-23:00-Training and Equipment of 4 Brigade, Daily duties, Roles within the Brigade. 23:00-48:48-Brigade action plan, Training, Cooperation between ranks, Centurion tanks. 48:50-58:00-Chemical Warfare, Daily life, Strength of units, Relationships with local citizens. 58:00-1:09:01 Anecdotes about leave, Medical care, Anecdote about doctors. 1:09:09-1:19:40 Czechoslovakia invasion aftermath, Currency, Anecdote about paintings, return to Mobile Command. 1:19:50-1:29:33-Armed Forces Review, Training with other NATO countries, Move South, Accidents. 1:29:44-1:47:00-Move South ramifications, Reflection on service in Germany, Tactics, Life in Germany. 1:47:00-2:01:20 Personal life in the military, Anecdote about current life in the military, Current military status. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 7:30-23:00- Description of the Brigade’s role in the event of hostilities, as well as the various roles within the Brigade.

Interviewer: Young, Mary

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 48.4359, -123.35155
  • 51.5, 10.5
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • DVG_856
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 9, 2017
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2017. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI
Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Actions
file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Del Villano_G_0856_01
file details Del Villano_G_0856_02