Summers, Kenneth J.: my Naval experiences (November 9, 2005)
Interviewer: Walton, Louise
Interviewee: Summers, Kenneth J.
An interview/narrative of Kenneth Summers's experiences during the Gulf War. Rear Admiral Summers served with the Canadian Forces Maritime Command. Interview took place on November 9, 2005.
ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral Kenneth Summers Side One 000 - Introduction; currently President of the Vancouver Island Officers Association. Also acts as a military advisor for CBC 010 - Background to summer 1990 in Canada; Meeche Lake Accord and Oka Crisis 020 - Original talk of military action against Iraq was a naval blockade 040 - Canada and the US communication to determine what forces would be contributed 050 - Decision to send Naval group because it was flexible; offensive or defensive, near or far 060 - General uncertainty as to where the ships would end up; sailed without a firm destination 130 - Anti-surface weapons not much use in the Gulf; would need anti-air capabilities 140 - Media criticism 160 - Warning Order; not question of would navy participate but how much and how well 192 - Our ability to communicate (equipment and practices) with the US necessitated our working with them 220 - War Cabinet set up 270 - Bahrain conference 300 - Our decision to take station in Central Gulf embarrassed other allies who had planned to remaining Gulf of Oman; they then followed into Central Gulf 330 - Rear-Admiral Summers handpicked all key personnel; wanted them to be able to 'think outside box' 350 - Closest Canadian ships got to action; missiles fired in their direction, mines 370 - Reason Canadian air craft luck not to get shoot down because always flew above triple A fire (anti air) 400 - "Iron clad control" of all weapons by the Commanding Officers; avoid 'incidences' 405 - Incident with media aircraft; did not identify itself and almost shoot down 420 - Relationship with the media Side Two 000 - Media was very astute to what was happening 010 - One really negative media story; Paul Koring of the Globe and Mail wrote that morale was low; he said it "made good copy" 030 - Comparing pre-deployment press to the press coverage in theater 040 - Boardings were boring to report on
Rank: Rear Admiral.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 29.5, 47.75
- 33, 44
- Original sound recording on audio cassette also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- SKJ_536
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- August 10, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. 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
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