Hess, Ben B.: my Afghanistan recollections (March 23, 2011)
PublicAn interview/narrative of Ben Hess's experiences during the War in Afghanistan. Interview took place on March 23, 2011.
Interviewer: Keithley, Leif
Interviewee: Hess, Ben B., b. 1989
ABSTRACT: Introduction of Bombardier Ben Hess and his training specific to the Afghanistan mission. Reservist augmented into regular forces. Bdr. Hess is trained for helicopter load handling and works with a variety of aircraft deployed by various elements of the coalition including Russian contracted helicopters. Descriptions of the Kandahar Airfield, a home away from home for deployed soldiers. A description of specific training required for helicopter loading and unloading helicopter loads. Process of returning to Canada and a description of downtime while not on active duty and ending with a 0:00 – 5:00 – Intro to interview and biographical information about Ben Hess. 5:00 – 7:30 – Workdays and the use of Russian contractor helicopters. 7:30 – 13:00 – Description of job at the Kandahar Airfield. 13:00 – 18:00 – Rocket attacks, favourite helicopter, detainee handling, tour specific training. 18:00 – 22:45 – Description of how loading operations take place and on the job hazards. 22:45 – 26:30 – Working with Russian pilots and crews, other kinds of helicopter missions. 27:00 – 30:00 – Returning to Canada, paperwork, and back into the reserve artillery. 30:00 – 41:00 – Life during downtime at the Kandahar Airfield. Anecdotal stories about friends.
Rank: Bombardier.
- In Collection:
- Airborne operations (Military science)
- Military helicopters--Loading and unloading
- Afghan War, 2001-
- Afghanistan--Afghan National Army
- Kandahar Airfield (Afghanistan)
- Integrated operations (Military science).
- Artillery
- Afghan War, 2001- --Personal narratives, Canadian
- International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan)
- Military education
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Field Regiment, 5th
- Contractors, Russian
- Afghanistan--History--2001-
- Soldiers--Recreation
- Afghan War, 2001- --Aerial operations
- Artillery drill and tactics
- Kandaha?r (Afghanistan)
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
- Afghan War, 2001- --Artillery operations
- Hess, Ben, 1989- --Interviews
- Helicopters--Loading and unloading
- Afghanistan--Politics and government--2001-
- Chinook (Military transport helicopter)
- Combat patrols
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Joint Task Force Two
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Demobilization
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Reserves
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- 33, 66
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- HBB_682
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 23, 2011
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2011. 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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Hess_B_0682_01.mp3 | Public |
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