Myles, David J.: my Stabilization Force recollections (March 17, 2013)
PublicRank: Lieutenant Colonel. Medals and Honours: Canadian Forces Decoration
An interview/narrative of David Myles's experiences whilst serving with the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Interview took place on March 17, 2013.
Interviewee: Myles, David J., 1966-
Interviewer: Reynoldson, Courtney
ABSTRACT: LCol Myles' interview focused mostly on his time serving with the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It begins with his childhood and his experiences growing up in a military family. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders in Vancouver while still attending high school in the US, eventually deciding to become a commissioned officer. He discusses his training and his decision to join the Civil Military Co - Operation organization (CIMIC). As a member of CIMIC, LCol Myles served in Bosnia from 2002-2003. He discusses NATO's role in the Bosnian conflict, his training, and his experiences and missions in the country. His duties included Op Harvests (retrieving arms from civilians), helping with reconstruction, and generally making NATO's presence known. He reflects on ethnic cleansings and ethnic hatreds that he witnessed, and the differences between the Rules of Engagement for UN and NATO forces. He discusses working with groups from other nations, what the Canadian base was like and what Canadian soldiers did for leisure activities, and how citizens felt about NATO's presence. He also covers the setup and command structure of his battle group. He also covers what it was like to arrive back in Canada and how he gave talks about his experiences in Bosnia to those interested. He discusses the benefits of CIMIC's presence in Bosnia and their living conditions on base, and he compares the Canadian base to the American base. The interview ends after he retrieves a decorated shell casing, which was photographed by the interviewer. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Childhood and decision to join the military 2:40 - Decision to rejoin Canadian forces 3:36 - Experience after being commissioned, joining CIMIC 5:36 - Deployment to Bosnia 6:12 - Difference between UN and NATO missions 7:40 - Training and standard equipment for Stabilization Force 12:38 - Actions taken as part of the Stabilization Force . 15:55 Effects of ethnic cleansing on landscape, civilians 19:45 - Reflections on ethnic cleansing, seeing Srebrenica 22:45 - Differences between UN and NATO Rules of Engagement 26:00 - Description of missions/duties (Op Harvests, presence patrolling, etc) 29:00 - Working with American forces and other nations as Battle Group Liaisons Officer 32:00 - Civilian resistance to NATO forces 34:45 - Civilian and military experiences with left over land mines 42:00 - Dealing with weapons retrieved on Op Harvests 43:43 - Day to day activities as a Liaisons Officer 47:34 - Description of Canadian base, leisure activities, and leaves 52:33 - Break for LCol Myles to answer phone call 55:00 - Dangers posed by civilians to NATO troops 57:20 - Impressions of effects of war on countryside, cities (especially Sarajevo) 1:00:00 - Canadian casualties in Bosnia, general dangers to forces 1:02:00 - Setup and command structure for battle group 1:12:52 - Difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking 1:17:15 - Anecdote on civilian understanding of ethnicity, ethnic tensions and relations 1:20:28 - Digression on Canadian involvement in Afghanistan 1:23:25 - Feelings on UN peacekeeping efforts vs. NATO 1 :26:55 - Sharing his experiences with Canadian citizens 1 :33:00 - Returning to Canada from Bosnia, Afghanistan 1 :36:38 - Digression on providing assistance in Afghanistan 1 :42:10 - Experiences with ethnic cleansings and impressions of Bosnian law and order 1:47:01 - CIMIC training and preparation 1:48:37 - Family military background and reflections on comradeship 1 :52:40 - Living conditions on base 1:58:35 - Description of American base in Bosnia 2:00:00 - Rocks painted to delineate minefields 2:01:00 - Anecdote about a mosque that had been shelled 2:02:00 - LCol Myles retrieves a decorated shell casing to show interviewer 2:03:00 - Discussion on prevalence of leftover arms throughout the country 2:05:35 - Break for interviewer to take picture of shell casing 2:05:48 - Conclusion Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 26:00 - 29:00 - Descriptions of missions/duties carried out with the Stabilization Force 34:45 - 42:00 - Civilian and military experiences with land mines 47:34 - 55:00 - Description of Canadian base, leisure activities. 55:00 - 57:20 - Dangers posed by civilians to NATO troops, general outlook of civilians towards NATO troops 57:20 - 1:00:00 - Impressions of effects of war on countryside, cities 1:12:52 - 1:17:15 : - Difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking 1:23:25 - 1:26:55 - Feelings on UN peacekeeping efforts vs. NATO's 1 :52:40 - 1 :58:35 - Living conditions on Canadian base
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 43.84864, 18.35644
- 33, 66
- Original sound recording (AIFF) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MD_793
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 20, 2013
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 56 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 2013. 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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