Peacekeeping And War Far From Home

I am returning today to my series from the Canadian War Museum.

The turnover of the 20th century into the 21st century was a turbulent time, and that was certainly the case with military history. Canadian forces took part in peacekeeping operations around the world. The darkest chapter of that was the Rwandan genocide, where a UN peacekeeping mission commanded by Canadian general Romeo Dallaire could only bear witness as civil war erupted in the African country, while the world turned away until it was too late.

Dallaire suffered PTSD from the experience. His book Shake Hands With The Devil is a harrowing account into what became an absolute nightmare.

Canadians also took part in peacekeeping missions in the Yugoslav Wars, as the former East Bloc country disintegrated into its old factions. What started out as peacekeeping often ended up in fighting for your own life in a part of the world where hundreds of years of pent up vendettas erupted on ethnic lines, and where war crimes were being committed.

Lewis Mackenzie commanded at Sarajevo; this is his flak jacket.

Master Corporal Mark Isfeld, whose responsibility it was to defuse landmines, was killed by one of them in Croatia. A legacy left behind by him is the Izzy doll, a knit toy made by his mother and others, still a tradition to this day, given to children in war torn lands.

This UN transport came under heavy fire one night in Croatia, badly shot up. The types of bullets used can be seen in the foreground at right.