It was a dark and stormy night in a small town in Bosnia and reservist Joe Dueck’s superiors had just told him to dig an ordinance trench by himself.
As a reservist, it was always a struggle for Dueck to fit in with the regular force members. He was usually given extra duties that others didn’t receive, such as burning the unit’s waste.
On this particular rainy night in Visoko, Bosnia — located about 40 kilometres northwest of the capital of Sarajevo — Dueck’s senior officers had given him a double shift and told him to excavate the pit while avoiding the enemy artillery.
An ordinance trench would allow soldiers of the unit to throw enemy grenades into it quickly, or ensure they had someplace to put their own ordinance so it didn’t harm anyone.
“I was fairly bitter at this tasking,” said Dueck. “And here’s where my rebellious spirit came out once again and I was very frustrated with the situation.”
Dueck, then 21, started digging, and after going down six feet, he came across what he thought was a potato. This seemed strange, he remembered, but he was so tired and wet that he kept digging. As the rain washed away the mud from the potato, he kept wondering who would bury the root vegetable so far underground — especially since his unit was already entrenched 20 feet below the surface.
As Dueck picked up the object, he realized it was an ancient medieval mace head used in battle centuries ago. Finding the mace head was awesome since Dueck always liked history and archaeology as a boy.
“I remember thinking, that (discovery) was kind of God’s humorous way of saying, ‘Dueck, just shut up and dig. Do what you’re told to do. Listen to your authorities,’” he smiled. “And that was a good life lesson.”
Twenty-five years later, Dueck has used that situation — and other army experiences — to impart wisdom to the youths who attend Joe’s Place Youth Centre. It has also allowed him to empathize with them and their situations.
Discipline matters
Dueck knew at age 18 that he was a rebellious kid who needed discipline and focus. He knew his drinking and partying would land him in trouble and he realized he needed to break that unruly spirit.
He attended Briercrest College after high school but failed all 10 classes. College administration suggested he take a leave until he sorted out his life. One positive from his time there, though, was he became a Christian and committed his life to Jesus Christ.
The young man understood that army training would give him discipline and focus. This didn’t bother him, since he had always been interested in military history and had played paintball regularly as a kid in Winnipeg and later Boisvain, Man.
“I thought the army would whip me into shape, and wow, did it ever,” Dueck laughed.
Marching to a new tune
Dueck joined the Saskatchewan Dragoons in Moose Jaw in 1992. He then moved around Western Canada to participate in training.
Civil war gripped Serbia in 1993 and Canada wanted to send an army unit as part of a United Nations force. At graduation, reservist Dueck volunteered since a regular army unit was short members. He was placed with the 1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1PPCLI) in Calgary, which was later attached to the Lord Strathcona’s Horse armoured regiment.
The group left Canada in May 1994 and was stationed in Bosnia for six months. The group worked with other international battalions such as the Dutch, Malaysians, Swedes, Finns and Brits.
Keeping the peace
Dueck and his unit were stationed in Visoko, a mainly Muslim town surrounded by Croatians and Serbians. The unit’s primary purpose was to protect the Muslims, but the latter had a coalition with the Croats. As long as the Canadians kept those groups from killing each other, they would be strong enough together to withstand the Serbs. This would create a stalemate and provide some peace.
“For the most part, it worked,” Dueck remarked, adding all groups could be welcoming or hostile depending upon the day. “I made good friends on all three sides.”
Orphans everywhere
The most memorable part of Dueck’s tour was interacting with all the orphans. When Canadian convoys passed by, kids ran after the trucks shouting for the soldiers to give them their supplies.
“We would throw them our lunches as much as we could, give them as much candy as we could, but the saddest thing was the young children did want cigarettes and would smoke because it would dull the hunger pangs,” Dueck said, becoming emotional. “But I didn’t smoke so I couldn’t help in that way.”
The orphans also loved the Canadians’ technology. Dueck brought a handheld Sega Game Gear with him and turned the back of his M113 armoured personnel carrier (APC) into a mini Joe’s Place Youth Centre. The kids usually tussled to play the games he brought. Dueck thought it was great to give them some hope.
Humorous — but stressful — experiences
While Dueck was primarily a rifleman, his secondary roles were a track drive and anti-tank gunner. On one occasion he and other members jumped into their M113 and were told to pursue several main battle tanks that had been stolen from a compound.
“I just remember thinking, ‘What on Earth are we going to do if we find them?’ It’s like a dog chasing a car,” he said. “What do you do if you catch them? An M113 is no match for a T72.”
Luckily for Dueck and his crew, they never found the tanks.
On another occasion, the Serbs had cut off the Canadians from most of their supplies, which meant the soldiers ate individual meal packs for a month. They weren’t bad, said Dueck, but they weren’t great either.
The supplies for the Dutch were also cut off. One day, the Canadians’ sergeant-major “arrived with some of the most incredible steaks bound for the Dutch officers’ mess that would simply go to waste. And we ate steaks,” Dueck chuckled, “for breakfast, lunch and supper for a whole week.”
Dueck and the 1PPCLI returned to Canada in November 1994. He stayed in the reserves a few more years but quit to focus on his growing youth centre.
“I think the efforts we made (in Bosnia) actually saved lives,” Dueck added. “After the tour, despite conflict in the country … a peace accord was signed in 1995.”
This story is one of many featured in our Remembrance Day supplement. You can read the issue online or pick up a copy at our office (32 Manitoba St. West).
