Tim Collins/Contributor
*Content warning: This article contains disturbing details about war.
Terri Orser was 17 years old when her sister pointed out a military recruitment ad in the paper.
It led to Orser enlisting with the Royal Westminster Regiment and, ultimately, to a decades-long career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted to be a firefighter or work in search and rescue but, in those days, women werenB次元官网网址檛 in those trades,B次元官网网址� said Orser.
Orser ended up in administration, but that didnB次元官网网址檛 mean she was safely desk-bound in Canada.
B次元官网网址淢y first tour was in B次元官网网址�91 in the Gulf War working with the One Canadian Field Hospital,B次元官网网址� said Orser. B次元官网网址淚t was quite the experience. WeB次元官网网址檇 just gotten off the bus when scud missiles were incoming, and we had to get into our B次元官网网址榖unny suitsB次元官网网址� (nuclear, biological, chemical defence suit). Welcome to Saudi Arabia.B次元官网网址�
Her next deployment was in Yugoslavia, where she did two tours, beginning in 1992.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted to go there. I was young and in great shape and all gung ho. We wanted to do some good,B次元官网网址� she said. But the smile faded from OrserB次元官网网址檚 face as memories rose to the surface.
B次元官网网址淭he worst thing was seeing people suffering. You have no idea. When I came back to Canada and heard people complain about politics and stuff B次元官网网址次元官网网址� she said, letting the sentence hang and shaking her head. B次元官网网址淭here was one time I just lost it. They had no idea.B次元官网网址�
As an example, Orser recalled an event in Yugoslavia when a propane tank blew up, engulfing a soldier in flames.
B次元官网网址淗e was running around on fire, and, after, they told me that because I was a woman and had a softer voice, I should go sit with him in the hospital and tell him heB次元官网网址檇 be okay,B次元官网网址� Orser said. B次元官网网址淭hat was so hard. His ears were sort of melted to his head B次元官网网址� Well, the smell never leaves you.B次元官网网址�
Then there was the time that a friend of OrserB次元官网网址檚 decided that he couldnB次元官网网址檛 go on and, putting on his flak jacket, tucked a live grenade down the front and laid down.
B次元官网网址淚t blew off his arms, legs and head,B次元官网网址� she recalled, shaking her head. B次元官网网址淗e shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been there.B次元官网网址�
From 1996 to 1999, Orser did a tour in South Africa.
B次元官网网址淲e saw a lot of bad stuff there,B次元官网网址� Orser said.
B次元官网网址淚 saw a child ripped out of the arms of a woman on the street by guys in a van. She was screaming and running after it. See, they would sell the children on the open market.B次元官网网址�
Now retired from the military, Orser was diagnosed with PTSD in 2000, but now works as the occupational stress injury representative with the Royal Canadian Legion.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 better these days, but still donB次元官网网址檛 like loud noises or sitting with my back to the room. And for the longest time, I didnB次元官网网址檛 like walking on soft ground. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where the mines were buried.B次元官网网址�
