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Reflecting on the experience of brotherhood in the Canadian military

COCHRANE— Serving in the military creates a bond of brotherhood, uniting soldiers through duty to their country. Retired warrant officer Michael Baranosky,80, knows the experience of brotherhood well.
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Retired chief warrant officer Michael Baranosky, 80, poses for a photo at the Cochrane Legion on Tuesday (Oct. 27). (Chelsea Kemp/The Cochrane Eagle)

COCHRANE— Serving in the military creates a bond of brotherhood, uniting soldiers through duty to their country.

Retired chief warrant officer Michael Baranosky, 80, knows the experience of brotherhood well.

He was compelled to enlist, he said, because he always wanted to join the armed forces.

Baranosky enlisted at the age of 17— Due to his young age, his parents had to sign a permission slip allowing him to go.

“I was just a little guy I wanted to join the Mounties and then I joined the army instead,” Baranosky said.

From there he left his family and friends behind as he journeyed overseas with other young men around the same age.

Baranosky joined the armed forces in 1957 and was deployed as a peacekeeper to Egypt from 61-62, Cypress from 64-65 and Germany from 67-69.

He was based out of Calgary and was posted back to New Brunswick for his senior CAO course until he was posted back to Calgary in 1972.

He had three hat badges in his time starting with the Lord Strathcona's Horse regular force before moving to the Royal Canadian Dragoons, followed by the Eighth Canadian Hussars before returning to the Strathcona's.

Leaving Canada to attend a peacekeeping mission in Egypt was like visiting another planet, Baranosky said. His regiment was stationed on the Sinai Desert in the international frontier. They patrolled countless kilometres of the frontier each day often in the baking heat of more than 40 C.

“It was hot,” Baranosky said with a laugh.

His unit was the second one to arrive in Cypress, he said, adding at times the situation could become touchy.

“Gladly, we all got back,” Baranosky said.

He eventually left the army after the death of his wife and he was a single warrant officer. He was looking at being posted to Ottawa but chose to retire instead in 1974.

“I would have been sitting behind a desk and that wasn’t for me,” Baranosky said.

He still keeps in touch with those who served by his side, he said, adding he is part of a membership of more than 500 in the Calgary area. His former regiment has a get together every five years that gets about 1,300 members.

“It was good comradeship,” Baranosky said.

He hopes people honour veterans not only on Remembrance Day but all year round, Baranosky said, because of all the sacrifices made by military personal to help keep the country, the world and our freedoms safe.

The respect for the military may have taken root with the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts that followed, he said, but with Canada’s recent involvement in Afghanistan, a new generation of Canadians have a more personal connection to Remembrance Day and honouring the military.

Baranosky said it is challenging discussing ways to honour veterans because he believes once a year is not enough, but said he knows it can be hard to decide what to do for the remaining year.

The critical aspect is wearing the poppy as a sign of respect during the Remembrance Day season.

Baranosky will be participating in the poppy campaign and attending the ceremony at the Canadian Legion.

“I think about some of the guys that sacrificed their lives that I know, because we did lose people even though I was peacekeeping more than anything,” Baranosky said.

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