For Cochrane veteran Ed Picher, remembering our war veterans and saluting the continued service of our young servicemen and women is important to our country.
For Cochrane veteran Ed Picher, remembering our war veterans and saluting the continued service of our young servicemen and women is important to our country.
Stationed in Deilinghofen, Germany, following the Second World War, Picher received a special-service medal in June from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for the years he served under its command in Germany with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry.
The 78-year-old Cochrane resident, and Cochrane Royal Canadian Legion member, served in post-war Germany from 1963-66. He recalled a country that had largely recovered from the scars of the Second World War.
“Everything was already back in place, ” Picher recalled of Germany, which was divided into East and West by the Cold War. “In fact, they were more modern than we were. ”
He took depot training in Edmonton, Wainwright and Calgary in the early 1960s before shoving off for Victoria, B.C., and then Europe. Following three years on the ground in Europe, he returned to Canada, taking his masters in jumping (parachuting) in Manitoba.
“We were based out of the Work Point barracks in Victoria at first. Then we went to Germany for three years. Then we came back and took over the Griesbach Barracks in Edmonton because the 2nd Battalion took over in Germany for us. They relieved us. Then from there, when Airborne was formed, those of us who didn't go to Airborne came to Calgary. Took the jump-masters course and everything else. It was an adventure. ”
Things have surely changed since then. Other things haven't.
“There's quite a bit of a change in everything, ” he remarked. “Like the old saying is: it doesn't matter how technical the war will go, there will always be the need of an infantryman to do the mop-up. ”
It's why he's grateful there are still Canadians willing to serve.
“These young people, men and women of all ages, they put their lives on the line for our country, ” Picher said. “That's what gives me pride, that we have these younger people picking up the torch and carrying on. ”
It's why he's making plans Nov. 11.
“I'm going to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies here at Cochrane, ” Picher said.
