Kate :

You are welcome.

My WW2 information comes from some of the "old guys " who were still members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, when I joined in 1966. They had served, in many cases, from "DAY ONE " in September of 1939. The entire Battalion stepped one pace forward, when the question was asked by the Colonel " Who here wants to volunteer to serve in action with me " ?

By 1966 they were a part of the 48th Highlanders reserve unit, that I joined at age 19. Talk about a living history education, after Friday night parades in the mess. I went to the "regulars " the folowing year, but retained my connection to the "glory boys " to this day.

My second source of battlefield information especially about machine gun tactics was my Dad , who was a machine gunner with the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Battalion in the First World War. He survived three years in thetrenches of Flanders, was wounded three times and came home stone deaf in one ear. He was my direct source of information for all my life untill he died in 1981 at age 83.

My own career spanned a number of NATO and UN assignments in places like Cyprus, Congo, Gaza Strip,Hatii, and Bosnia. As a M.P. investigator I did a number of war crimes investigations, as well as ordinary criminal cases in Canada that involved CF members or attempts to steal CF property such as weapons and equipment.

Along the way I managed to complete a Master's in Criminology, and for my own enjoyment a undergraduate degree in 20th century Canadian history.

Does Peter Kokalis still write for Soldier of Fortune ?

Jim B.