Description
Mr. Blackburn talks about fatigue and accepting your fate when in action.
George Blackburn
George Blackburn was born in Wales, Ontario, on February 3, 1917. His father started out as a steam shovel runner in building the railroads in the United States. George also worked in journalism for a little while. In 1940 after the war had broke out he decided it was time to join the services. He was rejected from the navy and the air force because of his poor eye sight. It was then that he joined RCA. He went through training and it was there that he learned valuable lessons. George was part of the 4th Regiment. He experienced the Battle of Normandy. There he was a gunnery officer. Upon his return to Canada, Mr. Blackburn made Ottawa his home. His list of occupations include newspaper reporter, Director of Information of the Federal Labour Department, and Director of Fair Employment Practices. In addition, he has been a radio producer, an award-winning documentary scriptwriter, an award-winning playwright, published author, and a lyricist and composer. Mr. Blackburn also earned his Military Cross helping to save the Twente Canaal bridgehead in Holland.
Transcript
If we knew when we were in danger, and there was a form of excitement or terrible fatigue, that's the, that's the saving grace is fatigue. You can be so damn tired that the prospect of eternal sleep isn't that bad. That's not bravado, it's just, it's just exhaustion is the word, that's the word you can exhaust everything. And the one night when I thought, "This was it." I thought this was going to be the end of it, you know, there was no way you couldn't surrender in the black dark, and they would be coming in through that door and I thought, "This was it, they'll throw a grenade in or they'll just spray with a Schmeisser" and, but once you accept it, it's odd, there's no longer any sense of panic or anything.