A Mission of Greater Threat

Heroes Remember

A Mission of Greater Threat

Transcript

Twice I flew into Kabul, I was on Hercules aircraft from Kandahar into Kabul and I have to say that was probably the one time I sort of said, “Okay this could be it.” Because we would land at the Kabul airport which was a secure environment and then we would be transported by Brit, in a Brit convoy, down to the headquarters to meet with folks. And this one particular, the first time I was there it wasn't too bad but the second time, it was a different security environment in the sense of obviously there was more threats locally. So you're in a convoy which really just means you are in a hardened vehicle in like with three vehicles and we were actually, put a round into our guns. Typically we didn't have rounds within our weapons and we were asked to do that because of the threat and we were asked to keep our eyes open for a white Toyota Corolla. Well I'm sorry but they are all white Toyota Corollas okay. And it was just like if this is the day, this is the day because you know there were children playing on the road and then there would be a hole in the road and then the convoy would be, you know, speeding up and slowing down and doing whatever they had to do right, they had their maneuvers and what not and chitter chatter on the radio because you heard all of it. And you know look here, look there and I was just like, “Oh my God, if this is it, this is it,” like I was prepared, right? It was, you can't, I don't know. So when I got back into the Kabul airport at the end of our meetings and stuff it was like okay, that's that. But you could get killed crossing the road as much. I had one major who came into theatre and he was visibly nervous, a Canadian major and he was sweating all the time and it's just, he just, I don't know, I had this sense of calm about me because when I would go walking, I would go walking on the road that was only maybe two feet from outside of the base and I mean anybody could have thrown something over, somebody could have shot you through the gate or through the fence I mean, things could happen right? But for me, I don't know, I didn't feel threatened in that regard.

Description

Ms. MacDonald recalls Kabul as a more threatening environment.

Jo-Anne MacDonald

Ms. Jo-Anne MacDonald was born in 1960 in Ajax, Ontario. At the age of 18 Ms. MacDonald chose to join the Canadian Forces. Having graduated from high school, Ms. MacDonald realized her passion for sports, adventure and hopes of securing employment, a military career would be the right path for a successful future. In 1979, Ms. MacDonald enrolled in a Regular Officer Training program and accepted her first posting to Comox, British Columbia where she remained for four years and during this time met her husband who was also in the military at the time.. A time when women were unable to attend military college, Ms. MacDonald did her undergraduate degree at a civilian university, spending her summer months in Chiliwack, British Columbia doing basic officer training as well as speciality training in the logistics program and accepted her occupation as a Logistics Finance Officer. Although she considered her process a very traditional career path within this field, Ms. MacDonald was provided many positive and life changing experiences. Ms.. MacDonald eventually accepted a four year posting to Trenton, Ontario reuniting with her husband and being what she considers the best four years of her career. She was part of Wing Controller 8 Wing Trenton and held rank of Major. During this time Ms. MacDonald accepted her first deployment to Nairobi, Africa as part of a recce team. As her career continued, Ms. MacDonald also deployed to Afghanistan holding rank of Colonel (CJ8) under a Multinational NATO led Headquarters unit as financial technical expert. After 31 years of service, Ms. MacDonald retired from the military and continues to work in her field of expertise.

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