I Believe I Made a Difference

Heroes Remember

I Believe I Made a Difference

I am very proud of what I did through my twenty five plus years now and like I said there are hospitals and places that I’ve worked I felt I made a difference in helping people both in Canada and overseas whether it be doing the hearts and minds stuff over in Bosnia and Kosovo trying to accomplish the mission, to help the mission or even just back in Canada helping the soldiers everyday with their colds, their sprained ankles, whatever because you always feel you’re doing good or else why are you doing it? If you don’t like what you’re doing, you don’t’ like helping people you’re in the wrong trade. (Pause) Interviewer: And on November 11th, we all take the time for reflection and for someone like yourself who has seen so much in your service, I can only imagine. What goes through your mind on that day? November 11th is hard because I know some of the medics who lost their lives over there. Also I know some of the soldiers, I knew them too so it’s hard, you think about them, they’re over there, they died, they didn’t come back to see their families and here I am, I’m lucky I can come back and see my family and they didn’t get that chance so it’s hard. And those are some of the soldiers that are now wounded over here where they are amputees of whatever or even just with PTSD and they are very wounded with their mind and they’ll never be the same again. It’s hard thinking you are someone normal to see these guys going through the life with their families that they have now, because they'll never be the same again. (Pause) It’s never a good day but it’s a day you should remember and reflect on these people and give them their honour they deserve.

Mr. Williams reflects back to his service as an army medic and realizes how lucky he is compared to the many young medics that did not survive.

Andy Williams

Mr. Williams was born June 24, 1964 in Trenton, Ontario. His father being in the Air Force, Mr. Williams had the strong desire to join, however, when his time came, the decision for service would be army and began his training career as an army medic. In 1985 he joined as a reservist and spent 25 years with the Regular Force. In 1997, Mr. Williams was deployed to Bosnia with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse Royal Canadians holding rank of master corporal. Another opportunity for a posting was exercised in 1998 when he deployed to Kosovo, this time with the 1 Service Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. Mr. William’s army career as a medic took him to many In-Canada posting serving with the Canadian military and upon retirement resides in Berwick, Nova Scotia with his wife and family.