Every Sailor Came Back Home

Heroes Remember

Every Sailor Came Back Home

It was probably the most successful naval and naval air deployment in Canada’s history. We went over, we did the job, we went through a dangerous situation, we were in the war and we took care of each other and we all came home. Interviewer: And that’s one thing I was going to get you to speak about is the idea that you all did come home. Everyone survived that went there and that is truly remarkable to think that that can possibly happen in wartime. Speak to me about that, the sense, you must have great feeling of accomplishment knowing that all of your sailors came home. Ya, ya, I think that’s the best,you know, nothing can beat that. I mean that made everything worthwhile, you know. My life depended on them and my life depended on what they did on dockyard. When I took over the navy here, on day one of my command, I went to the ship repair unit and the dockyard and asked to have all of the workers and for me to talk to them about the fact that I had just become their admiral. I said to them, “I’m just delighted that I’m your admiral because you guys got me here and what you did in those ten days before we sailed out of here with all those weapon systems saved our lives, there’s no question in my mind so if you need a favour, you let me know, okay!” And I waved at them, you know. Yep, gave them a bunch of favours while I was in command here. I would have done anything for them, you know, because they did everything for us. And what can you say? You can’t say thank you enough to those who looked after each other and looked after all of us there. It was remarkable, every single sailor had a part to play that allowed us to come back home.

Vice Admiral Millers speaks of the pride he has for the success of the deployment to the Persian Gulf and the fact that every sailor came back home.

Duncan “Dusty” Miller

Born in the United Kingdom, Duncan “Dusty” Miller immigrated to Canada in 1954. At the age of 15 and having a strong desire to join the military, Mr. Miller went to the recruiting centre but could not be accepted until 16 years of age. He then attended Bishop’s University in Lennoxville. During his career, Mr. Miller rose to the rank of Vice Admiral where he became the Naval Task Commander aboard HMCS Athabaskan during the Persian Gulf War. Vice Admiral Miller later retired from the military and now resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia.