Peacekeeper vs. Peacemaker
Heroes Remember
Peacekeeper vs. Peacemaker
I think the civilian’s view of what a peacekeeper is,
it’s fairly true. We were usually very visible in a spot where
there was no more fighting. But a peacemaker and it’s
not even a proper terminology. It’s something that’s came out of
when peacekeepers have to fight, now you’re a peacemaker and
sometimes you would have to engage a belligerent force,
to keep the peace or to start the peace.
So you’d peace make, and then you’d become a peacekeeper or
you’re a peacekeeper being shot at, now we have to go
and make the peace. And it was kind of surreal and it wasn’t
until, you know, later on as the Balkans kind of ebbed and
flowed with the conflict and that there was times where we,
you know, I think there was peacekeeper and then there was
being a soldier, a combat soldier. Now society may call it
peacemakers, but to me as a soldier I was just doing what I
was always trained to do and sometimes we would have to engage
a belligerent force to calm things down, but at the end of
the day we went right back to being peacekeepers again.
You know that was the neat thing is that we were
able to put our blue hats back on with pride.
Related Videos
Preparation and Training in Germany
Mr. MacDonald speaks about the training and preparation he received as a soldier.
First Night in Sarajevo
Mr. MacDonald speaks about the explosion and sights of tracer fire that rained down upon them the first night in Sarajevo, witnessing the aftermath of destruction, and dead bodies around the city the next morning.
Civilians being Targeted
During checkpoint duty at the PTT building, Mr. MacDonald describes the sights of civilians being targeted by snipers while walking down the sidewalks and the challenges they faced each day.
- Date modified: