How can you find out if someone actually served with Canadian Army?

[anisa]

Someone I know keeps making claims he served in Desert Storm as a Canadian soldier, but Desert Storm was the US code name for their operation in the first Gulf War.

he keeps trying to intimidate me and complain about my kids by telling me all these stories which don't add up.
My baby cries and he starts telling me how he used to point machine guns at kids. i'm a little frustrated.

Can someone tell me if there is a way to confirm if someone actually is a war vet, or if they are just taking advantage of their ability to fudge the truth.

Thanks so much!

[Natalka]

anisa, you've got me concerned....
I'm no expert on the Gulf wars, but Canadians were involved with coalition forces from other countries in Desert Shield/Storm, but not as groundforces. I'm pretty sure it was just air and naval support.
Yup - from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War#Canada

So if your guy is saying he was there with a gun, Nope I don't think so...
I don't think there would be a way to find listings of who served. Of those who died, more probable.
What might be worthwhile is seeing if there was media coverage from the time he said he enlisted, said he was there, etc. Because small towns to cities usually have some sort of recognition in the hometown paper when someone goes overseas. It's just an idea - try searching through google, etc. on his name, etc. any way you can.
... take care...

[AmberLab]

he keeps trying to intimidate me and complain about my kids by telling me all these stories which don't add up.
My baby cries and he starts telling me how he used to point machine guns at kids. i'm a little frustrated.

Whether or not he actually did - what a terrible thing to say when a child is crying. I hope you find out the truth.

[anisa]

thanks guys

[YesI'mcheap]

Here is the thing Canada sometime has exchanged soliders, we send our solider to the USA and Allied countires for a period of time, they are involved with that countires actions ( gulf war, Iraq and such). So he could have been there in this way. I think however you need to talk to a mental health person either on your local base or in your community. This man needs help. If you get nothing from the base contact DND in Ottaw or the local police. I'm sorry to say this but he sounds likes he is on the edge, IMO.

[anisa]

you know, I think of veterans who are old men who fought insane battles many years ago.
on remembrance day they have tears in their eyes.
if he is using the vet thing just to use ppl's sympathy, not nice.

[Poirot]

You should just dump him and never see him again.He's sounds just horrible.Bet he's a liar too.

[Patty Smyth]

From the Canadian Government site..........We were there along with many other countries.

The World Responds

The <ACRONYM title="United Nations">UN</ACRONYM>, along with many individual countries, condemned this bold and aggressive act. Canada joined a 35-country, American-led international coalition to liberate Kuwait. The coalition was operating under the mandate of a <ACRONYM title="United Nations">UN</ACRONYM> resolution that approved the use of force. In late 1990 and early 1991, the Canadian Forces and the military of other coalition countries moved into the region and prepared for the showdown.
The coalition forces began a devastating air campaign after a <ACRONYM title="United Nations">UN</ACRONYM>-set deadline for Iraqi withdrawal was ignored. This was followed by an armour and infantry offensive that rapidly pushed the Iraqis out of Kuwait and well back into their own country. This fulfilled the coalition's mandate to liberate Kuwait. The coalition suspended the fighting and offered a cease-fire which Iraq accepted on March 3, 1991. The official end of the war left Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, and his military, defeated – but Hussein retained power in Iraq. He would remain in control for more than 12 years until the second Gulf War of 2003 finally swept him from power.
After the Gulf War ended, Canadian troops remained in the region as part of the <ACRONYM title="United Nations">UN</ACRONYM> peacekeeping mission along the Iraq-Kuwait border, monitoring the demilitarized zone between the two countries, investigating cease-fire violations and clearing land mines. Canada also had a role in the special commission to seek out Iraq's biological, chemical and nuclear weapons production facilities. On the water, Canadian warships participated in Multinational Interception Force operations and helped to enforce the economic sanctions imposed against Iraq after the Gulf War.
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Facts and Figures

• <LI nodeIndex="1">The Canadian Naval Task Group, consisting of the destroyers <ACRONYM title="Her Majesty's Canadian Ships">HMCS</ACRONYM> Terra Nova and <ACRONYM title="Her Majesty's Canadian Ships">HMCS</ACRONYM> Athabascan, and the supply ship <ACRONYM title="Her Majesty's Canadian Ships">HMCS</ACRONYM> Protecteur, intercepted suspicious shipping in the area. <LI nodeIndex="2">CF-18 jet squadrons with approximately 500 personnel, operating out of the Canada Dry bases on the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, performed combat air control, escort and reconnaissance missions. For the first time since the Korean War, Canadian air-to-surface attacks took place during the conflict. <LI nodeIndex="3">A Canadian field hospital with 530 personnel operated with the British division, caring for both British and Iraqi wounded.
• The Air Command Transport Group provided air transport of personnel and cargo.

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Heroes and Bravery

On a searing hot afternoon in Kuwait City, an overheated convoy truck caught fire suddenly, setting off a series of explosions that injured many American soldiers and caused widespread panic. Captain Fred Kaustinen, acting commander of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, and 50 of his troops took immediate action, remaining on the scene to provide emergency treatment and medical evacuation for the wounded.
Maintaining the post-war embargo against Iraq could also be dangerous. In 2001, when <ACRONYM title="Her Majesty's Canadian Ships">HMCS</ACRONYM> Winnipeg stopped an oil tanker to check it for illegal activity, Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Swann led a four-man boarding party that forced its way onto the boat. On board the tanker, he and his team were confronted by angry and uncooperative smugglers. However, PO2 Swann quickly took charge of the tense situation. The ship and its cargo of 7,000 tonnes of smuggled oil was successfully seized.
The Gulf War marked the first time that female enlisted soldiers operated in combat. It was especially challenging for these trail-blazing Canadian women because they were serving in orthodox Muslim countries in the Middle East where traditional gender roles are very different than in Canada.
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Sacrifice

Theatres of war, like the Persian Gulf in the early 1990s, are dangerous places. There are many risks for soldiers in a modern war zone that go beyond the obvious ones of enemy fire or landmines. Friendly fire incidents, vehicle accidents, mysterious illnesses and the psychological stress of serving in such stressful conditions can take a terrible and life-long toll.
Fortunately, no Canadian Forces members died in the course of the Gulf War. However, about 125 Canadian personnel have died in the course of international military and peace efforts since the end of the Korean War. These people take their honoured place with their fellow service members from the First World War, the Second World War and Korean War as people who paid the ultimate price for their country.
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Canada Remembers Program

The Canada Remembers Program of Veterans Affairs Canada encourages all Canadians to learn about the sacrifices and achievements made by Canada's Veterans during times of war, military conflict and peace, and to become involved in remembrance activities that will help to preserve their legacy for future generations of Canadians.
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For More Information

• <LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em" sizset="49" sizcache="1" nodeIndex="1">Veterans Affairs Canada – Canada Remembers <LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em" sizset="50" sizcache="1" nodeIndex="2">Canadian Military History Gateway (Opens a new window) <LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em" sizset="51" sizcache="1" nodeIndex="3">United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (Opens a new window) <LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em" sizset="52" sizcache="1" nodeIndex="4">Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (Opens a new window) <LI style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em" sizset="53" sizcache="1" nodeIndex="5">Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (Opens a new window)
• The Royal Canadian Legion (Opens a new window)

Peace Support Efforts Public Information Sheets >>

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[tidytaurus]

Patty thks for doing the research on this I just got mad and had a 3 paragraph rant instead of posting it I reread the OP and realized it would not be of any help you are the best.

[Patty Smyth]

My son's history teacher this was a member of the forces although never served overseas. He actually did a documentary on the Black Watch which was very interesting. It was on the history channel this past spring.

While I will be the first to tell you I am not pro-war by any means, we really have to support the troops. They are not the ones making the decisions although they pay the price for it.

Is it possible Anisa, this person could be suffering from Gulf War Syndrome or PTS. Although it is shocking that he spoke like this it may be for reasons we do not understand.

My DH had a cousin who was a Peacekeeper in Bosnia (can't imagine what that was like and don't even want to ask her) and I have a cousin who has been back and forth to Afghanistan 3 times, again, why anyone would want to go there is beyond me but I certainly respect their decision.

[matrix82]

Here is the thing Canada sometime has exchanged soliders, we send our solider to the USA and Allied countires for a period of time, they are involved with that countires actions ( gulf war, Iraq and such). So he could have been there in this way. I think however you need to talk to a mental health person either on your local base or in your community. This man needs help. If you get nothing from the base contact DND in Ottaw or the local police. I'm sorry to say this but he sounds likes he is on the edge, IMO.

I agree. Better to keep you and your family safe. Something seems a little off about this person talking about such topics in front of children.

[anisa]

You should just dump him and never see him again.He's sounds just horrible.Bet he's a liar too.

haha

i should clarify, he's my tenant!

thanks anyhow!

[screamy]

That notwithstanding, it sounds like he's being quite...menacing, for lack of a better word. Seriously, tell him that you do not want him discussing his military involvement in front of your children.

If he persists, go to your local police division and ask to speak to a community liaison officer or the officer in charge. You need that kind of stuff on the record. Get the name, badge number and rank of the officer to whom you make the report, and an occurrence or event number for it too. Threats are not something to take lightly, and if he needs help (either for PTSD or just being an a****le, if he didn't serve), then you need to let the police know, so they know there's an issue.

Canadians, as noted above, did indeed serve during that operation. I dated one, actually, back in the day, he was a pilot.

Veterans Affairs Canada will (or would, in the 90s) release non-classified information only, on deceased soldiers only, to relatives only; I obtained my great-grandfather's and great-great-uncle's service history that way (both were at Vimy Ridge, one is on the monument).

It was a long time ago, but AIR, I had - quite rightly - to prove my connection to each of them and was only able to find out when and where they had served and with which regiments.

Please keep us posted on your tenant.

haha

i should clarify, he's my tenant!

thanks anyhow!

[abbasgirl]

If he's actually threatening you or your kids you can definitely get the police involved. He sounds creepy!

[April07]

Sounds like he is using this as a means of controlling you. Time to dump him and find a real nice guy.

I am married to a Canadian soldier so I will ask him what he knows about Desert storm but as far as I know about it right now no foot soldiers from Canada were on the ground unless he was a Canadian with dual citizenship and was serving in the US military as a American soldier. We only had fighter Jets and their pilots there no one on the ground so if that is the case he is serving you a plate full of bunk.