Canadian veteran says he would go defend Ukraine if he could

A 73-year-old Winnipeg veteran says if he could, he’d be headed back to Europe to once more defend peace. He says the situation in Ukraine has many veterans in Winnipeg shaking their heads.

Cpl. George McCall, who served with the Canadian Horse Artillery in Germany from 1969 to 1971, comes from a long military bloodline and now is a regular at the Royal Canadian Legion in Elmwood.

He says veterans there are regularly tuning into the conflict on the news and says what they’re seeing is hard to fathom, especially as the situation escalates.

“What really hurts is to see the little children. I don’t think Putin really understands what he is actually doing,” said McCall.

“Now he’s threatening to use nuclear powers. I guess he can’t remember when we dropped the bomb over in Japan and the devastation.”

For McCall himself, he wants to see what the effect of sanctions on Russia from Canada and other international forces will be, but notes he hopes Canada and international governments are also targeting Putin’s personal wealth.

“We don’t back down whatsoever. Canada never backed down from a conflict and right now we don’t want to see a conflict. At all,” added McCall.

On Tuesday, Anita Anand Canada’s Minister of National Defence stressed the country has already contributed to the Ukrainian defence in the form of extensive training efforts in Ukraine since 2015, alongside roughly $18 million lethal and non-lethal military aid.

Anand says the country is playing an important role in the NATO response, with 3,400 troops on standby if requested.

“But any decision related to combat would be taken in conjunction with our NATO allies and at this current time, what we’re doing is reinforcing our offensive and deterrent posture,” said Anand.

For McCall, someone who has served in combat missions, he says the situation is one to monitor closely, not mincing his words when it comes to his thoughts on the Russian president.

“Putin is another Adolf Hitler. No ifs, ands or buts. He’s out to control, control, control. He’s not thinking about his people whatsoever, and it’s a shame,” he said.

For those who are looking for some comfort or conversation during the crisis, McCall says the Legion will always work to help any way it can, saying its doors are always open to both civilians, soldiers and veterans alike.