Today’s subject is the glass head that sits in my office, adorned with my United Nations Beret from my deployment in 1995 to Bosnia Herzegovina with UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force) during the civil war. The ceramic and metal UN badge is heavily chipped from 7 and a half months, working 7 days a week, 14-16 hour days, in that beautiful but flawed country trying to support the UN mandate. At approximately 5 O’Clock to the UN badge, hardly visible if at all, is a small pewter miniature badge of the Royal Corps of Signals, my Corps of 24 years with the British Army in which I served with pride which I had made whilst on the tour. I had to wear the UN medal I was awarded in the years that followed, but I wore it with little or no pride. Carole would probably tell you that the man she said goodbye to in early May of 1995 was not the man who returned in the December. She may be right, what I witnessed too many times during that deployment is safely hidden and locked away in the depths of my mind. I keep the head and beret visible to remind me, constantly, of the folly of war and that it is always down to failure of politicians and not the soldiers who go to clear up their failings.
Sorry, too deep a personal narrative for a Sunday afternoon.
Thank you for your views, comments and favs on yesterday’s offering. Much appreciated.
Thank you for your service, and being candid about your experience. I agree the last sentence is too true. This political "distraction" perpetuated by our inept leader is both an embarrassment and very scary. Our domestic issues don't bother him and his admin in the least.
Whole nations pay for the madness of a few people. There are many reasons why this is still going on. And on people who are sensitive on both sides of the conflict, it leaves huge scars that do not heal at all. Great for low key.
Great photo and thank you for your service.