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| The newly promoted CWO Barros issues his first order. |
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| WO (ret) Gilles Pelletier brought us up to date on the vehicles. |
Sometimes, things are kind of late to happen. Take for instance, 3BAM's annual members meeting, which was supposed to have taken place in April, but because we were too damned busy all spring, only took place this past Sept 14th in the officers mess at CDN Armoury. It's not really very exciting; just a lot of really boring stuff gets discussed like the state of finances, what needs to be done on our equipment to pass government inspection, are we shooting a photo for a Christmas card this year? Oh...and a rather heated if somewhat pointless discussion as to the proper designation of our newly acquired M38 jeep. Not really a snoozer, but I wouldn't want to go through this more than once a year. Probably the high point of the meeting was when the CO and RSM came to talk to us a for a few minutes.
The meeting was attended by most of the
usual suspects, and it was the first time I had seen any of them since the beginning of July when we stood down for a month. I didn't participate in any events that took place in August, so it was good to see everyone again.
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| Craig Berendt, Rob Larivée, Will Freedman, Frank Baker |
Way more important than 3BAM's annual meeting however, was RSM Joao Barros's long-deserved promotion to CWO. Long deserved in many ways, I should add. Joao is not only the longest serving member of the regiment, (he joined seven years before I did and has stayed twenty-two more since I left) but he's been RSM without the rank that goes with the title for a few years now. It's about bloody time he got the recognition! Congratulations, Joao!
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| Derek Bayliss |
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The occasion of his promotion brought together many old members of the unit, and I frankly haven't seen so many of my old regimental friends gathered together at the same place and time in many years. Two former RSM's-both memebers of 3BAM- were present; Gilles Aubé and Normand Roberge. Also present were fomer members Laurent Guyon, Tom Savoie, Gilles Pelletier, Ambert Fong, Rob Larivée, Sébastien Picard, Bob Hotte, Frank Baker, Ben MacNeil, Will Freedman, and Derek Bayliss.
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| Normand Roberge, Laurent Guyon, Philippe Dalphond. |
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| Joao and family |
But this story is supposed to be about Joao Barros, so let's get back to that. I first came to know him in 1982, not long after completing my gunner's course. He was a bombardier then, and sort of known as "The Animal" of the regiment. Outspoken, profane, and frankly, a bit scary. On the occasion, he introduced himself to us new gunners as "The Animal" and emphasized the point by banging the rust off the tailgate of an old five-quad with a golfing putter. In the time I was there though, I can't remember him ever being lost for words or not having a wisecrack handy, or ever addressing me as "sergeant." But I also can't remember a single time that he ever shirked his job, bullshitted anyone , played politics, or did anything other than lay it straight on the line when his opinion was asked, or even when it wasn't. I am certain there is no-one who knows the regiment and its men and women better than he, no-one who cares about it more, and no-one who is more deserving of the rank that's finally been bestowed upon him, long after he earned it.
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| The man of the hour. |
There were other promotions being passed out that day, and it's not my aim to ignore or gloss these over, only I most of them, save one, Lt Christophe Leong's, were people I don't know, or at least people who I don't think I know. I got a bit of a surprise Major Sylvie Pelletier came up to me during the reception in the mess and addressed me by name and rank, explaining that she remembered me from way back when, though I had no recollection of having previously met her. I had
heard about her in the intervening years however and of her gallant struggle with breast cancer, which disease struck my mother some years ago and claimed my grandmother a few couple of years later. I'm pretty sure she would have been CO of the regiment today had it not been for the cancer and Colonel Garon made it pretty clear to me he fully expects her to be the next CO when his term is up. So good luck and good health to you Sylvie, both on behalf of 3BAM and on behalf of someone who lost two grandparents to cancer. I'm sure you'll be the next CO, and I wouldn't be surprised if Joao Barros is still there when it happens!
Ubique!
Gary Menten
3BAM Photographer-Correspondent.
