Caledon OPP officer has been working to help people of Afghanistan

Constable Paul Beaton in Afghanistan. Submitted photo

Caledon OPP officer has been working to help people of Afghanistan

See the original article at http://www.caledoncitizen.com/news/2010-07-08/News/Caledon_OPP_officer_has_been_working_to_help_peopl.html

 The area had great weather for Canada Day, and many local people were able to get out and enjoy it.

But there are others who were away from home and not able to enjoy this national holiday with family.

In the case of an officer with Caledon OPP, he spent Canada Day in Afghanistan, serving as a corporal for the Force Protection Platoon of the National Support Element.

Constable Paul Beaton arrived in Afghanistan in the late spring, and is looking forward to returning home in time for Christmas; and the snow.

Married with one son, Beaton has been a reservist for 15 years.

He said the main reason he’s there “is to play my small part in helping to rebuild a nation and to help the people of Afghanistan live their lives in a secure environment.”

“Essentially, my job is to provide security to convoys that travel the roads of southern Afghanistan to resupply Canadian forward operating bases,” he said.

“If we encounter any type of hostilities from insurgents, we engage them in order to protect the convoy and ensure that food, ammunition, water and other supplies reach Canadian and NATO troops in the field. My primary role is to operate the weapon systems on our armoured vehicles and my secondary tasks include dismounting in high threat areas to check for IEDs (improvised explosive devices) before our convoy goes through.”

He reported life in Kandahar Air Field (KAF) is nice, but not without risk. “Even though we have a lot of conveniences here, like Tim Hortons, we are still subject to regular rocket and mortar attacks from the Taliban.”

He reported temperatures have been averaging more than 40 C, which he seems to notice when he has to wear some 60 pounds of gear.

“One of the hardest parts of being here, other than missing my family, is attending ramp ceremonies for Canadians killed in action,” he reported.

“Very sobering.”

Afghanistan can be a trying place to go to help the inhabitants. Beaton said that going through Kandahar and small villages, he can see the frustration that a lot of people there feel.
“Some people throw rocks at us and others smile and wave,” he observed. “I guess it depends of their individual experiences that they have had with us. But it’s the little things we do to help that makes the big difference.”

He observed that after a local bridge was damaged by insurgents, people were forced to drive through a muddy river bed while it was repaired. He recalled that while returning from patrol one afternoon, his group came upon a family who got their car stuck in the mud up to the top of the the tires. “We could have just driven by and left them to their own devices,” he said. “Instead, we took two minutes of our time and hook them up to our armoured vehicle and pulled them out like it was nothing. At least for that family, they appreciated we were there.”

“I think I have a new found respect for what new Canadians have left behind in some countries in order have a better life here,” Beaton added.

“It’s one thing to read about poverty or to see it on television, but to experience it first hand was sobering. Being the father of a young boy, I find it difficult to see the young kids barely old enough to walk out on the streets begging for food bottled water. That’s an experience that’s going to stay with me for a long time.”

Beaton said there are indications that things are improving for the Afghan people.

“I made an interesting observation not too long ago while patrolling through the Argandab district,” he said. “We were going through small village and I noticed that there was a young girl laying on the floor of a stall that doubled as her family’s store and home.

I saw that she was doing her homework. It struck me that about 10 years ago, young girl probably wouldn’t have been allowed to go school or openly study under the Taliban regime. It was genuine result of our hard work.”

Although he’s far from home, Beaton said they don’t have to completely do without the comforts. That includes satellite TV, meaning they were able to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs, although the time difference meant he would catch the end of the third period as he was heading out for his morning workout.

“Even though the Leafs didn’t make again this year, was rooting for Chicago to win because they were an original-six team,” he stated. “Now we have to make due with playing ball hockey and and watching the world cup . . just not the same.”