Evidence of meeting #84 for National Defence in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Cpl Glen Kirkland
Okay. When I came to, I was on fire and had to pull myself out of my vehicle.
Conservative
Cpl Glen Kirkland
By land. I had to pull out some of the deceased members, and then put tourniquets on and give first aid. Then we were thrown in the back of a light armoured vehicle and driven to the closest base while doing first aid on the deceased members.
Conservative
Cpl Glen Kirkland
Not with me.
Then once we got to the base.... Well, after I heard my name over the radio as deceased and asked everyone to make sure I was still alive.... They dropped the ramp in the base and we all kind of stumbled out. Then it was my turn to have first aid done on me. I was still actually smouldering at the time. My breathing was affected, so they had to put tubes down my nose. They threw me on an American helicopter and flew me to Role 3, where they continued to do first aid. They got me stable. My burns were pretty bad. The padre came in and told me all my friends were dead. That's when I got to talk to my dad.
From there, I was supposed to be flown to Germany, but at the last minute someone thought it would be a better idea...instead of going to get medical treatment, it might be better to go to the funerals, so they flew me directly back to Canada. I was too messed up to go to those funerals, I'll tell you that, mostly because I still had shrapnel all through my body and was burned. So I could make it to two of the three funerals.
Conservative
Cpl Glen Kirkland
Different places. One was in Winnipeg, Mike Seggie's, and then Chad Horn's was out in Calgary.
After I got back from—I was in a wheelchair most of the time. I could kind of walk. Once I got back to Winnipeg from Calgary, from the last funeral, I was standing at the airport and no one was there—I was trying to stand at the airport, I should say. I felt like that was one of the biggest.... That was a huge slap in the face. I phoned the base and they told me to hold tight for five hours until someone got there. I said, “Screw this, I'm taking a limo home and I'm sending you the bill.” That's exactly what I did.
Then from there, I got home and I was actually forgotten about. I couldn't drive. I could barely walk. My fiancée at the time was spending more time with her boyfriend. I had to get a cab driver to pick me up and drive me to Shilo, where he helped carry me in—he physically carried me in. I had to explain to the base hospital that I was hit with a rocket over in Afghanistan, because they didn't know anything about it. Then I started all that from there.
I documented it, because the first six times I went to the base hospital I saw six different doctors. I'm used to talking about it now, but it was extremely difficult to explain to the doctor what it's like to be lit on fire and...over and over and over again.
Conservative
Chris Alexander Conservative Ajax—Pickering, ON
Thanks for that.
Can I ask one last question, Mr. Chair?
Conservative
Chris Alexander Conservative Ajax—Pickering, ON
We're all concerned about the failure to meet your needs, which you have described, and the ineligibility for any kind of disability payment, if I've understood you correctly, probably strikes us as the most serious failure of the system.
Have you applied for disability under SISIP, and were you declared eligible, ineligible, or is that under review in any respect? Have any non-governmental organizations that are involved in the care of the ill and injured, that are trying to raise funds—Soldier On, Shoulder to Shoulder, any of those funded by True Patriot Love or other organizations—contacted you and have they been of any service?
Cpl Glen Kirkland
Because I'm still in the army, I'm not entitled to any of that, which isn't a big deal, because I'm still getting paid, so I'm not worried about that.
The biggest thing is that I'm 29 years old and I have no idea what my future holds. They always say, “Wait until you're released, then we'll tell you what you're entitled to.” But that's not fair. I have no idea what SISIP would offer me. I'm not saying they wouldn't, but no one knows. Veterans Affairs can't tell me anything because I still fall under.... There has to be a way to bridge that gap or bridge that communication to at least inform you: this is what you're going to get when you're released; this is what will happen. No one is telling us anything. No one is telling me. I guess I'm not allowed to talk. I was told to mind my arcs.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The irony of waiting until you're released to find out what you're entitled to.... I was watching the folks behind you, and they were all nodding in agreement.
Corporal Kirkland, prior to appearing before this committee, did you receive a call from your commanding officers?
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Could you describe to the committee the nature of the call, and who was on the call?
Cpl Glen Kirkland
I almost didn't come to speak today. I got a phone call, because I am still a serving member, and I was very intimidated. I was told to report to Shilo right away and, to quote them, “Get a fucking haircut.”
It's devastating, you know? The reason I am talking here right now is because of a sergeant-major whose son died in my vehicle. I received a phone call. His name is Jim Seggie. He used to be in charge of the JPSU. He said, “Do you know what, Glen? Do what's the right thing.”
Canada doesn't know that its wounded soldiers don't get pensions. I was so intimidated, and I felt bullied. And now I'm going to have to go back and I'm going to have to get a fucking haircut.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
So you were asked to return to base and not appear before this committee. Is that correct?
Cpl Glen Kirkland
They didn't say “Do not speak”, but they said they wanted e-mail confirmations that I was invited here. They wanted to know exactly what I was going to say.
In the past, I was told by higher-ups to go through with my real estate. No one expected me to be a success. Once I was, I was called in and told that I was going to be 5(f)'d, which is a dishonourable discharge, even though I was only trying to set myself up for success, because, quite frankly, there is no support net there. There are only question marks.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
You were asked to stay within the arc. What does “within the arc” mean?
Liberal
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
No, being within the arc. I hope it doesn't mean anything for a marksman.
