SYDNEY, N.S. — Four Cape Breton men are spending their Christmas and New Year's on the sea between Africa, Asia and Europe.
Deployed on Operation Reassurance aboard the HMCS Halifax in the Mediterranean Sea, Cpl. Patrick McLeod, Petty Officer Second Class Craig MacLean, Master Cpl. William Robert King and Leading Seaman Matthew O'Brien are spending Christmas away from family and friends. But they are hoping everyone knows the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Armed Forces servicemen are thinking of everyone back home.
"Happy holidays to my parents, Roy and Elaine, and all my friends and family back on the island," wrote MacLean who is from Boisdale and a member of the Royal Canadian Navy.
King, a Christmas baby, celebrated his 40th birthday as well as the holiday aboard the ship this year.
"I would like to wish my family and friends a Merry Christmas and a happy new year," wrote the Glace Bay native who has been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for 17 years.
JOINED AT A YOUNG AGE
Like King, McLeod has been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for 17 years, joining the reserves when he was 16 and still in high school. The 33-year-old from Coxheath then became a medic with the 35 field ambulance in Sydney in January 2007 and joined the regular force in 2009.
"Happy holidays to my son Peter, parents Ken and Germaine, grandparents Binner and Gina, and all my extended family on the island," he wrote.
"This is my first deployment away from home during the holidays. It is hard to be away from family, however, I am grateful and proud for the deployment opportunity."
Equally as proud of Patrick's deployment and decision to pursue a career with the Canadian Armed Forces is his father, Ken.
Telling the Cape Breton Post how his son's interest in joining the armed forces after a job fair at the former MacLellan Junior High School in Westmount, Ken said at first he thought it was a passing interest.
"You know how kids are. I thought it was something that caught his attention (for that moment). But he had it in his mind then and he's never let it go," Ken said during a phone interview from his Coxheath home.
"I think it's great (he joined the forces). I think it's wonderful. There's nothing better, in my opinion, than a young man wanting to start a career in the forces, any of them - the army, the navy, the police service, fire departments."
Patrick isn't the only man in his family who's served in the Canadian Armed Forces. His grandfather George McLeod did and stayed in the reserves after he retired. Great-uncles on his mother's side of the family also served and although Ken didn't, he was a sea cadet from age 12 until he graduated from high school.
"It's a great starting point for anybody if they're willing to take a little discipline," Ken said.
OPERATION REASSURANCE
Started in 2014, Operation Reassurance is a NATO initiative that is part of their defence strategy focusing on deterrence. The Canadian Armed Forces is one of the Allied countries that participate in this operation, which takes place on land, sea and air.
Up to 915 Canadian Armed Forces members are deployed on Operation Reassurance at any given time since it started. Currently on the HMCS Halifax, there are 240 naval and army personal, and the ship operates in conjunction with NATO.
According to the Department of National Defence's website, there are also 135 Royal Canadian Air Force, with five CF-188 Hornet aircraft, helping with air policing.
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