Canadian Afghanistan Veteran Tells His Story

Published on 17 Nov 2010
This is a longer version of a piece which ran on NTV Evening News in Newfoundland, Canada, on Nov.12, 2010. It's an illustrated interview with
Donald Hookey, who served with the Canadian Forces for 16 years. After a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2006, Don was suffering from both physical and psychological injuries.
There are currently a number of controversial veterans issues in Canada, including widespread veterans protests against the pension/lump sum disability scheme which the federal government has imposed on vets.
There is also outrage at the non-renewal of Col. Pat Stogran in the position of Veteran's Ombudsman, which he had held for just 2 years.
Stogran was widely seen as a champion for vets issues. The feds are seen as attempting to muzzle him by not renewing his position. These and other grievances were the focus of a nationwide veterans' day of protest on Nov.6/10.
Don Hookey recounts his experiences from the war in Afghanistan, as well as
the somewhat less than stellar treatment he received from the Forces, and the Veteran's Affairs federal bureaucracy, back in Canada after his tour of duty.