Legendary American correspondent Ernie Pyle (centre left) with a U.S. Marine patrol during the Pacific campaign in World War II.  (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE)

The first casualty: Media independence

in war

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

It was March 12, 2002, and I was about to embark on my first major combat operation as a war correspondent for The Canadian Press news service in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Stogran, commanding the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI) Battle Group, had assembled his troops for a final briefing prior to Canada’s first-ever helicopter-borne assault.

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More from Front Lines

• The Canadian Press distributes wartime news for troops overseas
• Lost and found: High-flying CP warco survives shoot down
• The Doomsday Clock has never been closer to midnight than it is now

HMCS Victoria arrives at Naval Submarine Base Bangor in October 2004.[WIKIMEDIA]

The last barrier broken

STORY BY PAIGE JASMINE GILMAR

When Canadian women were finally allowed to serve on submarines in March 2001, Vice-Admiral Greg Maddison made it clear that the Canadian navy was just looking for “the right people.”

Even though most positions in the Canadian Armed Forces had been open to women since 1989, submarines had remained operated by only males due to the “cramped conditions” on Oberon-class boats. However, when the CAF acquired four Victoria-class subs in 2001, the more spacious and private vessels allowed Canada to join Norway, Sweden and Australia as one of the first countries to allow women as submariners.

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More from Military Milestones

• The Battle of Paardeberg: a landmark engagement
• The Silver Dart: Canada’s first successful plane and the RCAF
• Cold War continental defence

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