War veteran says Canada has best trained military in the world
By Liz Dadson

Heritage

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Bill Krasinski (L) shares a laugh with guest speaker Charles Mann

Contrary to what people may think in the United States, Canada has the best trained military in the world.

That's the word from Charles Mann of Kincardine, a veteran of the Second World War, who continues his association with his comrades in the former First Canadian Special Service Battalion and with the current Canadian Special Operations Regiment.

Recently, he even had an award named after him which is presented annually to soldiers for exemplary service.

Speaking to the men's group at Kincardine Baptist Church, Mann says it's vital that young people recognize the importance of serving their country as so many Canadian soldiers are doing in Afghanistan.

"I've been to the schools in this area, talking about military actions and war history," says Mann. "It's not communicated very well in the schools. A lot of us enjoy going out and talking to students. The Canadian Defence Institute in Toronto has contacts if schools are looking for a speaker."

He says the results are positive when veterans tell students what it was like to be in the war. "Children are so curious," he says. "They ask a lot of questions. I don't want to talk about how many people I killed or wounded. I really don't know how many, if any. I was a night fighter. I used a machine gun, a .45-calibre which has a big bullet. It was a powerful machine and could do a lot of damage in a big hurry. It took people out."

Mann was never seriously wounded, but suffered hearing loss and, as a paratrooper, he damaged his knee and hip.

"I suffered more damage to my clothes," he says. "One time, I got partially across a field and the enemy fired an air burst. I was wearing a parka and the whole back of it looked like it had been hit by BBs. The shrapnel had burned holes all over it."

Born in Port Hope in 1922, Mann was a Depression-era kid. "You took what jobs you could," he says. "I delivered milk from 3-8 a.m. for 25 cents a day, and in the afternoon I delivered the Toronto Telegram for 1.5 cents a paper." His father died in 1933 and he and his mother and brothers struggled through the years.

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At the age of 17, he joined the militia and was sent into war in 1940 where he served for six years.

Looking back at his time in Europe, he recalls one humorous moment. "While in the militia, we had to go to the firing range every Sunday afternoon," he says. "We were training on an anti-tank rifle, a huge weapon, and it was my turn to fire this big gun. I stepped up on the firing area, loaded the gun with a single .50-calibre shot, and fired it. It backed me up about a foot and my shoulder hurt badly. So, I bought a box of feminine pads. I put three of the pads on my shoulder and that took care of the ‘give’ on the gun."

Those huge anti-tank rifles are now used by snipers to kill the enemy from two kilometres away, he says. "You have the best trained military in the world."

Mann was part of the Canadian contingent of the United States Special Services Force, commonly known as the "Devil's Brigade." We were called the "Black Devils" by the enemy because we did a lot of our work at night and they couldn't see us," he says. "We covered our faces and hands and the metal on our weapons so we couldn't be seen at all."

The force was given a mission to parachute into an area and blow up the power plants, but there was a transportation problem, says Mann. The airforce had no way to get the paratroopers back after they had jumped, so the job was cancelled.

However, he was with the troops during major invasions in 1943 and then they were called to Italy where they fought in the mountains and then lived on the ground at Anzio Beach for 99 days. They captured Rome in June 4, 1944, but it was overshadowed by D-Day on June 6 when the Allies invaded southern France, and the war was over.

In December, 1944, the Special Services Force was disbanded and Mann stayed in Britain as an instructor for awhile. In fact, he was going to remain in that country but decided to return to Canada.

In 1946, he was honourably discharged as a sergeant and went to work for a firm in Oshawa, but it closed two weeks later due to a strike. Then, he heard about an opportunity at Chalk River and was hired in the nuclear industry. He worked at five different power plants, including the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, until he retired as a licensed first operator in 1987. He was married to June for 60 years, and has two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Civically minded, Mann served on Kincardine council from 1970-74 and again in 1977-80; and,, then as the town's mayor from 1981-88 and 1992-97. He also belonged to the Masonic Lodge, the Lions Club and the Probus Club, is a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion and was featured on the History Channel, telling of his war experiences while visiting in Italy.

"One of my main interests in life now is the military," says Mann. "I was made an honourable member of the Canadian Special Services Force and I am the Canadian liaison officer between the association and the Canadian military."

He has returned to Europe several times over the years and, in 1986, Mann went to Anzio Beach, Italy, and found the foxhole where he was stuck for 99 days. That area is now a beautiful resort.