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Hey there. Ex-Gunner..75-81.
In 1981 after my return to Camp Shilo Manitoba from Lahr Germany I was told I had 6 months till my medical release kicked in. I was shocked. There was no warning, other than a medical condition that had been on going since my enlistment.
The reason for my release was Hemophilia. I was never diagnosed previously to joining the Army and on my entrance physical they said I was in A-1 shape for the military.
Hemophilia is a genetically blood clotting disorder you are born with and can't acquire any other way. My parents never knew.
I received a sports injury in basic that sidelined me for a while and the doctors there were a bit baffled as to why my injury took so long to heal.
I received my posting to Shilo after cornwallis and things were going well............then another minor injury that took a long time to heal. Now, the army had on my file, unresolved medical issues no over-seas postings. I know this because I volunteered for Islamabad and was refused. A few months later they asked if anyone wanted to go to Lahr W\Germany..I again volunteered and was accepted...Note that my medical condition that they knew about was still unresolved and apparently I shouldn't have gone over-seas with that status..
While in Germany I got in a horrific 5-ton accident and again damage in my leg, and knee took ages to heal...They did more tests and decided I had some blood problem that they thought was von-willibrands disease..A blood disorder similar to Hemophilia..Anyway...months later my 4 year tour was up and I got re-patted back to Shilo...And thats where I was told, Bombadier Gillman, your on a medical discharge effective 6 months...
Shocked, I started to find out how I could fight this discharge...I saw many doctors, civilian and military in Winnipeg..To the man they all said yes you have Hemophilia but not severe. You could re-muster into ANY trade other than combat arms...The army refused to give me remuster..I was getting the feeling I was being fast tracked out...They realized that I should never have been admitted into the Forces and that they were probably liable if anything happened and this came to light..Also, I should never have been posted over-seas with a un-resolved medical condition...Dang, back then they wouldn't even ship you out with a cavity till it was fixed...
No matter how hard I fought, no matter how many doctors forms I had stating that I was totally employable the army wouldn't listen..
After my release, which I never received a medical pension for..they said I had my problem before I joined so they were not liable for that..Nice.
I went through the pensions advocacy program but again was turned down for a pension, or a chance to re-inlist in another trade..
I wrote letters to politicians, got all my medical docs sent to me, basically tried everything I knew...
Years later I heard about the Human Rights Commission..I told them my story and was told I had a very good case against the Military.....but........I had waited to long and the statute of limitations had run out..basically saying, "if you had contacted us 2 years earlier we would have resolved this case". I was so frustrated, one no one told me about the Human rights commission earlier, and 2, I felt the Military were hiding behind trivial legalities to avoid owning up to their responsibilities....
I've since developed Hepatitis C from tainted blood I received through one of my blood product needs..I'm unable to work due to the sever side-effects I have and now Ive been told I have Chirosis of the Liver...
This will sound melodramatic but I have always felt abandoned by my Country because of this. I was willing to die for Canada during the height of the cold-war. I was considered a front line soldier in the event of war for 4 years.....I considered that a tremendous honor and didn't regret a moment of my time in Lahr..
Then to have the Army deny me re muster and a pension..then to rub salt into the wound by saying, well it's not our responsibility you did have this condition before you joined.......was just too much.
They endangered my life by posting me over-seas into a potential front line situation with a un-resolved medical condition...They told me at the recruit physical I was in excellent shape...etc, etc....
I probably sound bitter and angry..and I guess to a small degree I still am...but believe me not nearly as frustrated as I once was....
At times I still can't believe the Canadian Government didn't step up to the plate for me on this one...
Stuff happens in life..I realize that, but if I owed the Government something they sure as all get out would make sure I payed up...
Anyway, just curious if this has happened to anyone else and what was the outcome...
Thanks for reading...
In 1981 after my return to Camp Shilo Manitoba from Lahr Germany I was told I had 6 months till my medical release kicked in. I was shocked. There was no warning, other than a medical condition that had been on going since my enlistment.
The reason for my release was Hemophilia. I was never diagnosed previously to joining the Army and on my entrance physical they said I was in A-1 shape for the military.
Hemophilia is a genetically blood clotting disorder you are born with and can't acquire any other way. My parents never knew.
I received a sports injury in basic that sidelined me for a while and the doctors there were a bit baffled as to why my injury took so long to heal.
I received my posting to Shilo after cornwallis and things were going well............then another minor injury that took a long time to heal. Now, the army had on my file, unresolved medical issues no over-seas postings. I know this because I volunteered for Islamabad and was refused. A few months later they asked if anyone wanted to go to Lahr W\Germany..I again volunteered and was accepted...Note that my medical condition that they knew about was still unresolved and apparently I shouldn't have gone over-seas with that status..
While in Germany I got in a horrific 5-ton accident and again damage in my leg, and knee took ages to heal...They did more tests and decided I had some blood problem that they thought was von-willibrands disease..A blood disorder similar to Hemophilia..Anyway...months later my 4 year tour was up and I got re-patted back to Shilo...And thats where I was told, Bombadier Gillman, your on a medical discharge effective 6 months...
Shocked, I started to find out how I could fight this discharge...I saw many doctors, civilian and military in Winnipeg..To the man they all said yes you have Hemophilia but not severe. You could re-muster into ANY trade other than combat arms...The army refused to give me remuster..I was getting the feeling I was being fast tracked out...They realized that I should never have been admitted into the Forces and that they were probably liable if anything happened and this came to light..Also, I should never have been posted over-seas with a un-resolved medical condition...Dang, back then they wouldn't even ship you out with a cavity till it was fixed...
No matter how hard I fought, no matter how many doctors forms I had stating that I was totally employable the army wouldn't listen..
After my release, which I never received a medical pension for..they said I had my problem before I joined so they were not liable for that..Nice.
I went through the pensions advocacy program but again was turned down for a pension, or a chance to re-inlist in another trade..
I wrote letters to politicians, got all my medical docs sent to me, basically tried everything I knew...
Years later I heard about the Human Rights Commission..I told them my story and was told I had a very good case against the Military.....but........I had waited to long and the statute of limitations had run out..basically saying, "if you had contacted us 2 years earlier we would have resolved this case". I was so frustrated, one no one told me about the Human rights commission earlier, and 2, I felt the Military were hiding behind trivial legalities to avoid owning up to their responsibilities....
I've since developed Hepatitis C from tainted blood I received through one of my blood product needs..I'm unable to work due to the sever side-effects I have and now Ive been told I have Chirosis of the Liver...
This will sound melodramatic but I have always felt abandoned by my Country because of this. I was willing to die for Canada during the height of the cold-war. I was considered a front line soldier in the event of war for 4 years.....I considered that a tremendous honor and didn't regret a moment of my time in Lahr..
Then to have the Army deny me re muster and a pension..then to rub salt into the wound by saying, well it's not our responsibility you did have this condition before you joined.......was just too much.
They endangered my life by posting me over-seas into a potential front line situation with a un-resolved medical condition...They told me at the recruit physical I was in excellent shape...etc, etc....
I probably sound bitter and angry..and I guess to a small degree I still am...but believe me not nearly as frustrated as I once was....
At times I still can't believe the Canadian Government didn't step up to the plate for me on this one...
Stuff happens in life..I realize that, but if I owed the Government something they sure as all get out would make sure I payed up...
Anyway, just curious if this has happened to anyone else and what was the outcome...
Thanks for reading...