The Ghosts of Medak Pocket - Part 1

This is the story of brave men of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI) who put their lives on the line to protect Serbian civilians of Medak Pocket from Croat ethnic cleansing and whose noble cause and valiant actions were kept under wraps under the general pressure of anti-Serbian policy.

In 1993, Canadian peacekeepers in Croatia were plunged into the most significant fighting Canada had seen since the Korean War. Their extraordinary heroism was covered up and forgotten. The ghosts of that battlefield have haunted them ever since.

Canadian peacekeepers in Medak Pocket, Croatia, found no peace to keep in September 1993. They engaged the forces of ethnic cleansing in a deadly firefight and drove them from the area under United Nations protection. The soldiers should have returned home as heroes. Instead, they arrived under a cloud of suspicion and silence.

In Medak Pocket, members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry did exactly the job they were trained — and ordered — to do. When attacked by the Croat army they returned fire and fought back valiantly to protect Serbian civilians and to save the UN mandate in Croatia. Then they confronted the horrors of the offensive's aftermath — the annihilation by the Croat army of Serbian villages. The Canadians searched for survivors. There were none.

The soldiers came home haunted by these atrocities, but in the wake of the Somalia affair, Canada had no time for soldiers' stories of the horrific compromises of battle — the peacekeepers were silenced. In time, the dark secrets of Medak's horrors drove many of these soldiers to despair, to homelessness and even suicide.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Medak
• Pocket
• Medacki
• Dzep
• Serb
• Croat
• Serbia
• Croatia

[johnmcnamara403]

I had just found these videos, it was not 16 hours it felt and was closer to 20 hours of hard fighting. I miss some of the people there and have been back 2 times so far.

[Lillymill]

@johnmcnamara403

Thank you for your comment.

It was some Canadian guy from 2PPCLI who referred me to this documentary in the first place.

I'm glad that such brave and honest people were there to oppose these crimes and not let it be swept under the carpet.

I am also sorry that they got to see the worst side of the Balkans.

[TvrtkoPeric]

Can't call taking back what was stolen ethnic cleansing. Did they call it that when the Serbs killed the occupants that they stole the land and dwellings from? No. If the Iroquois killed a bunch of Yankees in the new England states in order to reclaim the land that was taken from them by the yanks would you call that ethnic cleansing? What about Quebecors? Was Oka an attempt at ethnic cleansing? Stupuid one sided Serbian sympathisers.

[Lillymill]

@TvrtkoPeric

How exactly are territorial claims supposed to justify ethnic cleansing?

What is it that was taken in this case, from whom, by whom and when exactly?

[Lillymill]

Ahm, Shpennd, according to your account, youre 22 years old.

I really doubt Croats were recruiting Albanian kids aged 5-9.

So, Scippatore, try using math instead of meth, next time you decide to enlighten the public.

So much for truth and honesty. :P

[avocadodesign]

Canada fired back because the Croatians started it first, then we found a death bed inside that they were hiding. Canadian soldiers came home to zero recognition for their efforts, as the UN is not about firing guns. This is an example of good versus evil. Then Canada found dead children and town people with no weapons. Disgusting.

[culliganator]

I was there. I was in "B" Company.

[UpstairsMaid]

@sthom5 honour to those who wear the ric-a-dam-doo. great honour and love. to my friend Travis Jones shattered by being on the exhumation team. Honour to PPCLI. from a fellow Canadian.

[stefan6175]

There was enough atrocities /murder and rape from all factions in this war Srebs in srebrenica, croats in Medak pocket and so on.. to think otherwise is simply naive. all responsible should be ashamed and will ultimately have to answer for their actions on judgment day. For all the Canadian soldiers, I am so proud fro all that you did in the balkans and the world. It is a real shame that you did not get the recognition and gratitude that Canada owes you for yout sacrifices in the balkans.

[Darwinsmom]

My Dad served with the PPCLI until his retirement. I will always feel a deep connection to our soldiers who wear that hat badge. As a student of forensic anthropology I have a slightly deeper understanding of what you men all witnessed and live with today. You all have made me so very proud to have been born to a former comrade. I served myself for a few years and that just makes me even more proud of you all!

[101dEaThFrOmAbOvE101]

PPCL LEADS THE WAY!

[Jimbo69ism]

To those of you who deny the FACT that the Croatian Army slaughtered Serb civilians, I hope you get your just desserts.

[NikolicaSrb]

@Lillymill

Hail to you champion!