1980 Exchanges

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1980 West Germany Exchange

1980 CFE Flyover

In the 1970s and 1980s, Canada's presence in West Germany included a mechanized brigade group; NATO forces in West Germany were numerous and active, training to defend western Europe against an anticipated invasion by the Warsaw Pact, headed by the Red Army of the Soviet Union. Canada's brigade in Europe was the largest, most highly trained and best equipped military force ever fielded by Canada in peacetime.

In 1980, Sheldon Clare was a 17 year old cadet serving with 2618 Corps (Rocky Mountain Rangers). CFE (Canadian Forces Europe) was, in Sheldon's words:

a plum course for cadets who were selected on the basis of high standing in their province on the "Gold Star" exams. The cadets were treated as full members (soldiers) of the regular infantry section that they were posted in. In my case I was in the first section of 2 Platoon, Mike Company, 3RCR which was call-signed as 12A. We were just like the rest of the guys and pulled all the same duties, good, bad and otherwise as anyone else. In my case, my youthful enthusiasm led to me volunteering to be the Carl Gustav gunner for our section, so sometimes I got to do some of the anti-armour ambush work with my number two. I see in my picture that my sewing leaves a bit to be desired as my flag is well on its way to coming off!

There was always a lot of talk about the "balloon going up' and the threat briefings that we all attended on Warsaw PACT and NATO forces certainly encouraged that sort of chatter. As the song says in those days "... our arms were heavy and our bellies were tight!"

84mm Carl G anti-tank missile launcher (Simon Moussa)

Simon Moussa and Jim Tuttle on the .50 cal HMG (Simon Moussa)

Heidelberg (Simon Moussa)

 Armoured Fall EX (Simon Moussa)

Demerchant & patrol (Simon Moussa)

Moussa on patrol (Simon Moussa)

Vosse, Germany patrol (Simon Moussa)

(Simon Moussa)

Going home aboard CF Boeing 707 (Simon Moussa)