Tuesday Nov. 10: CDA Institute special Remembrance Week event: Capt (ret'd) Trevor Greene and Capt Kevin Schamuhn

From the event website, all are welcome:

The CDA Institute, in collaboration with the Department of National Defence, is pleased to invite you to a special Remembrance Week event with Captain (ret'd) Trevor Greene and Captain Kevin Schamuhn.

In March 2006, just three months into his deployment to Afghanistan as a Civil Military Cooperation Officer, Canadian Forces Captain Trevor Greene was severely wounded when he was struck by a Taliban axe while participating in a meeting (shura) with village elders. Since this time, Capt Greene's fight to recover - with the support of his fiancé Debbie, friends and family - has been one of strength, compassion and determination. He has overcome enormous obstacles, has been the subject of a Gemini-winning CTV documentary entitled "Peace Warrior" [video here] and has dedicated himself to continue the mission that no man, woman or child is oppressed. Capt Kevin Schamuhn was the Platoon Commander who was with Capt Greene at the time of the incident. Capt Schamuhn's immediate reaction to neutralize the threat and evacuate Capt Greene to medical attention was instrumental in saving his life.

Capt (now retired) Trevor Greene and Capt Schamuhn will be in Ottawa on the day before Remembrance Day, to share their experiences with Canadians as an inspiring story of motivation and healing and to contribute to increasing public awareness of CF veterans and of the role of Canadians aiding to bring stability and development assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Biographies for both Capt (ret'd) Greene and Capt Schamuhn are appended below.

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Time: 9:00am to 10:30am

Venue: NDHQ Warrant Officers' and Sergeants'/Chiefs' and Petty Officers' Mess, 4 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2H9

All are welcome, media included. Registration is free, but mandatory for those wishing to attend - please register online at:

http://remembrance.eventbrite.com

CAPTAIN (RET'D) TREVOR GREENE

A native of Sydney, Cape Breton, Trevor Greene grew up coast to coast depending on where his RCMP officer father was posted. He graduated from the University of King's College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Journalism (Hons). After spending seven years in Japan working as a writer, he returned to Canada and enrolled in the Canadian Forces as a naval officer. During his time in the Navy, he crossed the Pacific on the tall ship HMCS Oriole. In 1999, he moved to Vancouver where he joined the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, a reserve infantry unit. After commanding a Seaforth platoon for two years, he was offered the chance to combine his civilian and military experience with the first Civilian-Military Co-operation unit (CIMIC).

In 2006 he deployed to Afghanistan with the first battalion PPCLI battlegroup. While attending a community meeting, or shura, with village elders outside of Kandahar to discuss the provision of healthcare, roads and clean water for homes and farms, he put aside his weapon and took off his helmet as a sign of trust and respect. During that meeting, a young man struck Trevor on the top of his head with an axe. That is where Trevor's journey of hope and service became one of survival and courage. The story of Trevor's journey has been widely covered by the media including a Gemini award winning documentary, called 'Peace Warrior'.

Trevor has dedicated his life thus far to reaching out to the less fortunate, including volunteer work with the underprivileged and writing projects that sought to draw attention to critical issues. In his early adulthood he worked with Ethiopia Airlift and helped to raise funds for a planeload of supplies for the starving people of Ethiopia; he also participated in World University Service of Canada (WUSC) arranging the sponsorship of African students to attend King's. After graduating from King's he put his journalistic talent to giving a voice to those who had none. He was the first to publish a book on the missing prostitutes of Vancouver: Bad Date: The Lost Girls of Vancouver's Low Track. Further projects included 'Bridge of Tears: The Hidden Homeless of Japan' which was short-listed for a book prize in Japan. Two works currently in development include 'Adrift on the Oggie: By Tallship to Australia' and a narrative of his very difficult ordeal during and after the attack in Kandahar.

Even in the face of his own great difficulties, Trevor seeks to reach out to others and share his very personal message of hope. The same core values that led him to become a CIMIC officer, where he could work on helping Afghan citizens acquire basic needs like food, water and schools, are now leading him to inspire others with his message and example of hope, courage and strength. Trevor was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2009 from King's College in recognition of his social conscience and deep compassion for those in need. Trevor has spent his life thus far seeking to make a difference. He has. And through his courage and the telling of his story, he will continue to do so.

CAPTAIN KEVIN SCHAMUHN

Capt Schamuhn deployed with the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) to Kandahar, Afghanistan on Operation Archer, Rotation 1, from January to August 2006. Serving as Platoon Commander of 1 Platoon, Alpha Company, 1 PPCLI, Capt Schamuhn was responsible for a team of 38 soldiers, four Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV III), two Light Utility Vehicles, Wheeled (LUVW, a Mercedes jeep), and all associated weapons and equipment. Operating in Regional Command (South) - primarily in Kandahar Province - 1 Platoon's mandate was to assist the Afghan government in three areas: security, governance, and reconstruction as well as conduct operations in support of British forces in Helmand Province to the west.

As part of its operations, 1 Platoon deployed with a Canadian Forces Civilian-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) team, whose focus was primarily on reconstruction and humanitarian efforts. Much time was spent visiting with local elders in small villages to discuss pressing regional issues and make recommendations for future operations (ie: Village Medical Outreaches, school construction, government infrastructure, or full on combat operations).

Upon his return to Canada, Capt Schamuhn and his wife, Logistics Officer Capt Annalise Schamuhn, were posted to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown where he remains to date as an Infantry School Standards Officer at the Canadian Forces Combat Training Centre.

Captain Kevin Schamuhn was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and graduated from the Royal Military College in 2001.

More on Capt. (ret'd) Greene here and on Capt. Schamuhn here.