Pte (Vienneau) Hanson rests with full kit in Somalia on UN Peacekeeping Tour 1992.

Somalia, December 1992 to June 1993: Full desert survival supplies are a challenge

Two Highlanders, Corporal Jason (Vienneau) Hanson and Master Corporal Lance Knight, deployed with the Canadian Airborne Regiment to central Somalia as part of an international, US-led coalition whose goals were to enforce peace and bring relief to the famine stricken region. Their contingent was assigned a desolate area, which required them to provide their own water, fuel and rations.

Corporal Hanson takes a brief rest while on patrol near the airhead at Bale Dogle on 28 December 1992.  “We had been dropped in by chopper and told to expect resistance from 10,000 militia. Just CNN was filming. They were there before us,” recalled Vienneau. On patrol he carries the C-7 semi-automatic rifle with 250 rounds, and 70-kg rucksack containing 4 Carl Gustav rounds, 3 days rations and 17 litres of water. Clearly, the rest is well deserved.

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