Two for one
A monument that Nick created to commemorate Indigenous people who died in service during the first and second world wars features his very own helmet from the Vietnam War. Nick was a war correspondent in Vietnam in 1972. The monument was on display at Veterans Affairs Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Courtesy: Nick Huard)
Story told by Nick Huard
I’ve been shot at, got a bullet right in my shoulder.
I just got a piece of a Jeep windshield taken out of my face after 50 years. They took the cancer out and while they were at it, they thought they may as well take the windshield out. Two for one - special at the Jewish General.
The Jeep I was riding in ‘Nam got hit by mortar, then “kaboom”. All I remember is a white flash and waking up to them closing the body bag.
I was clinically dead.
I woke up, had my dog tag in between my teeth, I had another tag on my toe and was short of a boot. The medic that was closing the bag fainted because I had had no pulse, no heartbeat.
I’ve been killed three times, clinically dead. But hell doesn’t want me yet.
Tetsá:ron ne énska ia’ká:ienhte’
Nick Huard roká:raton
Ionkwarontá:ton, wa’onkwarón:tate’ khnenhsà:ke.
Ken’ nahè:’a sahonnetáhko’ ne Jeep aotsísera’ ne kkonhsà:ke wá:tahkwe’. Wa’ontia’tà:rene’ tanon’ é:ren wahatihá:wihte’ ne takwa’áhson, tánon’ tsi nikarì:wes ne tho nihontiéhrha’, wahón:nehre’ sha’tekarihò:ten’ aonsahonnetáhko’ notsísera’ í:wa ne kkonhsà:ke. 50 niiohserá:ke tho shí:wa.
Tetsá:ron sahonnetáhko’ ne énska ia’ká:ienhte’ ne Jewish General tsi tehshakotitsèn:tha’.
Mortar ionttatakwahtáhkhwa’ ia’tiaón:ko’ ne Jeep tsi ionkwahonwì:sere ne ‘Nam nón:we, sok “kaboom”. Thok ní:kon kè:iahre’ karà:ken ní:ioht wa’tiohswáthe’ne’ tánon’ tsi ó:nen sátie’, ratinón:tekskwe’ ne ká:iare’ tsi nón: nitià:ti.
Ratétsen’ts rorihwahnirá:ton tsi wakiheiòn:ne’.
Sátie’ tánon’ tsi tekenawiró:ken tho iohròn:ne’ nakwá:wen dog tag, nok ó:ia’ kahiakwirà:ke tekahwanerèn:ne’ tánon’ énska tewakarahtahko’ktá:ni. Wa’ako’nikonhráhton’ ne teiónthsnie’ tsi wa’enón:teke’ ne ká:iare’ ase’kénh, iah ki’ thé:nen tha’teiaonriáhkhwahkwe’ nakwé:ri.
Áhsen nia’ká:ienhte wa’kíheie’, ratétsen’ts rorihwahnirá:ton tsi wakiheiòn:ne’. Onéhson ki’ áro’khe tha’tehakwatonhwentsó:ni.
Translation by Katsenhaién:ton Lazare