The War Museum Vehicle Curator... Help...

[Scott Bentley]

This has been on my mind my for a while now, and I thought I might ask for some help around here.

The M113A2 Pioneer Dozer that is one of the Vehicle Exhibits at the War Museum in Ottawa was actually my old Section Vehicle (E32C) while I was in my earlier years at 2 CER in Petawawa. I was actually shocked to see that CFR matched up and a few of the usual C/S scribbles inside the back confirmed it was in fact the same one. So i'm officially dated now.

The significance of it is that our Section Driver and close friend of mine was Sgt Shane Stachnik, who was Killed in Action during Op MEDUSA in Afghanistan, September 2006.

Prior to sending the Vehicle to the Museum, it appears to have been sanitized of its correct Unit and Sub-Unit Markings.

I would like to know if it would be possible to get in touch with the Vehicle Curator in order to find out about getting the Troop and Squadron Crests as well as the Unit Tac Signs and its Nickname ("Albino Rhino" its a long story...) put back on the Vehicle and more importantly, have Shanes name marked next to the Drivers Hatch. In addition, i'm going to try and see if I can get a photo of Shane with the Vehicle as well as providing some more specific history of it.

Can anyone help with this?

Scotty B

[Grant Bowker]

Check the museum's Staff Directory at: http://www.museedelaguerre.ca/cwm/cw...taff-directory
I suggest starting with James Whitham, he may suggest other contacts.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Scotty,

I was going to post http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/index_e.aspx?DetailID=19923 but Grant beat me to it.

I´m sure Jim Whitham is interested to hear the background of this vehicle. It would be a fitting tribute to Sgt Stachnik.

Regards,
Hanno

[Scott Bentley]

Thanks for all of the info.

I sent an e-mail off to James regarding this.

Hopefully he is interested.

Scotty B

[Pedr]

G'day Scotty,

Hoping you have good luck with your task, a vehicle with that much provenance should be recognized, and it's history on display and recorded for all time.

Please keep us informed as to how things are going with it, and perhaps someone whom personnally knows James could bend his ear a little about what a good idea this is.

Sgt Shane Stachnik.

Pedr

[Scott Bentley]

Thanks again guys.

I have been contacted by the CWM, and we will be discussing the issue further during the week. Everything sounds promising.

Scotty

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Scotty,

Jim is a really good guy and if you have his ear you're definitely heading in the right direction. When you sit down with them just have your presentation well-prepared and documented in such a fashion as to minimize costs to them (our museums are notoriously underfunded) and I'm guessing this will come to pass sooner rather than later.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Geoff