IFOR, A Tragic Loss - A Silver Cross Mother - A Dragoon Connection. A Reflection on Our Time in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Op ALLIANCE Rotation One

On 4 July 1996, 23-year-old Sapper Christopher Holopina, a member of 23 Field Squadron, 2 Canadian Engineer Regiment, was killed while on duty as part of Operation ALLIANCE during the first Canadian deployment to the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In 2023, Mrs. Gloria Hooper – Chris’ mother – was selected as the 2023 National Silver Cross Mother.

Mrs. Gloria Hooper, the 2023 National Silver Cross Mother and her son Sapper Christopher Holopina

So, where is the Dragoon connection?

In December 1995, the advance party of 2 Canadian Multinational Brigade (2 CAMNB) was on the ground looking for garrison locations for its future deployed elements to include Bde HQ supported by a Military Police Platoon, an advanced surgical centre, an armoured reconnaissance squadron, an infantry company, an engineer squadron and a National Support Element.  With a small security force, the Brigade COS LCol Jim Ferron (Dragoon) met up with Maj Jeff Barr (Dragoon), who was already on the ground as a member of the departing UN force, to look for potential garrison sites. These were eventually secured in the war-torn villages of Coralici, Zgon and Velika Kladusa.

To track the Dragoon connection to the Silver Cross Mother, one must first have a look at the site in the village of Zgon, which garrisoned the RCD Reconnaissance Squadron, led by the OC Major Lowell Thomas and the SSM, MWO Denis Levesque, a company group from 2 RCR and 2 CER’s 23 Fd Sqn, Chris Holopina’s home.

The RCD Reconnaissance Squadron with the Brigade Commander in Camp Zgon, Bosnia-Herzegovina - 1996.

As any Dragoon will tell you, the camaraderie between Troopers and Sappers is very close on operations as each depends upon the other for their livelihood and day to day security.  This was the case with Chris Holopina where his death weighed heavily on all Dragoons in theatre, in particular given that Chris was six days from redeploying home after his third operational tour, the previous two being Cyprus in 1992/93 and Croatia 1993/94. As the personal log maintained by then Capt Perry Wells (Dragoon) at HQ 2 CAMNB indicated, Chris was involved in a vehicle accident while on their way to help rescue a group of British soldiers stranded in a mine field – Chris was part of the 23 Fd Sqn “Hot Team” tasked with responding to EOD incidents.  Chris’ Bison Armoured Vehicle left the road near the village of Ripac to avoid an accident and careened down a ravine, rolling over and killing Chris - who was in the air sentry hatch - and wounding several other crew members.  Chris was the first Canadian to give his life in Bosnia during the IFOR mission and the only casualty during this, the first IFOR tour.

Bde HQ worked hard to secure the accident site deploying additional engineer and medical assets while initiating the requisite MP investigation and coordinating the extraction of Chris’ remains. The latter was largely managed by the Brigade’s G4 team while the remainder of the HQ staff, including LCol Jim Ferron and fellow Dragoons Captains Perry Wells and Ray Ruckpaul worked hard to coordinate overall security and extraction events.  It should be noted that then Colonel Rick Hillier - Dragoon - was the brigade’s Deputy Commander who supported the Brigade Commander in providing the guidance and leadership required by all during this very challenging mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The impact of Chris’ death weighed heavily on all to include the Brigade Commander, BGen Bruce Jeffries (8CH).  So, when Chris’ mother Mrs. Gloria Hooper was selected to be the 2023 National Silver Cross Mother, General Jeffries relived the memories of that day in 1996 while sharing in the pride that Gloria felt in honour of her son Christopher. On the day of Mrs. Hooper’s appointment General Jeffries, with the support of the Canadian Legion, the Engineer Branch and this Dragoon, put in place a plan to host a brunch at the Chateau Laurier in honour of Gloria and her son Chris.  In addition to Gloria, the following attended the event: Ms. Ashley Holopina - Gloria's daughter, MGen (Retired) Bruce Jeffries (8 CH), MGen Martin Gross-Jean (Chief Military Engineer), MGen (Retired) Jim Ferron (RCD) and CWO Darrel Jones (CME Branch CWO). General Jeffries had maintained a photo log of our time in theatre and he took the initiative to create a wonderful scrapbook of the mission to include images of all involved, but highlighting the exploits of 23 Fd Sqn and by extension Gloria’s son Chris.  You can only imagine the reaction of a woman who lives in a small French town of St. Claude, Manitoba and was born and raised in a family farm in Shell Valley Manitoba as we all reviewed the photos. Clearly tears of pride and remembrance flowed, and not just from Gloria.  Eventually Bruce had the scrapbook professionally produced and sent a copy to Gloria as a tribute to her son Chris.

While this missive is largely about the Dragoons’ connection with the National Silver Cross Mother, I would be remiss not to reflect upon the RCD Recce Sqn’s in-theatre tasks –through a series of images – taken in Bosnia-Herzegovina from January to July 1996:

Route Reconnaissance.

Vital Point Security.

Conflict Resolution.

VIP Escorts.

Traffic Control.

Support to Bridging Operations.

Support to Engineering and EOD Operations.

Economy of Force Missions.

Garrison Security and Vehicle Maintenance.

Brigade Military Skills Competition.

“Just Another Fine Day to be a Dragoon”.

Let there be no mistake, we the living aren’t pining for compliments or hoping to garner your pity. No, it is much simpler than that. Soldiers retired and otherwise, just want respect. So, during your period of self-reflection think of those who served in this country’s armed forces. If afterwards you happen to bump into a sailor, soldier, or air force member I would humbly request you look them in the eye, shake their hand and say: “thank-you for your service. ”In closing the IFOR mission was a success, marred only by the tragic loss of Sapper Christopher Holopina.  However, Chris’ memory lives on through the hearts and minds of all Dragoons who shared the battle space of Bosnia-Herzegovina with him in 1996.  Our connection with Chris remains strong through his Mother the former National Silver Cross Mother, who continues to represent mothers across Canada who have lost a child to military service.  Gloria said to me and to those that were listening … “Chris always said, if I die, I want to be in a soldier’s uniform”.

“Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.  
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”

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