Former Peace River resident Charles Savard has recently returned from Afghanistan with a new prospective on life. The Chief Petty officer second class, returned from the eastern country early last month. He says the tour has helped him to gain appreciation for his home country. “It’s even worse than a typical 3rd world country,” says Savard of Afghanistan. “Afghan kids have no shoes, no clothes, and they beg for food when you go by. Most people in our society have homes but they only live in mud huts. We’d watch women sweep their front stoop that was all dirt.” Savard was gone over-seas for seven months, from Feb. 2008 to Oct. 5, 2008. He is based out of Victoria, B.C. where he has worked for 19 years as a 2nd highest non-commissioned rank deep sea clearance diver, and has been in the Navy for 23 years, and his experience out-weighs a number of other army officers. He explains his training involves clearing underwater mine fields and ensuring the safety of off-shore transit. “We clear floating mines from WWII and all the new mines,” says Savard. “Countries still use underwater mines to defend their shores.” Savard is qualified to dispose of bombs, as well. His experience was requested by the Federal Government to help make Afghanistan a safer place to live and work. “I was part of the post-blast investigation team,” says Savard. “We’d investigate sites to see what type of device they were using.” Savard explains part of his job was to find fingerprints and DNA at each scene. Their main objective was to find the responsible bombers. “A couple of other guys from my unit (the bomb squad) have been helping the army since day one of the Afghanistan war,” he says. “Our country has made a decision to go in there and our guys are doing everything they can to help our country and the Afghanistan people.” Savard explains he time in Afghanistan has made his eyes open to the similarity between countries. “I met a lot of good guys from the British, American and Australian armies and have discovered that our training is very similar,” says Savard. “Everyone cares and everybody is trying to help the local nations. There are times when we’ve noticed just how much we’ve helped and how many lives have been saved.” Savard explains despite the arid 45 degree Celsius weather, and the 30 lbs of army gear on their backs, the army’s goal was never forgotten. “Our guys are putting their lives on the line to help our country,” he says. “We’ve been also doing a lot to help the Afghan people including digging wells in small towns and communities for drinking water.” Savard says one of the hardest parts of going to Afghanistan for seven months was leaving his family, consisting of his wife and two children. Originally from Peace River, Savard graduated from Glenmary School. His mother Albertine still lives in Falher at the Villa Beausejour. “I love my work and find it very rewarding,” he explains. Savard is overjoyed to be back in Victoria where he’s spending as much time as possible with family. He says he will never forget all the lessons he learned in Afghanistan.