Honouring Peacekeeping and Métis Service: Major (Retired) Darrell Menard Shares His Story in Diary of a Deployed Doc

As Canada prepares to mark National Peacekeeping Day on August 9, Métis veteran Major (Retired) Darrell Menard is using his story to shed light on the realities of deployment through his newly released memoir, Diary of a Deployed Doc.

 

The production of Diary of a Deployed Doc was supported by the Métis Veterans Legacy Program, and the book has been warmly received by readers and military personnel alike, earning five-star ratings on both Amazon and Goodreads.

 

Through his writing, Darrell hopes to foster a deeper appreciation for the challenges faced by Canadian Forces members deployed far from home. “By sharing my story,” he says, “I hope readers will better understand what Canadian Forces personnel experience when they are deployed—especially those tasked with keeping peace in war-torn regions.”

 

The book recounts Darrell’s sudden and unexpected assignment in 1998 as Medical Advisor to the Commander of the Canadian Contingent of NATO’s Stabilizing Force in Bosnia, a war-torn region devastated by conflict. With humour, humility, and heart, Menard offers an unflinching look at the emotional highs and lows of peacekeeping, from moments of camaraderie and laughter to the deep isolation and responsibility of caring for others in a conflict zone.

 

“I found myself woefully unprepared to work in an almost exclusive Army environment,” Darrell writes. “It didn’t take long for me to realize I had a great deal to learn in a very short period of time.” Over the course of his seven-month deployment, Darrell witnessed firsthand the complexities of international peace efforts as well as the human cost of conflict.

 

A lifelong athlete and renown sport medicine physician, Darrell served over 40 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). He currently works as the Surgeon General’s Specialist Advisor in Sport Medicine and as an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing.

 

His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including being named an Officer of the Order of Military Merit, an Officer of the CISM Order of Merit, and induction into multiple Halls of Fame.

 

Diary of a Deployed Doc is available now on Amazon. Printed and packaged in Canada, the book is a meaningful tribute to peacekeeping, military service, and Métis contributions to Canada’s armed forces.

 

The MNO thanks Darrell for his service and for sharing his remarkable story with the community, marsii!