Ep. #239. John Barnes, Veteran & Author of "White School-Black Memories"

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All profits go to Homes 4 Heroes, housing homeless Veterans.

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Chief Warrant Officer John Barnes was born in the great province of Newfoundland and joined the Canadian Forces in 1981. He completed his basic training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia and then made his way to London, Ontario, where he completed his basic Infantry training within the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1RCR).

On graduation from Basic Infantry Training, he was posted to 1RCR as a rifleman. Less than a year later, he requested and was granted a posting to 3RCR in Baden, Germany, where he remained as part of the NATO Defence Force for Europe until 1984 when he moved with the battalion to Winnipeg, Manitoba, becoming part of the Army of the West. While in Winnipeg, he completed his Infantry Section Commanders Course at the Battle School in Wainwright and was appointed to the rank of Master Corporal in 1985.

In 1988, he returned to Baden, Germany, with 3RCR where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and remained with the Battalion until 1992. He was then posted to 2 Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron Petawawa, as the Operations and Training Sergeant. In 1996, he returned to Petawawa and to1RCR, where he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and served as the Platoon Warrant Officer and Company Quartermaster Sergeant until his posting to Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford in 1999. While in Meaford, he was responsible for numerous jobs including running the basic Infantry Courses, and setting up and conducting the new Soldiers Qualification Course.

He was posted back to 1RCR in 2003 and shortly thereafter was promoted to the rank of Master Warrant Officer, becoming the Company Sergeant-Major for Charles Company. In 2007, he was posted to 3RCR as the Battalion Drill Sergeant-Major and in 2009, was posted to Land Force Doctrine and Training System in Kingston, Ontario, as the Headquarters Sergeant-Major. Master Warrant Officer Barnes was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in March 2010 and posted to Joint Task Force X in Kingston as the Unit Chief Warrant Officer. He was posted to Ottawa in 2013 as the first non-Military Policeman to be selected as the Canadian Forces Military Police Group Chief Warrant Officer. In 2016 he was posted into the Canadian Army HQ as the Chief for the Canadian Army Soldier Care Unit.

Chief Warrant Officer Barnes has served in operations in Cyprus, the Persian Gulf, Croatia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan and has been awarded the Sacrifice Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Member of the Order of Military Merit.

CWO Barnes recently had a book published, “ White School Black Memories” which has been on Amazon #1 Best Seller list for two weeks. The Book is his story of Operation Medusa in 2006 in Afghanistan.

He has been married to his wife Julie for 33 plus years, and has two children, John a tech with the federal government and Jana a proud member of the Canadian Military Police. Julie and John are now blessed with two wonderful grandsons, Noah and Theo.