Harold A. Skaarup
Categories: Male Authors - Anglophone Authors - Authors of Non-Fiction - Saint John River Valley
Source: Author / auteur
Biography
Harold Skaarup, BFA, MA, CD, served as an Army Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Forces (CF) for 40 years, retiring in 2011. He was born in Woodstock, NB. He was a member of the CF Parachute Team, the Sky Hawks, and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He deployed on operations with the UN in Cyprus, with the Peace Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with HQ CF Europe and with 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Lahr, Germany. He was on duty with NORAD inside Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, when the 911 attacks occurred. He has been an instructor with the CF Intelligence School and the Combat Training Centre Tactics School in Canada. In 2004, he served with the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan. Following his retirement, he was appointed the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel for 3 Intelligence Company, Halifax, February 2015 to February 2018.
He currently lives in Fredericton, where he enjoys his family time being a grandparent, and serving on the Board of Directors of the Fredericton Region Museum and as a volunteer tour guide with the New Brunswick Military History Museum. He has written a number of books on New Brunswick military history.
How has New Brunswick influenced your work?
My parents, raised in Carleton County, motivated my brothers and I to work hard, study hard, to see the world and to make the most of the opportunities presented to us. I served 40 years with the Canadian Forces, retiring at CFB Gagetown in 2011. I worked as a liaison officer with New Brunswick First Nations and with museums and historical associations in the Maritimes, and continue to volunteer as a guest speaker to help preserve our history.
What is your favourite New Brunswick book, and why?
Marc Milner's book, North Atlantic Run: The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle for the Convoys, Vanwell Publishing Limited, St. Catherine’s, Ontario, 1990 and 2006.
Marc was one of my UNB history professors. I have relied on his books as reference material for many of my own publications. Also, he tells a darn good story!
What do you consider to be the highlight of your career so far?
Serving my country as an Army Officer with deployments to Germany, Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colorado, Afghanistan and here in Canada – proud to have been part of making a difference.
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Literary Prizes |
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| Colonel Commandant's Commendation - 2014 | In recognition of: Shelldrake |
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Featured Publication |
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Cannon in Canada, Province by Province, Volume 1: New Brunswick (2020) |
Excerpt: This first volume of Cannon in Canada is an informative and detailed synopsis of the carefully preserved and restored guns and artillery on display in the province of New Brunswick. The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is represented by a long and distinguished line of gunners with historical ties back to the days before Canada's Confederation. The honour of defending Canada while standing ready to support operations overseas in peace and war continues to this day. It is necessary to remember that the weapons of war are an integral part of what keeps this nation safe. The descriptions of Canadian artillery found here, and the places of honour where they can be viewed, highlights the importance of this essential military hardware that brought our nation forward at key turning points in history when our guns were in use as tools of war at home and overseas. |
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Find this author in the New Brunswick public libraries catalogue.
Source(s): Author.
