Flatlanders at home on sea

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/06/2009 (5982 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GULF OF ADEN — There is a saying among the Manitobans on this ship that Prairie dwellers make the best sailors.

The theory is that those who grew up staring at the flatlands somehow are less susceptible to seasickness.

It’s a theory.

"Absolutely," said able seamen Whitney Barham when asked about a flatlander’s capacity to endure rough seas. "I think we’re just tougher somehow. And we have more fun. You get a bunch of Manitobans on the water and you’re going to have a good time."

There are 17 sailors on HMCS Winnipeg who lay claim to being Manitobans, and a host of others, including the ship’s captain, Cmdr. Craig Baines, who have Manitoba roots of one form or another. In Baines’ case, he lived in Winnipeg for eight years and studied English literature at the University of Manitoba.

"My brother and sister still live in Winnipeg," said Baines. "Given my roots, it was very special for me to take over command of the Winnipeg."

At first blush, it may seem unusual for so many Manitobans to be serving in the navy. But then again, it’s no more unusual than a naval warship being named after a landlocked city.

All 12 of the Halifax-class frigates have been named after Canadian cities, a departure from previous generations of warships that were named after bodies of waters such as rivers. Associating the ships with a particular city allows the vessels to take on some of the personality of the namesake community.

All over the Winnipeg, there are signs of its Manitoba connection. The ship’s official logo prominently features a brawny Manitoba bison. The ship itself is festooned with signs and logos. A sign from The Forks can be found on Deck 3, the Winnipeg Police Service logo is displayed on the coxswain’s office door while the logos from Winnipeg Fire Department, Winnipeg International Airport and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are found on various decks. Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose jerseys can also be found in strategic locations.

Perhaps the most dramatic sign is the gigantic bison head that sits high up in the aft helicopter hanger. Some of the ship’s crew who clearly do not understand the critical difference between a bison and a buffalo have nicknamed the furry head "the merfalo." Ship legend has it the trophy head was taken from a half-mermaid, half-buffalo discovered in some exotic sea. The Winnipeg and Manitoba knick-knacks found all over the ship create a sense of homecoming for many Keystone province sons and daughters who long ago moved away.

Warrant officer Kelly Humphreys, the ship’s physician assistant, grew up in Winnipeg’s North End and graduated from Kildonan East high school. He eventually joined the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and studied to be a physician assistant at the University of Manitoba. He was part of PPCLI deployments to Bosnia and Afghanistan before he was offered a chance to ship out on the Winnipeg.

This latest seagoing adventure has been an experience of a lifetime for Humphreys. "It was really just dumb luck that I was brought out for this deployment," Humphreys said. "When I found out it was the Winnipeg, I thought, ‘Wow, this is kind of cool.’"

For other Manitobans, the navy life has been, literally, a lifesaver.

Ordinary seaman David Eaglestick still carries a photo of his former self in the breast pocket of his coarse blue shirt. It shows Eaglestick at his former weight of about 330 pounds. He is currently about 220 and a shadow of his former self.

Born and raised on Sagkeeng First Nation north of Winnipeg, Eaglestick,22, said he was looking for a dramatic change in his life when he enlisted in the navy in October 2007. He got that opportunity at basic training in Quebec.

For eight months, Eaglestick applied himself to remedial fitness training. It allowed him to learn proper nutrition and exercise regimens. Keeping watch on the aft quarterdeck of the Winnipeg, the early morning Indian Ocean sun already beating down, Eaglestick said his life in the navy has been nothing short of a wild adventure.

"I wanted to be a positive role model for aboriginal youth and see the world. I think I’ve been able to do both."

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca