They’re out there folks, and they like to tell the most incredible stories.

We’ll call this fella “Matt the Toronto Manure Spreader”.

• 12 Years of service, including being a Captain in the JTF2.  Multiple deployments to Afghanistan.  After joining JTF2 he was on notice for deployment anywhere in the world and would never spend more than a couple of weeks on leave.  Was in heavy combat operations.  Many of his platoon were killed in action.  

• Killed over 300 people – Insurgents and civilians

• Was given the nickname “Reaper” by his platoon because he “enjoyed killing” and was more than happy to kill anyone that moved while on missions.

• Matt volunteered for 78% of missions because he had nothing to go home to.  The more dangerous the better in his mind.  He explained that most soldiers only volunteer for 16% of missions.

• Was driving an armoured vehicle in Afghanistan when he hit a IED, flipping the vehicle.  His friend was badly injured and he couldn’t help him as they were under sniper fire for 12 hours.  His friend died in his arms before help arrived.  Claimed that this is the reason he didn’t drive – VAC psychologist took his drivers license away for an indefinite amount of time.  In fact he never had a license, only recently obtaining it.  Claimed that the psychologist felt that he was doing better and returned his license to him.

• Conducted joint missions with the US Navy where he swam out of a submarine torpedo tube

• Conducted almost 100 missions via helicopter deployment, rappelled into small arms fire numerous times

• While on patrol witnessed a 5 year old boy running towards him with a suicide vest.  “It was either me or him, and I’m still here”

• Managed to disarm a suicide vest off of several people, including a child

• While in command of a mission, he hesitated and one of his soldiers under his command was killed.  He asked for permission to inform the widow and was granted a flight to Edmonton where he broke the news to her.  She blamed him and he has lived with this guilt for 15 years.  To help ease his guilt he has paid her $150,000 mortgage completely out of his own personal funds…

• Seven of his friends have committed suicide since returning and he is on constant suicide watch.

• Holds the Canadian military record for distance kill via sniper shot when he killed an insurgent in Afghanistan.

• Some days he needs to check in with his VAC psychologist every four hours as his PTSD from his deployments have left him suicidal

• Claimed that a coworker posed a question if he was one of those soldiers that raped women.  Matt became overly emotional to his superiors, required time off from work to deal with his mental health/PTSD.  He was given a week off fully PAID to help cope with his PTSD.

• The faces of everyone under his command that has died in combat haunts him nightly

• On a patrol encountered an entire village where the women had their faces burnt off with acid. 

• Drove tanks in Afghanistan and because of this was given employment building a replica tank for a movie shoot.

• He lays awake at night wondering what happened to the hundreds of women that he saved from Human traffickers.

• On weekends he goes to the VAC and blows off steam with other veterans.  VAC gave him a sponsor to talk to when he felt suicidal.