What the Thunder Said: Reflections of a Canadian Officer in Kandahar

by John Conrad, Christie Blatchford (Foreword)

By every principle of war, every shred of military logic, logistics support to Canada's Task Force Orion in Afghanistan should have collapsed in July 2006. There are few countries that offer a greater challenge to logistics than Afghanistan, and yet Canadian soldiers lived through an enormous test on this deadly international stage - a monumental accomplishment. Canadian combat operations were widespread across southern Afghanistan in 2006, and logistics soldiers worked in quiet desperation to keep the battle group moving. Only now is it appreciated how precarious the logistics operations of Task Force Orion in Kandahar really were.

What the Thunder Said is an honest, raw recollection of incidents and impressions of Canadian warfighting from a logistics perspective. It offers solid insight into the history of military logistics in Canada and explores in some detail the dramatic erosion of a once-proud corner of the army from the perspective of a battalion commander.

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

John Conrad has served thirty-four years in the Canadian Army. A bestselling author and a former colonel in the Army Reserve, he has authored a number of books and articles on Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, including What the Thunder Said, a Military Book of the Month club selection in 2009. He enjoys reading just about anything but particularly science fiction, military history and hard boiled detective fiction. John Conrad currently resides near Hastings Lake, Alberta.

Reviews

[Kris Carter]

I have been a Sup Tech with the CF for almost 20 years and am very impressed with the research and description related to the Combat Service Support trades and activities that LCol Conrad has written within the pages if this book. While reading the first three chapters I found myself on more than one occasion saying 'Yes, yes, yes!' out loud because he has published the sentiments and plights of being in my chosen field for the army and has stated what I have often thought. Conrad has inadvertently become a champion for all CSS personnel forces wide.

Having served in Afghanistan I can also say that Conrad has effectively captured the essence of the country, mission and emotional response of the soldiers who served there.

For anyone interested in the military this is an excellent read into the logistics of combat. For those who serve within the CSS environment it is a book that should be read and will inspire more pride in what you do. It should be essential reading at RMC and Staff College to further educate the leaders of the CF on how important the tradesmen are to the overall scheme of all our military activities.

[Holly]

This is not only a concise history of Canadian Forces logistics history and an in depth look the Afghanistan logistics mission in particular, but it's also a portent. There's a message in here that needs to be heard by the military leadership, the government of this country and the people who elect them. We can't support our troops if we don't support those who support our troops.

I'm disheartened when I read this book and other books written about Canadian military engagements in the last 30 years (both peace keeping and combat) have led me to believe that we as a country don't honour our men and women of the Canadian Forces enough. We can't ask them and their families to make sacrifices on our behalf with out the proper support in all forms that support needs to take.
#canada150 #readthenorth

[Scott Ormsby]

A book every sustainer should read, though non-sustainers and also civilians will enjoy the clear manner in which it is written. It’s interesting to read a book where you both know and have worked with individuals in the narrative. Paints the challenges of logistics in a combat zone in a very realistic manner, which is great to see given how often people take logistics and sustainment for granted.

Recommended by a peer, which I in turn highly recommend to others as well.