Bomb expert began armed forces career in the navy Continued from page 1 3 · Friday, March 12, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Clearance Diver, on loan to the army, requires him to go out on multiple bomb calls each day, not hard to believe when one considers that even before Afghanistan's counter insurgency began, the country was considered one of the most heavily-mined places on the planet. While Moulden's bomb disposal exploits could be seen as a Canadian version of the now award-winning film The Hurt Locker, Moulden's mother said he has very little in common with the troubled EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) tech featured in the film. "The guy in the film has a total recklessness about him and a total disregard for his own life and his team's," said Elizabeth. "Patrick takes it very seriously. It's a serious job. You can't be complacent when you are doing something like that." Elizabeth described her son as a very macho person who is into health and fitness. She said he also enjoys the outdoors and loves to go camping with his wife and child in the wilderness surrounding their British Columbia home. Moulden's journey to Afghanistan has been a long one with a number of twists and turns along the way. Born and raised in Hamilton, Moulden showed interest in competitive swimming at an early age after his mother enrolled him in the Hamilton Aquatic Club. Patrick Moulden This interest in swimming eventually turned into a career focus with Moulden joining the Navy. Elizabeth said during her son's assignments in the Persian Gulf, he was often selected, because of his swimming skills, to examine the hull of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to make sure no explosives or other illicit materials were being smuggled through. Over time, searching for explosives yielded to a desire to dismantle them and Moulden received bomb disposal training and becoming a Navy Clearance Diver. While Afghanistan may be a long way from the nearest ocean, Moulden recognized he was needed there and volunteered his services. His deployment began in October and will conclude in April. "It does worry me and I wake up in the night and I think I hear someone at the door, the padre coming with the professionals...it's frightening, but what can you do? You count the days until he comes back," said Elizabeth. "On the other side of that you are very, very proud, immensely proud. The e-mails that I get from him tell me really, really awful stuff, but he says, `Mom, at the end of the day, we're saving lives.'" Elizabeth said the first IED her son tackled was probably one of his most memorable because he needed a shower afterwards. In this incident, she said, Moulden and his support unit were called to an Afghan village where an IED had been found. As they approached the village, the local Taliban became aware of their presence and set off a signal. This was apparently directed at Taliban or Taliban sympathizers in the village. The arriving soldiers found the ditch containing the IED had been quickly flooded with raw sewage. Moulden managed to slosh through the foulness to defuse the IED. However, the incident definitely left its mark on him. "He said it was really one of the most disgusting things he'd ever experienced," said Elizabeth. "He went back to camp and showered in bleach." Moulden has tackled many other bombs and has seen many things since then. Not all of these experiences have been good with Moulden also seeing the grim results of what happens when an IED actually goes off. With all Moulden has seen and done in Afghanistan, Elizabeth admits to being worried he will not return to his wife and child the same person he was when he left. "I do worry about his mental state when he comes home because right now they are living off adrenaline, they have a job to do and they go in and do it," said Elizabeth. "When you come back it's just you and your brain at the end of the day isn't it? Whether you've got your wife, your son, your aunt, your uncle, your mother, your father, at the end of the day when you lay down on the pillow, it is just you with your thoughts. That's the scary part, I think." HEARING AID SPECIAL RETAIL & WHOLESALE LIGHTING * $ From (Clients portion) *Some Conditions Apply 295 ALL for details Offer applies to Oakville OFF* TABLE LAMPS 50% Store only See store *Some exceptions apply Table lamp clearout Up to 3 Year Service Warranty 60 DAY GUARANTEE: If after 60 days we have not provided you with the best hearing possible, we will give you your money back... We are an authorized clinic for DVA, WSIB, and Green Shield clients Call Featuring lighting from Framburg · Corbett · Troy · Hudson Valley Stonegate Designs · Art Craft and much more 905-827-7333 For a FREE Hearing Test. Age 18+ OAKVILLE'S FINEST LIGHTING STORE Now 2 locations to serve you better: Mississauga 5980 McLaughlin Road 905.712.4548 ELEGANT Oakville 243 Speers Road 905.849.LITE (5483) DISTINCTIVE Hopedale Hearing Clinic In Hopedale Mall, next to the CIBC 1515 Rebecca Street, Unit 38, Oakville · 905-827-7333 www.conceptlighting.ca