We continue our conversation with three men who were at the Canadian Forces base in Valcartier on that fateful day in July, 1974. Gerry Fostaty was an 18 year old sargeant in the reserves and he was in charge of a platoon at Valcartier. Charles Gutta, was the company Sargeant Major that day and Peter Van Kampen was a 15 year old cadet who was in the room when the hand grenade went off.

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Part Two of The Current

Valcartier Part Two

It was July 30, 1974. Cadets at the Canadian Forces base in Valcartier, Quebec, were gathered for a routine lecture on ordnance safety. They were supposed to be using dummy ammunition. But somehow, a live hand grenade made its way into the mix and went off during the exercise. Six cadets were killed and 54 injured in the resulting blast. Those who lived, won't ever forget it.

We continued our conversation now with three of those men. Gerry Fostaty was an 18 year old sargeant in the reserves that summer, and has recounted that fateful day in his new book As You Were: The Tragedy of Valcartier. Charles Gutta, was the company Sargeant Major that day. And Peter Van Kampen was a 15 year old cadet.

The Current did request an interview with the Department of Defence and we are hoping to speak with someone in the days to come. 

Other segments from today's show:

• Valcartier Part One
• Population Growth & Birth Control