Northern News Services
 Jack Heath, 69, in the living room of his Inuvik home. He holds a graduation photo of his son, James, a naval officer who will serve in the American-led strike on Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network and ruling Taliban targets in Afghanistan. - Lynn Lau/NNSL photo |
Cmdr. James Heath captains HMCS Vancouver, a navy Halifax class patrol frigate. The warship has been ordered to join an American aircraft carrier task force.
His wife Lorri lived in Inuvik from 1967 until 1978. She said Heath is very proud that his ship was chosen to take part in "Operation Apollo."
"We're very proud of my husband and his ship," she said over the telephone from her home in Victoria, B.C.
"It's a very proud moment."
Heath comes from a naval family and has many relatives in the Northwest Territories.
His father, Jack Heath, served 21 active years in the navy and his uncle Thomas Heath, is a retired rear admiral who served in the Persian Gulf War. Heath's two great-grand-uncles were also in the navy -- both reaching the rank of admiral in Great Britain's Royal Navy.
These days, Jack, a notary public and accountant in Inuvik, spends a lot of time watching the news on CNN and listening to the radio. Two decades in the navy doesn't stop him from worrying about his son.
"We don't normally send our kids to war," he said. "Everybody says no problem, he's on a ship. But ships sink too. I know he'll be careful. He's a good commanding officer."
Lorri and Jim were sweethearts at Samuel Hearne high school and married in 1982. They have three children, aged 13, 11 and eight. They had planned to visit Inuvik this summer, but were unable to make it here.
Lorri's father, Glen Bennett, was also in the military and retired in Inuvik. He owned the movie theatre there from 1972 until 1982.
Jim Heath took command of the Vancouver in 1999. He has served aboard several other ships, and from 1997 until 1999 was executive assistant to the chief of staff, supreme allied commander Atlantic, in Norfolk, Va.
Heath's ship was on exercises with the U.S. Navy last week. It is expected to return to home port in Esquimalt, B.C. this week.
It's then expected to head out for the Arabian Sea.
Attempts to contact Heath were unsuccessful.
HMCS Vancouver
- Crew of 224
- Second ship of 12 Halifax-class patrol frigates.
- Weapons include ship and helicopter-launched torpedoes, anti-aircraft missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
- It is 134.1 metres long and is can reach speeds exceeding 28 knots.
- Carries one Sea King helicopter.
- The Canadian patrol frigate is the only class of ship in the world that has been fully integrated into an American battle group.
