Born: June 25, 1946
Place of Birth: Denekamp, Holland
Major Notes:
Romeo Dallaire was born in Holland where his father was in the Canadian services.
At 14, he joined the Canadian army cadets and in 1964 entered the Canadian military.
Moving up the ranks, he was chosen in 1993 to lead the United Nation forces in Rwanda, Africa.
Romeo Dallaire is most noted for his unsuccessful efforts in preventing genocide in Rwanda between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes.
The United Nations turned down his urgent pleads for more troops to disarm Hutu militias that were intent on butchering thousands of Tutsis.
United States refused to block Hutu communications that were calling for the slaughter of the Tutsis.
An estimated 800 thousand to one million Tutsis were killed in 1994 over a period of only a few weeks.
Dallaire had scant troops to stop the killings as the UN cut his force from 3000 to 500, however, his command is credited with saving as many as 20,000 Rwandans from certain death.
In hindsight, Romeo Dallaire's requests for help from the UN and other nations are now recognized as correct decisions that would have greatly prevented the
extent of the genocide.
Dallaire retired due to mental stress and alcoholism brought on by horrid personal memories of the Rwandan experience.
He has since recovered and is now a noted speaker and special consultant.
In 2002, Romeo Dallaire was presented with the prestigious Aegis Award.
For detailed research and more information, check out the following:
