He was also a student of Canadian military history and made important contributions to the contemporary debate about Canada and the Normandy campaign in World War II.
Roman Johann Jarymowycz,[1] born January 18, 1945, in Vienna, Austria, and of Ukrainian heritage, was a naturalized Canadian citizen.
His primary subjects were Canadian History and Social Studies, and he also coached the high school's championship-winning debating and public-speaking team.
Eventually he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Hussars armoured reconnaissance regiment during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
His chapter on the effectiveness of the German Tiger tank in Normandy, while essentially being a separate essay, is a fine example of superior scholarship.
Major Michael McNorgan, writing in the Canadian Military Journal, found it "an interesting book that must be read and interpreted with care.
"[5] Major (ret’d) R.H. Caldwell, writing in The Army Doctrine and Training Bulletin, likened the book to more of a case study, and suggested that while it presented much new primary source information, this was done selectively.
Jarymowycz’s book and thesis address (not unlike Terry Copp’s work) the conclusions of eminent Canadian historians C. P. Stacey[7] and John English.
Finally, no matter of revisionism, indeed, not even the eventual victory, can excuse the bottom line, which is unsuccessful operations and terribly high casualty rates.
Jarymowycz's contributions to the re-evaluation (and rehabilitation) of the Canadian Army and Armoured Corps in World War II put him in good company.