The Military

The British Honduras Volunteer Guard (BHVG) and the Belize Defence Force (BDF)

Doc joined the British Honduras Volunteer Guard (BHVG) in 1966, age 17, and became Pte. Anderson H 28567. He started his training under Lt. Neville Panton in Dangriga. Other mates who became well known in Belize were Honourable Melvin Hulse and Cannon Jerris Valentine who was one of the founding members of the Belize Defence Force and, later on, the Force Parson. When Doc went to Sixth Form in Belize City, he continued training at Militia Hall. A well-known mate was Thomas Greenwood. When Doc went to Jamaica for medical studies, he still continued his training whenever he was at home for vacation. Once, he took time off from his medical studies to come home for the annual BHVG camp in Augustine Pine Ridge. His Excellency Sir Richard Posnett KBE CMG, Governor of British Honduras, on his visit to the camp heard about this and asked to see him. He thanked Doc for the interest he was showing in the BHVG and in serving his country. Doc later presented him, and to C. L. B Rogers, Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Premier, a paper on the training of soldiers of the BHVG by the British Forces Belize. It is noteworthy that Sir Richard developed a reputation as a 'decoloniser;’ he helped British Honduras to Independence as much as his office allowed him. It was not all business, however. Governor Posnett and his wife, Eva, attended Stephanie and Doc’s wedding at the Pelican Beach Motel in Dangriga, 1974. Doc’s mates in the BHVG also attended and lined the walk from the church door to the waiting car.

It was in 1972 that Doc arranged for a BHVG fireteam to make an attempt to climb Victoria Peak. All they had were a compass and a map for direction. The team comprised, Pte. Hulse M, Pte. Taylor, R, two civilians–Harry Parham and Vincent Clark, the latter from Barbados–and Doc. They spent seven days in the raw jungle, but did not arrive at the summit, reaching three miles from it. Doc, however, did not give up his dream. He climbed the summit in 2016 with a Belize Defence Force fireteam, at age 67. The team comprised Cpt. Claudio Quiroz, Sgt. Luis Coh (Medic), Cpl. Camal Y; Pte. Choc R, and Benedicto Choc, Tour Guide.

Doc did not wish to stop his military training while at medical school in Jamaica. He actually wrote the Jamaica Defence Force to see if he could train with the Reserve Unit. He was informed that, unfortunately, he could not because he was not a Jamaican. On returning home to practice medicine, he applied to the Belize Defence Force to become the Medical Officer. Regrettably, the post had already been filled.

Doc continues to have a very good relationship with the Belize Defence Force. He hopes that as he begins spending more time at home, he will be able to build on this relationship and serve in any way he can. He currently resides in Minnesota.

Below are two Youtube links to Doc’s Victoria Peak jungle walks. The first is from 1972 and also includes a few pictures of the BHVG camp in Augustine Pine Ridge in the 60’s. The second is the 2016 ascent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz0bKjKdR_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LQqrW4Mp4

BDF soldier, Pte Simmons A, aged 48, has been in the Belize Defence Force since 1991 and has served Belize well. On July 17, 2020, he had an accident and is now a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down. He currently resides at home in San Ignascio, Cayo District. If you would like to offer needed assistance to Private Simmons, you may contact his spouse Rose at +501-639-5176 (WhatsApp). Rose's e-mail address is: moralesrose944@gmail.com

Thank you for whatever assistance you may be able to provide.

Intel From Doc’s Mates in the BDF:

Dr Anderson is a Belizean legend who has accomplished much for his country as a Doctor, Author, Diplomat, Soldier, Husband, and Father. His spirit of adventure continues to burn brightly inside and is now shining in the many masterpieces we now enjoy reading.

General Steven Ortega, BDF

“Don't let his grandfatherly appearance trick you. He has a wicked sense of humour over a few drinks. Found this out some years ago at Pier 1 as part of the wind down after one of our two Victoria Peak walks.”

Cpt. Claudio Quiroz, BDF

I have known Doc for quite some years now, actually beginning with a very memorable walk to Victoria Peak. Doc is a great author of really exceptional books filled with great adventure stories that make me relive every footstep I have and will ever take in our beautiful Belizean jungle. During these years of knowing Doc, aside from being a great author, he’s a great friend and father figure, not only to me but to my kids and family, his personality always reaching beyond him. Doc has brought much to my military life with his own personal military stories. He’s surely a man of wisdom and experiences. He always has a little quote that says ‘Love is what life should be about.’ So, cheers to a man with great taste, passion, best stories, personality, great father, grandfather, and the list goes on–all in all, a great man!

Sgt. Denecio Pop, BDF

I first met Doc on our walk to Victoria Peak. Ever since then, my family and I have fostered a close family-friend relationship with him and his wife Stephanie. Eloriin, my wife, and I have three kids, Arlene, Krisanta, and Nayan. They consider Doc and Stephanie as their grandparents. Dr Henry was successful in reaching the summit of the famous Victoria Peak in early 2016 which showed his determination in completing the arduous walk through the Cockscomb Jungle, something people just dream of doing. Not only does it show his love for the jungle and the hiking, but that he is still a tough individual, a standard he developed while serving as a BHVG.

Doc, as many refer to him, is a friendly person; he always keeps in touch with families and friends. Not a day goes by without him checking on us. He is well experienced and ready to offer advice and words of encouragement to us as a family. The books he has authored shows Doc to be a very intellectual individual; they show he has a passion for writing, for doing intense research, and even for visiting the terrain where applicable, even difficult ones like the walk to Victoria Peak and Edward Central.

Sgt. Luis Delmar Coh, BDF

Doc Henry W. Anderson – “The Tenacious Man.”

My first impression when I met him: “Why on Earth is this guy going on a challenging expedition at his age?” Later, on the expedition, I realized he had an incomparable inner strength to achieve whatever he sets his mind to. He has been a great inspiration and influencer in my life and that I will forever be grateful for.

Pte. Choc Ronaldo BDF

With regards to my times with Doc, I must emphasize that it was a great experience to have been his Guide on one of our most extreme hiking expeditions, to Victoria Peak. Doc never gave up, even though, at some points, he appeared to want to give up on food for the reason that all he wanted to do was to get to the summit. Doc was always counting how many hills we had climbed and he did not hesitate to ask me how many more were left. Doc is determined, courageous, humorous, and demonstrates a positive approach to challenges. He truly inspired me that, at the age of 67, he summited Victoria Peak. He is a truly Bold and Great Warrior.

Benedicto Choc. Tour Guide.

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DR. ANDERSON’S BOOKS ALREADY PUBLISHED

Twelve of Dr. Anderson’s works have been published and are available as printed books, print-on-demand books, and e-books. For more information, please go to http://jabirubooksbelize.com

Dr. Anderson has begun working on his new book, I dream of Obwandiyag (Pontiac). The story is a fantasy, incorporating the mythology of the endogenous nations in what is now the United States of America. Two young men, one a Dakota Brave named Akíčhita, meaning Warrior, and the other a White Settler named Dolph, meaning Wolf, face their own cultural differences and a great adventure. The timeline is based on historical incidents and is set during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

INFORMATION/LINKS

The works by Dr. Henry W. Anderson are available at the libraries of the Belize National Library Service and Information System. For more information, please go to:

https://www.bnlsis.org/

 Dr. Henry W. Anderson books are also available as E-books and Print-on-Demand at store.bookbaby.com (BookBaby Bookshop), recommended, and other worldwide retailers:

E-Book Retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Vearsa, Kobo, OverDrive, Copia, Gardners Books, Baker & Taylor, eSentral, Scribd, Ciando, hoopla, Playster, and many more.

Print-on-Demand Retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s and thousands of other stores and wholesale bookstore catalogs like Ingram and Baker & Taylor, around the world.

For store.bookbaby.com, go to: https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/jabirubooksbelizecom

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