Mark Isfeld

Master Corporal Mark Robert Isfeld (August 14, 1962 – June 21, 1994) was a Canadian soldier and United Nations peacekeeper who served in UNIKOM and UNPROFOR as a combat engineer. He was killed by a landmine while on tour in Croatia. He is best known for handing out small knitted dolls, known as "Izzy dolls", to children while on duty.

Mark Robert Isfeld
Nickname(s)Izzy
Born(1962-08-14)August 14, 1962
Zweibrücken, West Germany
Died21 June 1994(1994-06-21) (aged 31)
Kakma, Republic of Croatia
Buried
Little Mountain Royal Canadian Legion Cemetery, Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
AllegianceCanada
Service/branchCanadian Army
Years of service1986–1994
RankMaster Corporal
Service numberA71248738
Unit1st Combat Engineer Regiment
Battles/warsGulf War (UNIKOM) Yugoslav Wars (UNPROFOR)
Awards

Early life

Isfeld was born in Zweibrücken, West Germany, to Brian and Carol Isfeld. He graduated from the School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, BC. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces on May 22, 1986.[1]

Military career

Isfeld first served in UNIKOM from April to October 1991. He then served in UNPROFOR from October 1992 to April 1993.[1] During this tour, Isfeld had noticed a doll lying on a pile of rubble. He took a picture of the doll and sent it to his mother, who began to crochet small woolen dolls for Isfeld to distribute to the local children. These dolls were nicknamed "Izzy dolls" by his unit.[2] He then served in UNPROFOR again, from April to June 1994.[1] It was on this tour that he was killed while disarming a landmine,[3] in the village of Kakma.

Legacy

After Isfeld's death, his mother continued to send Izzy dolls to the Canadian Armed Forces for distribution to children in conflict zones. Friends and relatives of Carol Isfeld began to contribute Izzy dolls as well. The pattern for the Izzy doll was published online, so that anyone could make and send them. Various charities and organizations began to handle distribution, such as ICROSS,[4] Health Partners International of Canada,[5] and the Canadian Military Engineers Association. After Carol and Brian Isfeld's death, the Isfeld family agreed to let Shirley O'Connell coordinate distribution. Approximately 1.3 million Izzy dolls have been given out around the world.[2]

Courtenay Junior Middle School in Courtenay, B.C. was renamed Mark R. Isfeld Senior Secondary School in October 2001.[6]

A statue of Isfeld stands in Peacekeeper Park, located in Calgary, Alberta.[7]

References
  1. Canada, Veterans Affairs (2014-11-02). "Mark Robert Isfeld – The Canadian Virtual War Memorial – Veterans Affairs Canada". www.veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  2. "The Story of the Izzy Dolls | Canadian Military Engineers". cmea-agmc.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  3. "Mark Isfeld Memorial Page". izzydoll.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  4. "Meritorious Service Medals to Mr. & Mrs. Isfeld" (PDF). cmea-agmc.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  5. "In memory of Mark Isfeld". HPIC. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  6. "Courtenay school remembering fallen soldier March 9". Comox Valley Record. 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  7. Canada, Veterans Affairs (2015-07-22). "Peacekeepers Park – National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials (NICMM) – Memorials – Remembrance – Veterans Affairs Canada". www.veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
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