MEMORIES

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2021, MY THOUGHTS DRIFT TO MY FATHER

November 11, 2021 / 25 Comments
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Today I must take a break from my normal business, and spill a few words in memory of my father, on Remembrance Day 2021. This morning, Ange pointed out to me, that she knew little of my dad’s (her grandfather’s) exploits during WWII. I protested loudly and furiously, and then dug thru my hundred’s of posts. I was looking for the one, where I spoke of him during the war years. The post was clear in my mind, and I could almost remember the words. Alas, after extensive searching, I realized that maybe the old mind, is not quite as sharp as it once might have been. Maybe I only wrote it on the blank slate, that has now become my mind. All I could find was a photo gallery depicting his time in the Canadian Armed Forces.

DAD MIDDLE TOP ROW, SERVED 5-1/2 YEARS IN THE AIRFORCE. HE WAS A MECHANIC, WELDER, BOXER, SINGER AND HARD ASS.

I must apologize for accusing Ange of not reading my posts. It appears that perhaps she was right. And just maybe I had overlooked this very important piece of our family history. So with that, here is a memory of my dad on Remembrance Day.

I will start sometime back in the time prewar, when my mom and dad were newlyweds living in the prairies of Alberta. Dad had enlisted in the airforce, and accompanied by his new bride, was posted to the airforce base in Fort Macleod, Alberta. All told, he spent 5-1/2 years in the service of his majesty, King George. Mom and Dad lived on the base at Fort Macleod, which was located in the southwest part of Alberta. “Slim” as he was called by all who knew him, was trained in aircraft mechanics, welding and a bit of flying. Once he was qualified to fix planes he attained the rank of corporal. While in Fort Macleod, he took part in local rodeos, as well as making somewhat of a name for himself as a boxer. He also fancied himself a country “crooner”.

MOM AND DAD, NEWLYWEDS DURING A VISIT HOME AFTER HE HAD JOINED UP. PHOTO TAKEN CIRCA 1940.

I have said many times in the past, that this scrawny, piece of gristle was as tough as they get. Slim was tall for that time, about 6 feet, but couldn’t have weighed more than 150 pounds, dripping wet. One thing that must be noted, is that, he arrived for service, with a work ethic born of his farm days. The Forces then took this raw material and added skills to it. These skills served him well, for the remainder of his life. I am not exactly sure, of just how long he stayed in Fort Macleod. But sometime in the first couple of years, he was posted to the Aleutian Islands. My mother, however did remain at the base in Fort Macleod for the remainder of the war. I do know that he made it back to the base on occasion. This because my brother appeared sometime in 1943.

1943 DAD ON AIRFORCE BASE IN FORT MACLEOD, “L” NOW ABOUT 2-1/2 MTHS

The Canadian Forces base on the Aleutian Islands was the first point for defence of Canada from attacks originating in the Pacific. It was located in the North Pacific Ocean very close to Alaska. I do not recall my dad ever saying that the Aleutians were a “nice” place too spend time. All I remember is that he described it as always, “raw cold”. Coming from an Albertan, raised on the bald-headed prairies, meant that it probably was cold! He also contacted Yellow Jaundice there. According to mom, dad was extremely sick. however, he would not tell anyone. That is, until one day, when they had to haul him out of bed, and take him to the hospital. I also remember my dad saying, that his job was to fix airplanes, once they returned to base, from missions over the Pacific.

DAD TOP ROW FIRST ON THE LEFT. THIS TAKEN AT THEIR BASE IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AROUND 1942

What most stuck in my mind was the Airforce’ method of ensuring “quality” control. Dad said, that each and every plane he worked on, he had to fly before it was put back into service. If he worked on a plane alone, then he flew it alone. If he worked on it as part of a team, then the whole team boarded it for the test flight. That is a principal of quality assurance that I would have loved to be able to use in my work life. When the war was finished he returned to Fort Macleod, where he received his discharge. And after 5 years, was dumped back into society. However, he was now armed with a few trades, and a hard nose, and was now prepared to support his family.

MY DAD, BOTTOM ROW SECOND FROM RIGHT STANDING ON THE GROUND. THEY FLEW WHAT THEY WORKED ON.

In my memory I never heard my dad saying, that, he had ever fired a weapon at a foe. This does not mean it didn’t happen. But I believe he was able to serve his country in a manner they chose for him. He kept most of his experiences to himself. It’s not to say that he couldn’t have fired a weapon. I remember dad as a very skilled marksman. In my teenage years, he used to take me hunting upland game birds, on the prairies of Alberta. We would tramp the shrub brush to see what might be scared up. They would fly up in front of you, creating a furious noise. You had to be able to still your heart and shoot while they were on the fly. I always carried the family shotgun, my dad his old .22 caliber rifle. Always, and I mean always, he bagged more game than me. I also have vivid memories of, each and every, Christmas from the time I was little, when he brought home a turkey from the local “turkey shoot”. He was my mom’s hero.

MY MOM & DAD EARLY 1940’S THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN FORT MACLEOD, ALBERTA.

My one regret, in this life, is not ever having had the privilege to serve in our Armed Forces. This piece I write in memory of my mom and dad and their service during WWII. Dad , mom and all others, thank you for your service! Geezus, I almost made myself cry.

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