Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada / Of German-British descent / Played hockey and football for McGill University /
Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL, but chose the army instead / First major assignment was as a platoon leader in the Korean War /
Met and married his wife in Germany (where I was born) / Led peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip /
Retired from the army after 26 years and moved to San Diego, California / Became a U.S. citizen.
[click on images to view original size and read the captions]
It was my father who turned me into a computer addict. 💻
Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
21 thoughts on “FATHER’S MEMORIAL”
That is a nice tribute to your father Debbie. How did your father turn you into a computer addict? That is nice you have kept all your dad’s military memorabilia. My father was in the German Army as I mentioned in my own blog post and he was from Frankfurt, Germany. I don’t recall seeing anything from his time in the service. He never talked about his time in the army gexcept to say he ate turnips every day and never wanted to see another one. My grandfather was born in St. Jerome, Quebec and moved to Toronto where he met my grandmother.
Thank you, Linda! 🙂 There’s a link to the computer story on the page, but I’ll share it again:
https://thedogladysden.com/the-computer-is-a-wonderful-invention/
Was your father in the army during WWII? Maybe that’s why he didn’t want to talk about it?
Interesting that you have a Quebec connection too!
I am going to read the computer story now – for some reason I deleted your reply from my e-mail and remembered today it was not in the original blog post, but your Dad’s memorial blog post that you told me where to read the computer post. Yes, my father was in WWII in the German Army in Hitler’s regime. My father was orphaned and joined the service at a very young age, a teenager – he was born in 1926. It is interesting we have still another Quebec connection!
Wonderful, post I salute him. But the one thing that struck me: Being drafted by the Habs back in the day, with six teams and how stacked the minors were, he might well have ended up, as many did, here in Ft Wayne with our Komets! We might have ended up neighbors! Or, you might have been stuck in Toledo with the Blades, lol…
Thanks, Chris! 🙂 Interesting “what if” scenario. If my father hadn’t joined the army and been stationed in Germany, he never would have met my mother, so I wouldn’t exist. ?
The best tribute to your dad is you. To look at the woman is to look at all of her life experiences. To raise a daughter who is smart and a free thinker, who is fair and compassionate tells his story along with your sharing your memories.
Thank you so much for those kind words, Vickie. ((HUGS))
I have often what kind of individual it requires to be a UN Peace Keeper. In full view, with clearly marked vehicles and uniforms, specially the Blue helmets. Seemed like all that made them an easier target. Pop musta been a cool, level headed guy, for I don’t believe they would station just any ol soldier for that duty. He musta done a good job cause we ain’t heard a peep outta Lebannon inna while. I can hear yer Dad now telling the Lebanese….”DON’T MAKE ME HAFTA COME BACK OVER HERE!”
Thank you SO much for your comments, Steve. ((HUGS)) Brought a tear to my eye. My father’s military career started in earnest on the front lines of the Korean War and he retired from the army in 1974, on his 47th birthday,
True, Debbie. And why don’t realize common people what is happening to civilians during wars? The Media is not allowed to tell them because the government needs to keep the population in that patriotic spending and sacrificing mode by glorifying “victory” and hide all the terrible human aspects, like maiming and killing children, starving and shooting the elderly and the unarmed and simply let them all starve to death. I lost several extended family members by starvation in East Prussia in 1945, after the war had ended in Germany. I myself also almost died of malnutrition as a young teenager.
War is horrible for everyone, regardless of which side you are on. I don’t think anyone can truly understand the magnitude of it, unless they have experienced it themselves – as you have.
Debbie, in your recent photographs I see your father….A lovely contribution to a father forever loved. I wish I could do the same for my father, honor him by posting pictures. I have one picture of him saved during my bad ordeals at the end of WWII. He was an honorable officer in the German Armee, a technical inspector of planes and weaponry, he also was on the front. Unfortunately, having worked under Hitler is nothing to be proud of, better not mentioned. I wonder whether Germany will ever be freed of that Nazi stigma. I just hold his memories close of my heart…..and that of my heroic mother.
I understand how you feel Karin. Was horribly tormented myself as a young child, for something that had NOTHING to do with me OR my family, (they were against the Nazi regime). You went through such hell during and after the war and lived to tell the tale. Most people on this side of the Atlantic don’t realize that the general population of Germany was in misery also during that time. 🙁
Thank you Andro. Your father must have been a very brave man. 🙂
What a wonderful tribute to your Father Debbie and he was most certainly a handsome chap, and loving Father I can see that in your wedding photograph, beautiful smiles…
My Father was a Bomber Pilot during
the Second World War flying B-24 Liberators…
Have a very nice Wednesday now Debbie 🙂
Androgoth XXx
It’s such a sweet page,Debbie.Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thank you for viewing it, Natasha. 🙂
a fitting and powerful tribute page Debbie, for a wonderful and much missed father. .
Many thanks for sharing his life with us. xPenx
Thank YOU for viewing it, Pen. It’s really just hitting me now. Was too busy taking care of things previously.
looks a very dignified proud man a lovely tribute deb love your den xxjen
Thank you so much, Jen. Appreciate the visit and comments.