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The song playing in the background is known to most as the theme for the movie Bridge on the River Kwai...however...to many Canadian soldiers during the Second World War it was known as the "Colonel's Boogie". My father told me many times that he marched so often to that song that he could whistle it backwards in his sleep.

Those who knew my dad knew him as a mild mannered high school principal who enjoyed hunting...fishing and golfing...but here's something about him few know about.

Dad served in the Army with the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was a field artillery instructor...which also included grenades...and was proficient in the use of small arms. He was classified as a "sharp shooter"...winning many military competitions...the awards and badges he won always fascinated me as a young boy. Later he became involved in the use and deployment of materials used in "alternate" warfare.

After the German surrender he was given his discharged. But dad being dad stuck around for a while. Unknown to my mother he “volunteered” to be part of an elite team of field instructors known as a “Cadre” to spearhead a contingency to train with the American Forces who were now in full deployment against the Japanese forces in the Pacific. He was selected and became one of approximately only 300 Canadian Officers and NCO to join up with the Americans at Fort Sill, Oklahoma...which was located not far from present day Lawtons, Oklahoma.

Fort Sill was a tent town with a contingency of about 90,000 personnel. Here the Canadians Officers and NCOs were to train with the Americans in the use of their specific weaponry....then the Canadians would join up with their respective units and in turn train and command them along side the American Forces in their struggle in the Pacific theater.

They're destination after Fort Sill was never revealed to them...however...the scuttle butt at the time was Fort Brekenridge, Kentucky and from there...the Pacific. They never made it there...Hiroshima was bombed and the war in the Pacific was brought to a closure.

It was many years later that my dad told my mom that he had actually "volunteered" to serve in the Pacific "after" being given his discharge...and it appears that he would probably have rather faced the Japanese that day then my mother...but that was my dad...

Fort Sill, Oklahoma - August 1945

My father is in the upper right hand corner...
3rd row down...about 4th from the right...