Military Service Recognition Book

23 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND ASSELSTINE, Vernon G. Vernon was born on April 14, 1917 in Moscow, Ontario. He joined the Army in February 1943 and served in England, Holland and Germany with the Armoured Tank Corps. He was discharged at the end of the war. Vernon was a member of the Oshawa Legion years ago and then became a member in Port Perry when he and his wife moved to that area. He is not currently a member of The Legion. ATKINSON, Robert John “Bob” Bob was born on November 9, 1912 in Port Elgin, Ontario. He joined the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps on July 31, 1942 and served in England, France and Belgium, suffering shrapnel wounds in his left hip. He married Beryl (Doris) Harbord from New Malden Surrey, England and returned to Canada a married man and father to one son. He received the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, and the War Medal 1939-45. Discharged on March 19, 1946, Bob returned to Paisley, Ontario and worked for Ontario Hydro in addition to working his farm. A Legion member for fifty-eight years, Bob was awarded a Life Membership by Paisley Branch 295 and a MSM in 1985. He founded the track and field program for local elementary students in Bruce County, aptly named “The Bob Atkinson Memorial Cross Country Meet”, and received the “Caring Canadian Award’ from the Governor General for his volunteer commitment to the citizens of Paisley and District in 1994. Bob passed away on December 7, 2004. He is survived by three sons. ATKINSON, Kenneth C. “Ken” Ken was born on April 18, 1925 in Sunderland, England. In World War II, he enlisted in the British Home Guard and was accepted by the Royal Air Force in 1943 as an Air Gunner flying in Liberator and Wellington aircraft in Bomber Command until 1946. In 1953, Ken joined the RCAF as part of NATO during the Cold War and was stationed with #1 Air Division HQ in Metz, France. On his release in 1976, Ken assumed the role of Fire Chief with the Aircraft Crash Fire Rescue Services at the Toronto International Airport. During this period, he was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Canadian Airline Pilots Association for the effective response to the DC-9 crash in 1978. He was also involved in a 1979 Mississauga train derailment when 200,000 residents were evacuated. After retirement from Transport Canada, Ken was presented by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien with a certificate for 46 years of loyal service. Ken is now residing in the Sandy Cove Retirement Centre with his wife Grace where they have produced variety shows for local residents for 18 years. Ken has been a member of Barrie Legion Branch 147 for 5 years.

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