145 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND HICKS, Michael James “Mike” Michael was born on June 4, 1981, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. As a teenager, he found his niche in the 2966 Royal Canadian Artillery Cadet Corps, Fort Erie. He loved the teamwork, firing the 105mm Howitzer and rose to Warrant Officer. After years in civilian jobs, Mike joined the Army (Regular Force) on August 9, 2007, at 25 years old, as a signaler, and discovered a love for working with communications equipment (radios, computers, etc.). While with the 2 PPCLI in Shilo, Manitoba, he learned his craft. Mike had a tour in Afghanistan, attached to the Infantry providing communications while working with the USArmy. Posted to the CFJSR in Kingston in 2016, Mike was sent to Latvia in 2017 to establish a base for Canada’s new UN missions there. In 2018, he was sent to Mali for Canada’s new peacekeeping mission there providing a satellite link for the Canadian contingent. Mike looks back on a varied career of awesome jobs, difficult moments, and rich learning experiences. As a senior signaler, he has rewritten training standards in satellite communications, and he teaches SATCOM courses. Mike married Kara in 2007. The couple live in Kingston, have two children, and two olde English Bulldogs. HICKSON, Donald Douglas Donald was born in Wheatley, Ontario on June 7, 1921. He enlisted in the Air Force (Regular) on December 20, 1940, and served in Gibraltar, Egypt, Crete, Tobruck, and Libya with No. 1, 2 and 203 Squadron. He trained as an astronomical navigator and pilot and flew reconnaissance missions in Maryland, Baltimore, and Hudson Aircrafts over the Mediterranean. In October 1942, his Maryland aircraft was attacked, and its engines exploded. The aircraft crash landed and sank. After eighteen hours in dinghies, the crew was rescued by a German Dornier flying boat and taken to a hospital in Crete. Don was then in seven POW camps. He and twelve others escaped on April 15, 1945, and made it to the advancing British Army. Donald was released on July 19, 1945. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 324. Donald passed away on February 26, 2016. HICKSON, David Joseph David was born in Leamington, Ontario on August 30, 1950. He joined the Air Cadets at the age of twelve and graduated as Cadet WO1 at the age of nineteen. He obtained his pilot license on a Cadet scholarship. After graduating university, he joined 80 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets first as a civilian instructor, then as an Officer Cadet in September 1976 and received his commission as Second Lieutenant on January 1, 1978. David served as the 80 Squadron Training Officer and Range Officer from 1978 until 1990. He also taught Cadets the courses needed to qualify and apply for the Cadet pilot training scholarships. He is a fiveyear member of The Royal Canadian Legion Hollowood Branch 425. Since 2020, he has been residing in Mountain Grove.
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