Military Service Recognition Book

151 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND DEAN, James Kenneth “Jim” Jim was born in Hamilton, Ontario on May 15, 1941. He enlisted in the Navy on October 10, 1958 and served until his discharge on October 26, 1963. He reenlisted on February 26, 1967. He served on the following HMCS ships: Crusader, Bonaventure, St. Croix, Chignecto, Kootenay, Annapolis, Ottawa, Cormorant, Protecteur, all ships home port in Halifax. He was stationed at HMCSYork, HMCS Cornwallis, HMCS Stadacona, HMCS Shearwater, CFRC Peterborough, PSU Toronto and National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). Jim was posted to HMCS Kootenay during the fall of 1969, steaming the Engine Room. On the morning of October 23, 1969, he was in the act of entering the engine space when an explosion erupted from the starboard gearbox. Nine fellow crew members died, 53 were injured, some critically, and the engine room was destroyed. He stayed with Kootenay until it was returned, under tow, to Halifax. He subsequently retired on July 31, 1995, as C1ERA. Jim is a fifteen-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Perth Branch 244. DEGAGNES, Joseph Joseph was born on March 4, 1898 in Massey, Ontario. He was a ward of the Government of Ontario. Joseph was working on a farm in Arkona, Ontario when he enlisted in the Army on March 16, 1916 joining the 149th Battalion. He sailed on the SS Lapland in March 1917 to England. He joined the 25th Reserve inAugust 1917 and was in hospital with injured legs and arms. Joseph was in France in March 1918 and was captured Cambrai Battle on October 1, 1918. He was a Prisoner of War until December 9, 1918, repatriated, then in hospital in England. Joseph returned to Canada on the SS Cassandra and was discharged on March 29, 1919. He sent half his pay to the supervisor of Toronto of Parliament. He also enlisted on October 12, 1943 to August 8, 1945. Joseph died in 1976 and is buried in a pauper grave at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie. DECOU, Myrna F. Myrna was born in Red Deer, Alberta on February 24, 1937. She enlisted in the Air Force on February 25, 1955 and worked at the Radar Base in Falconbridge, Ontario as a Fighter Control Operator. She was discharged on November 1, 1957. Myrna is a 52-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Onaping Falls Branch 503 in Onaping, Ontario where she has resided since 1960.

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