Monday, April 14, 2008

CFS Alert - 50th Anniversary

On September 1st 1958, CFS Alert began its operational role as a signals intelligence unit of the Canadian Forces. In the close to 50 years that have followed, the site has seen many changes and many faces as the "Frozen Chosen" have stood guard on the top of the world.

In order to ensure that the golden anniversary of Alert receives the acknowledgement it deserves, a committee has been put together to orchestrate the celebrations. Plans are in their infancy at the moment, but will include some sort of official ceremony on the ground in Alert. Restrictions on accommodations and aircraft availability will play a large role in keeping that entourage to a minimum, but it's hoped that those who do go up will represent personnel from the site's infancy right up to its current occupants. Stay tuned for further details as they develop.

As well as the events on the ground in Alert, a huge celebration will be held in the CFS Leitrim All Ranks mess here in the south end of Ottawa. Leitrim is the only other remaining station from the Supplementary Radio System days, and has been the "home station" of what was the primary occupant of Alert for a great many years, the Communicator Research 291 trade. The celebration will certainly not be restricted to any one occupation though - a warm welcome will be extended to anyone who ever had the pleasure to serve at CFS Alert. Whether you were there as a cook, a tech in Ops, a met tech, an EGS tech, a PERI, CE crew, Smokey, Bandit, Maxi, Mini, a clerk, Postie, Fuzz O, Madame Adm, or even the CO - all will be welcome.

In addition to the people who did tours at Alert, also warmly invited will be the people who were, and are, the lifeline to Alert - the aircrew. All members of any aircrew who supplied Alert throughout the years are more than welcome. Along with them, folks who served in Alert as part of the construction and engineering teams who built and maintained the station are also included as most welcome participants.

There will be events in Alert, and a weekend of activities at CFS Leitrim that will include some sort of a meet and greet, as well as official ceremonies by dignitaries to be named later.

Again, stay tuned for further developments as they happen.

One thing that has been determined is that we would like to create a book of photos that will show the evolution of Alert from its humble beginnings to what it is today. It's hoped that the book would be available at the event to give to participants, or possibly to sell at a minimal price. In order to create the book, we'll be asking for photographs from those who were there. While people will certainly be in the photos, we want to place the emphasis on the buildings, the quarters, the messes, and the sites in and around Alert. Anyone who has photos they would be willing to share can scan and email them to the address below.

T.G. Jenkins
Captain
Alert 50th Committee Member
Email: jenkins.tg@forces.gc.ca

RETIREMENT - SGT R.E. YADE

SGT R.E.YADE WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE REGULAR FORCE ON 7 MAY 08 AFTER 20+ YEARS
OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE.

SGT YADE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 1987 AT CFB CORNWALLIS AND COMPLETED HIS TRADES
TRAINING AT THE CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS (CFSCE)
IN KINGSTON. IN 1989 HE WAS POSTED TO CFS LEITRIM DURING WHICH TIME HE COMPLETED A TOUR
OF CFS ALERT. IN 1991 HE WAS POSTED TO 771 COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH SQUADRON OTTAWA AND
IN 1994 MOVED TO GANDER AND ASSUMED DUTIES WITH 770 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH SQUADRON.
IN 1995 SGT YADE WAS POSTED TO THE CANADIAN FORCES LANGUAGE SCHOOL IN OTTAWA
AND IN 1998 MADE HIS WAY TO THE CFIOG HQ DET IN FORT GEORGE G. MEADE MD USA. IN 2001
HE RETURNED TO CFS LEITRIM AND IN 2005 WAS POSTED TO THE CFSCE. RICHARD, HIS SPOUSE RITA
AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN WILL RE-LOCATE TO ALDERSHOT, NOVA SCOTIA WHERE HE HAS ACCEPTED A
POSITION WITH THE RESERVE FORCE.

IN RECOGNITION OF RICHARD'S DISTINGUISHED MILITARY CAREER AND TO HONOUR HIM, WE WILL
BE HOSTING A DINNER ON 2 MAY 08 AT THE LONE STAR TEXAS GRILL 251 ONTARIO STREET,
KINGSTON COMMENCING AT 1330 HOURS. THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND THIS EVENT ARE REQUESTED
TO RESPOND TO SGT S.P. O'SHEA 613-541-5010-5639.

PLEASE SEND ANECDOTES-BEST WISHES TO SGT S.P. O'SHEA

Retirement - MWO E. Mendonca

Master Warrant Officer Ed Mendonca will be retiring from the Canadian Forces on 1 Aug 08, after 24 plus years of loyal and dedicated service. Originally recruited under the YTEP program as a Photo Tech 541, MWO Mendonca transferred to the regular forces as a Communicator Research Operator in 1984.

2. MWO Mendonca completed recruit training at CFRS Cornwallis and trades training at E Squadron, CFSCE Kingston. During his distinguished career Ed has served at the following locations: CFS Masset, CFS Leitrim (X3), CFB Gander, CFSCE Kingston, and the Medina RSOC in San Antonio, Texas. Interspersed within these tours Ed has completed three tours of CFS Alert, a tour at sea on the Australian ship HMAS Hobart and one tour as a the LO for Op Apollo ROTO 1 at the GRSOC in Augusta Georgia, USA.

3. Ed and his wife Ruth, and son Christopher are planning on moving to Windsor Ontario upon his retirement where Ed is planning on taking up a second career.

4. A retirement function will be held in Ed's honour at the CFS Leitrim All Ranks Mess, on 11 July, commencing at 1230hrs. An informal meal (BBQ) will be served at approx 1330hrs at a cost of approximately $20.00. Those personnel wishing to attend are to contact CPO2 Hans Buchner (email Buchner.H@forces.gc.ca or phone (613) 945-5367or WO Bill Hildreth (email Hildreth.WT@forces.gc.ca or phone (613) 945-3117).

5. Best wishes, anecdotes, pictures and/or messages of congratulations may be passed via the same email address.

Morley McAllister McALLISTER

Morley Canadian Navy Veteran Retired Insurance Broker Suddenly at home, Saturday, April 12th, 2008 at the age of 79. Cherished husband of Lois. Loving father of Mary (Dan Diks), Cathy (Rick Lafrance) and predeceased by his daughter Kim. Proud grandfather of Cameron, Daniel, Ryan and Lauren. Friends may pay respects at the Kelly Funeral Home 1255 Walkley Rd (east of Bank) Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Celebration of Morley's Life will be held Thursday at the Riverside United Church, 3191 Riverside Dr. (South of Walkley Rd) at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Diabetes Association or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Condolences at www.kellyfh.ca .

Retirement - Bob Clarke

RETIREMENT - CWO RV54(BOB) CLARKE, CD2, COMMUNICATOR RESEARCHMOC 291 / MOSID 00120
1. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER BOB CLARKE WILL BE RETIRING FROM THECANADIAN FORCES ON 6 OCT 2008 AFTER 35 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATEDSERVICE. BOB'S LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER STARTED IN HALIFAX N.S.ON 25 SEP 1973.
2. CWO CLARKE COMPLETED RECRUIT TRAINING AT CFRS CORNWALLIS ANDTRADES TRAINING AT CFSCEE KINGSTON E SQN. DURING HIS PROUD 291'ERCAREER, BOB SERVED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: CFS INUVIK, CFSBERMUDA, 770 CRS GANDER, CFTSHQ TRENTON, CFS LEITRIM (X2), NRRFIMPERIAL BEACH SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA, CFLS OTTAWA, CFIOGHQ OTTAWA,CFSTG STANDARDS DET KINGSTON, LFDTS KINGSTON DIRECTORATE ARMY TRG,AND SEVEN TOURS OF CFS ALERT TOTALLING APPROX 33 MONTHS.
3. BOB AND HIS WIFE BRENDA ARE NOT ENTIRELY CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BEREMAINING IN THE KINGSTON AREA, BUT PERHAPS WILL JUST WAIT AND SEEWHERE THE CONTINENTAL DRIFT OF THE TECTONIC PLATES AND GLOBAL WARMINGTAKES THEM.
4. A RETIREMENT FUNCTION WILL BE HELD IN BOB'S HONOUR AT THE CFSLEITRIM ALL RANKS MESS ON FRIDAY 03 OCT 08 COMMENCING AT 1300. ANINFORMAL MEAL WILL BE SERVED AT APPROX 1400 AT A COST OF $20.00. THOSE WISHING TO ATTENDARE TO CONTACT CAPT TOM JENKINS VIAPHONE AT (613) 945-6412
5. BEST WISHES, ANECDOTES, PICTURES AND/OR MESSAGES OFCONGRATULATIONS MAY BE PASSED TO CAPT JENKINS

Retirement - Harold St-Gelais

Petty Officer first class Harold St-Gelais will be retiring from the regular Canadian Forces on 04 June 2008 after completing 25 plus years of loyal and dedicated service in the communication branch.

PO1 St-Gelais joined the CF as a Comm Rsch on 28 Feb 83. His distinguished career has included posting to CFSCE Kingston, CFS Masset (2x), 1 Canadian Division HQ and Signal Regiment(x2), CFS Leitrim Det Kingston (CFJHQ) and finally 2 EW Sqn Kingston. During the span of his career Harold completed 3 tours of CFS Alert, deployed on 4 operational tours, CCIBH NCE Velika Kladusa in Bosnia and Herzegovina, TFA NCE Plan staff Centcom Macdill AFB, TF Kabul Afghanistan ISAF HQ and last RC South MNBHQ TFA Kandahar.

Harold will commence his retirement years here in Kingston with his wife Debra and his son Nathan. Harold is currently looking at securing a primary reserve position within Kingston.

A retirement luncheon will be held at the Kingston WO and Sgt’s mess on the 6 may 2008 at 1330 hrs (please email your wishes to attend to MWO Haslip 2 EW Sqn before 2 May 08) cost will be approx $12 and a pay as you go bar.

5. Congratulatory messages, pictures, anecdotal notes and best wishes can be forwarded to MWO Haslip 2EW OPs MWO By phone: 613-541-5010 ext 4032

Retirement - Mike Marshal

SUBJ: RETIREMENT MWO MIKE MARSHALL, COMM RSCH 291
1. MWO MIKE MARSHALL WILL RETIRE FROM THE CANADIAN FORCES ON 30 MAY 2008 AFTER IN EXCESS OF 35 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE
2. MWO MARHSALL IS FROM HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA AND ENROLLED IN THE CF ON 05 DECEMBER 1972 IN HALIFAX. HIS LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER HAS SEEN HIM SERVE AT CFRS CORNWALLIS, CFSCE KINGSTON (X2), CFS INUVIK (X2), CFS BERMUDA, CFS MASSET, NSGA SKAGGS ISLAND, CFS LEITRIM (X2), CF LANGUAGE SCHOOL, AND 771 COMM RSCH SQN (X2). HE ALSO COMPLETED SEVEN TOURS OF CFS ALERT
3. MIKE PLANS ON RETIRING SOMEWHERE IN HIS HOME PROVINCE’S ANNOPOLIS VALLEY WHERE HE WILL PLAY GOLF AND LAY LOW
4. A RETIREMENT FUNCTION WILL BE HELD IN MIKE’S HONOUR ON FRIDAY 30 MAY 2008, COMMENCING AT 1230 IN THE CFS LEITRIM ALL RANKS MESS. COST FOR THE EVENT WILL BE $20. THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT CAPT TOM JENKINS VIA PHONE AT (613) 945-6412, OR VIA EMAIL AT JENKINS.TG@FORCES.GC.CA
5. BEST WISHES, ANECDOTES, PICTURES AND/OR MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS MAY BE PASSED VIA THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS, OR VIA FAX AT 613-945-3199

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