225 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca WASYLENKI, Eugene J. “Jim” WWII Jim was born in Thunder Bay, ON in 1925. He joined the Royal Canadian Army and served as a paratrooper in England during World War II. Jim has been a member of Atikokan Legion Branch 145 for 37 years. WATSON, Thomas R. Thomas was born in the Rural Municipality of Wallace, MB on October 1, 1912. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in Regina, SK in 1942 and was sent to Brandon, MB to train and then to Winnipeg, MB. In 1943, he was sent to work on the Alaska Highway to do construction and drove the trucks hauling gas tanks to different locations for the planes to get fuel. This is where Thomas got benzene poisoning and was hospitalized in Edmonton for 43 days before being transferred back to Winnipeg, MB. He then drove trucks to the different airports in the Prairie provinces before he went to Alaska, where he stayed until the war ended in 1945. He was in the South Saskatchewan Reserve Army. In September 1943, he married Evelyn Lake. After the war, he bought a farm, but in 1989 they moved to Virden due to poor health. Thomas passed away on February 3, 2000. WEATHERBURN, James W. WWII James was born in Brandon, MB in 1920. He joined the Army in 1940 and served in England, Belgium, France and Holland, where he was stationed when the war ended. After the war, he came home and waited for his war bride to join him in Canada. He was a member of Commemoration Legion Branch 140. James was accidentally killed on the farm in 1953. WATSON, William J. WWII William was born in Elgin, MB on April 2, 1903. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served during World War II. He was a member of Souris Legion Branch 60 for fourteen years. William passed away in 1962.
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