113 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca LASEK, James W. “Jim” WWII Jim was born in Elkhorn, Manitoba on May 26, 1914. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve in March of 1944 and served until April of 1946. He served in England and in Canada during World War II. He left the service as a Leading Patrolman. Jim passed away on March 21, 1998. LAVOIE, Gaston PEACETIME Gaston was born in Rimouski, Quebec in 1954. He served from 1972 to 1982 in the Canadian Navy and was released honourably with the rank of Master Seaman (MlCpl). He served with the Navy in Canada aboard HMCS Restigouche, HMCS Chaudiere and HMCS Qu’Appelle during Peacetime. He met his wife in Victoria, BC and quit to go farm with her father in Foxwarren, MB. After seven years, he rented the land and worked for a car dealership in Birtle until 1992, and then he started his own painting business. In 1996, he was hired by Potashcorp of Saskatchewan and he is still there. In 1993, he joined and took over command of the #677 RCASC Russel and for the next thirteen years and was the commanding officer. He retired in 2006 with the rank of Captain, CD. He has a very good and successful career with the air cadets. LEE, Eric James WWII Eric was born in Carberry, Manitoba in 1920. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and was initially sent to Trenton, Ontario for training as a rear gunner (because of his small stature). He also trained in Calgary and Edmonton but was grounded when he became ill with rheumatic fever. While he was in the hospital in Calgary, he met the Duke of Kent (George VI’s brother). Following the war, Eric attended the University of Manitoba graduating as a Pharmacist in 1950. He worked in Carberry until his retirement in the late 1990’s. He passed away in Calgary in 2005.
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