LEST WE FORGET 275 PEARSON, Rodney “Rod” Rod was born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan in 1952 and grew up in the Nut Mountain area of Saskatchewan where his parents operated a grain farming operation. He attended the Nut Mountain Elementary School until grade nine. His high school education was completed at Kelvington High School (grade 9 to 11) and Hudson Bay Composite High School (grade 12). In August 1970, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and was sent to Cornwallis, NS for his Basic Recruit Training Course. Subsequent enlisted training included: NBCD (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Damage Control) training at CFB Windsor Park in Halifax, NS in 1970; Basic Sonarman training at Canadian Forces Fleet School at CFB Halifax, NS in 1971; Ship’s Diver training at the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) at CFB Esquimalt, BC in 1972; Advanced Sonarman training at the Fleet School at CFB Esquimalt, BC in 1972; and Maritime Operational Aircrew Training (MOAT) Course at CFB Greenwood, NS in 1975. His first ship was named HMCS Mackenzieand it was stationed at Esquimalt, BC, near Victoria where he served as a Sonarman and Ship’s Diver for two years. In 1973, most of their ship’s company were sent to Halifax, to pick up a newly converted destroyer HMCS Restigouche. In June 1973 they took the Restigouche to Esquimalt via the Panama Canal. While on the Restigouche, Rod was promoted a number of times and upon reaching the rank of Leading Seaman he remustered (transferred) to the Air Force in 1975. He was sent to Greenwood, NS for Maritime Operational Aircrew Training (MOAT) Course and flew on the Argus long range patrol aircraft. After his six months of training, he was posted to Comox, BC and was assigned to VP 407 Squadron. Upon promotion to Master Corporal, Rod applied for officer training and was accepted as a commissioned officer under the University Training Plan for men (UTPM) program. Once accepted for that program, Rod was promoted to an Officer Cadet. For that program, Rod went to the University of Saskatchewan in 1977 under the sponsorship of the Armed Forces. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science. At the end of each school year, he was assigned to various summer military training courses. Subsequent officer training included: Basic Officer Training at CFB Borden, ON in 1978 and upon completion, he was promoted to a Naval SubLieutenant; Canadian Forces Language School (French) in St. Jean, PQ in 1979; MARS (Maritime Surface and Sub-Surface Officer) II Basic Seamanship Training aboard HMCS Saskatchewan (destroyer) at Esquimalt, BC in 1980; MARS III Basic Navigation Training aboard various HMCS ships (minesweepers) at Esquimalt, BC in 1981; MARPAC (Maritime Pacific) Operations Centre assistant at CFB Esquimalt, BC in 1981; Naval Maritime Navigation Trainer assistant and operator at CFB Esquimalt, BC in 1981. In 1981, Rod’s career in the military came to an end and he was given an honourable medical discharge.
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