Three local veterans of the Korean War will be honoured Saturday, July 27, at an event at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 155 hall in Wedgeport.
Nelson J. Deveau, Arnold Robert (Bob) Garron and Leslie J. Muise will be recognized at Saturday’s event, which will take place on the anniversary of the armistice that was signed on July 27, 1953, ending the three-year active fighting in Korea.
The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be followed by a reception in the legion hall on Corporon Road.
Over the past few years, legion branch 155 in Wedgeport has been commemorating significant events related to the two world wars and its soldiers or veterans.
The Wedgeport legion wishes to turn its attention to the Korean War of 1950-1953 and three of its members who are veterans of this war.
Wedgeport legion president Clinton Saulnier announced that a service marking the end of the Korean War would be held and that three of the legion’s members would be recognized. He also said a wreath will be laid at the monument in front of the hall.
Any Korean War veterans from other areas are welcome to attend the ceremony and will be introduced. The public also is invited.
The three veterans to be recognized Saturday have received and will be wearing the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. This commemorative medal from the Korean government is given in appreciation to Canadian service men and women who served in the Korean War or who participated in the United Nations peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955.
The following are bios of the three who will be recognized in Wedgeport this weekend:
Nelson J. Deveau
Nelson J. Deveau was born in Weymouth, Digby County, Nov. 2, 1933. He joined the Canadian Army in 1951. In 1953 he went to Korea. He was driving an ambulance transporting the wounded from the front line to a forward field dressing station. He still has nightmares resulting from this experience. He returned to Canada in 1954 after serving one year in Korea. He had three tours in Germany, the first one being from 1955 to 1958, serving in the Canadian Army Transport Company. In 1956 he married Elfriede Bernodoref a German woman. Nelson speaks French, English and German fluently. He also knows some Korean and Italian. He was stationed at separate times in Halifax, Gagetown and Borden. He retired from the military after 25 years of service. He lives in Wellington, Yarmouth County.
Arnold Robert (Bob) Garron
Bob Garron was born May 8, 1934. He is a native of Brier Island, Digby County. In 1951 he joined the Canadian Army, serving in the artillery regiment. He went to fight in Korea in January 1953. His unit was attached to the Royal 22nd Regiment, also known as the Vandoos, which was subjected to ‘‘intense Chinese bombardment in the shadows of Hill 227 and Hill 355,” according to documents. Garron remembers very well this fighting episode since he was part of it on the front line. He returned to Canada in May 1954. He made four tours of service in Germany and served in various Canadian Army bases. He was in the military until 1983 after 33 years of service. After his retirement from the military he moved to Wedgeport and Plymouth in Yarmouth County and now lives in Yarmouth.
Leslie J. Muise
Leslie J, Muise was born Nov. 15, 1932 in Rocco Point, Yarmouth County. In 1951 he joined the Canadian Army, serving in the ant-iaircraft artillery regiment. In November 1953 he had the option to volunteer to go to Germany or South Korea. He chose South Korea. The fighting had stopped then, but he was in constant standby in case of renewed fighting. He came back to Canada in May 1954. He got out of the army and joined the navy, serving in the signal corps until 1963. His ship was decommissioned, after which time he was stationed in Shelburne County for three years. He had married in 1959. Because being in the navy he was often living apart from his wife, he rejoined the army, this time in the signal corps. He was also stationed in Ontario and New Brunswick at various times. He retired from the Canadian military in 1977 after 26 years of service.
