The Saskatchewanian son of Norwegian immigrants, he signed up and found himself training in Montana with the First Special Service Force.

A few months later, Austin Ole Gunderson submitted this request to marry Marabeth Edna Blake.
They marry in December 1942 and Austin updates his papers. Wife over mother.

He continues training with his American and Canadian brothers before heading off for Europe.

When he leaves, Betty is expecting.
A month after he leaves, a year after they married, Betty receives this letter about her Austin.
Their only child?

Austin Wayne Gunderson died in Montana two weeks before his father was killed in action in Italy.
“Love always - Betty”
"I always will adore that guy who taught my happy heart to fly."

We see you, Sergeant Austin Ole Gunderson.

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More from @CAFinUS

4 Jan
Germany, 1945. The Nazis ordered him to identify the Jews among the 1,275 American prisoners. The next morning, 1,275 stood together.

The Nazis were enraged. “You are to identify the Jews immediately.”

Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds:

“We are all Jews here.”
The commandant of the camp: “I'll give you one more chance. Have the Jewish men step forward or I will shoot you on the spot.”

Master Sergeant Edmonds: "If you shoot, you'll have to shoot us all. We are all Jews.”
The Jewish soldiers survived. More than 200 of the 1,275 Americans.

Their Master Sergeant survived. For the rest of his life, he never talked about the moment he stared calmly into the face of evil.

We see you, Roddie Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Read 5 tweets
27 Nov 21
They said she couldn’t fly in a jet because her "female parts would be damaged."

#16Days
“It was quite a thrill breaking the sound barrier at 100 feet...”
They said she couldn't complete the same basic training. They said she couldn’t work on the operations staff. They said she couldn't work in Intelligence. They said she couldn’t work overseas. They said many things.

She proved them wrong.
Read 8 tweets
19 Nov 21
This tree from Nova Scotia is now in Boston Common.

The Nova Scotians send one every year.

Why?
It's December 1917. Canada has been at war for more than three years.

But children in Halifax are excited because it's almost Christmas.
On December 6, two ships collide in Halifax Harbour. Sparks. Fire. Black smoke.

People watch from windows. Children walking to school run to the shoreline.

One ship is carrying relief supplies for war-torn Belgium. The other is laden with 2.9 kilotons of explosives.
Read 20 tweets
18 Nov 21
He was a laborer in Québec when the NHL came calling. The Boston Bruins offered him a tryout.

But Moe Hurwitz had other plans.

“There's no time to play hockey when millions of my brothers are getting killed in Europe.”
The children of Jewish immigrants Bella and Chaim endured the intolerance in Canada.

Still, after the declaration of war against Nazi Germany, five of them signed up to fight for Canada. Another joined the U.S. Army.
If, in the late 1930s, you frequented the bagel shops on The Main or read the sports pages in the Montréal Gazette, you would know of him.

He raced canoes down the St. Lawrence and stared down opponents on the rinks of Québec.

You would know Moe Hurwitz.
Read 20 tweets
4 Nov 21
Ethel. He ended up in the Bronx because of Ethel.
He studied at the University of Toronto and practiced in New York City. He signed up with the Canadians in 1915.

After 15 months at No. 11 Canadian General Hospital in England, he was sent home in poor health. He tried to get back overseas, but his health rendered him unfit.
Balance due: Nil
Read 4 tweets
31 Oct 21
He evacuated troops near Dunkirk. He rescued survivors of ships torpedoed by the Nazis. While at sea, he slept standing up.

He rode a torpedo.

Now, Harry DeWolf is circumnavigating North America.
1940. Near Dunkirk, HMCS St. Laurent is rescuing soldiers when a German bomber appears.

The ship’s gunners are ready. They wait for the order. The bomber rakes the ship with bullets. Bombs land ten feet away.

DeWolf: Why the hell didn't you fire?

Gunnery Officer: Sorry, sir.
July 1940. The SS Arandora Star leaves Liverpool bound for Canada carrying more than 1600 Italian and German prisoners of war. A German U-boat torpedos the ship.

In waters teeming with enemy submarines, DeWolf and the crew of HMCS St. Laurent rescue 857, including these sailors.
Read 16 tweets

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