The Second World War ended in September 1945.
Many Canadians never returned home after making the trip overseas to fight.
Michael Ostash and Ronald LeRoy were two of the fortunate ones who were able to return. Both men now live in 麻豆精选 and agreed to sit down with 麻豆精选 to share their stories.
Ostash is just shy of turning 100, meaning he was only 15 when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.
The young man enlisted in Manitoba where he lived in 1943 and was sent off to Nova Scotia for training.
鈥淢y older brother, he said he would join the army if I don鈥檛. I said, 鈥楴o I鈥檓 joining the army,鈥欌�� Ostash said, noting he was both anxious and excited.
Although exact dates are hard to remember, Ostash believes he left by train just before Christmas in 1943 to Halifax. From there he sailed to London, England.
鈥淭hey had everything arranged鈥hey took me to the clothing shop to make sure I had what we wear in England鈥hey got me a place to spend the night.鈥�
The next day, the young man was sent to Italy where he was questioned about his driving abilities. Upon showing his driver鈥檚 license he was handed the keys to a rig. 鈥淭hat was the beginning,鈥� Ostash said about his time serving, adding that he drove the trucks up until the moment he was discharged.
鈥淚 even went with a bunch of guys that were going to go check out the area to see if they could set up a front there鈥鈥檓 a driver, so I took them out there. They told me where to go, and I brought them back.鈥�
Ostash enjoyed his job of 鈥渓ooking after the boys,鈥� driving the trucks of troops to and from the frontlines of battle.
鈥淓verything just went perfectly for me,鈥� Ostash commented. 鈥淚 was doing what I wanted to do.鈥�
Ostash made a place for himself among the troops as a highly esteemed trucker and received multiple medals and awards.
Ronald LeRoy had a much different experience of the Second World War. Instead of loving his job, the soldier got emotional answering yes when asked if he was in the trenches and in active combat.
LeRoy lived in Saskatchewan when the war started.
He had recently entered his teenage years, but work was scarce and he enlisted with the army.
鈥淵ou had to be 17 to be in the army, so that鈥檚 what I used and life went on.鈥�
LeRoy, like Ostash, then travelled to Nova Scotia for training before sailing to Holland on the RMS Aquitania.
Every day, LeRoy got up to check the board for the list of jobs for the day.
鈥淚t was pretty tough on your body. People used to say 鈥業鈥檓 not scared鈥� and 鈥業鈥檓 not afraid鈥�, until all of a sudden you were on a stake out and hadn鈥檛 eaten,鈥� he said, recalling the hunger pains and the general fear of survival.
There were many days that LeRoy said he just wanted it to be over, but he did enjoy the teamwork and camaraderie of the army.
LeRoy spent about five years with the army. His son explained that LeRoy was heading to the Japanese front after the war was declared over in Europe on May 8, 1945.
While making the trip to Japan, the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
Those two bombs marked the end of LeRoy鈥檚 years of service and he sailed back home to Canada on the RMS Queen Mary.
The war came to an end on Sept. 2, 1945.
Ostash went on to work as a dairy farmer while LeRoy spent his years working on the oil rigs. Both men chose to retire in 麻豆精选 and are currently living in senior facilities in the city.
More than 40,000 Canadians lost their lives in the Second World War.
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