Branch Retirement Messages

RETIREMENT - Master Warrant Officer James Hildebrand 1 Cdn Air Div HQ 00109

1. THE TIME HAS COME TO BID A FOND FAREWELL TO MWO JAMES HILDEBRAND, WHO WILL BE RETIRING ON 02 JULY 09, AFTER MORE THAN 33 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE CANADIAN FORCES AND THE COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRONICS BRANCH.

2. JIM JOINED THE CF AS A TEL TECH ON 15 JUNE 1976 AND COMPLETED HIS BASIC TRAINING AND TRADES TRAINING AT CORNWALLIS, NS AND KINGSTON, ON RESPECTIVELY. AFTER COMPLETION OF HIS TRAINING HE WAS POSTED TO THE FOLLOWING UNITS: 727 COMM SQN ST.JOHNS, CFS CARP, CF LANGUAGE SCHOOL OTTAWA, CFSCE KINGSTON, A RETURN TO ST JOHNS, 764 COMM SQN OTTAWA, 726 COMM SQN HALIFAX, N6 HALIFAX, CFB COMOX, A RETURN TO N6 HALIFAX, ANOTHER YEAR LONG FRENCH COURSE IN SHEARWATER NS, DIMEI OTTAWA, AND FINALLY TO 1 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION HQ WINNIPEG. HE ALSO MANAGED TO SQUEEZE TOURS INTO EGYPT AND CYPRUS AMONGST ALL HIS POSTINGS.

3. DURING HIS TIME IN THE CF, MWO HILDEBRAND WENT THROUGH MANY OF THE CHANGES THE BRANCH HAS FACED. HE WENT FROM BEING A TEL TECH, TO A SIS TECH IN 1996 TO FINALLY BECOMING AN ATIS TECH IN 2000. HIS VAST EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS, ACQUIRED OVER SUCH A VARIED CAREER, WILL BE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE.

4. JIM AND HIS WIFE JANE ARE PLANNING TO RETIRE IN TWILLINGATE NEWFOUNDLAND. WE WISH THEM HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVOURS. A FAREWELL PARTY IS BEING PLANNED AT THEIR HOME, 19 JUN 09. FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED. BRING YOUR OWN BEVERAGES. PERS WISHING TO ATTEND OR TO SEND CONGRATS, ANECDOTES AND GOOD OLD FASHIONED WAR STORIES CAN FWD THEM BY MESSAGE TO 1 CDN AIR DIV HQ A6 OR BY E-MAIL TO CWO DALE HORWILL, 1 CDN AIR DIV HQ A6 CWO OR VIA FAX CSN 257-2639/COMM 204-833-2639.

CWO Fequet, Branch CWO presented a Branch Coin to MWO JR Hildebrand, a loyal contributor to the C&E Museum (Branch) Fund, on his retirement.