Canadian Army Aviation
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Joseph Albert Omer Jules André began his military career with the COTC/ROTP program at the University of Montreal in Sep 50 which became a subsidization scheme for the Regular Force. After graduating in Jun 53, he proceeded to the RCASC School in Camp Borden, completing Phase II officer training there and Phase III with 19 Company RCASC in Whitehorse and Dawson Creek on the North West Highway System.
Completing his officer training, Lt Desjardins was posted in Mar 54 to 5 Coy RCASC in Valcartier and La Citadel, Quebec City. He spent two years as a Transport Officer and three more years as an instructor at the Canadian Army Training School.
Selected for pilot training, André completed the first Army course at the Primary Flying School, RCAF Station Centralia from Nov 59 to Feb 60 on the Chipmunk aircraft. His course proceeded to Rivers, Manitoba and the Canadian Joint Air Training Center (CJATC) where Capt Desjardins earned his wings on the L-19 aircraft in May 60. André then served as OC Liaison Flight at the Light Aircraft School (LAS) CJATC while waiting for his rotary wing training on the H-5 and H-13 helicopters, which he successfully completed in Nov-Dec. From Jan to Aug 61 he once again flew with the LAS Liaison Flight. Capt Desjardins next served a short tour from Sep 61 to May 62 as OIC Workshop Platoon 4 Transport Company RCASC, Winnipeg, before being assigned to the Military Component Canadian Delegation (MCCD) to the International Commission of Control and Supervision in Indo-China. He initially served two months at Saigon in the South and Lao Kay in North Vietnam before becoming the MCCD Staff Officer in Vientiane, Laos for the remaining ten months of his tour. On his return to Canada Jul 63, André went to Camp Borden as the Assistant Chief Instructor and then commanded the Depot Company of the RCASC School. From Sep 66 to Jul 67 he attended the Canadian Army Staff College in Kingston, Ontario. Promoted on graduation, Maj Desjardins became the Commanding Officer 1 Transport Company RCASC, with the Canadian Brigade in West Germany until Jul 70. Back in his home province, André served as Transportation Staff Officer at Mobile Command HQ, St Hubert QC until his appointment in Aug 74 as Director of Transport for the Montreal Olympics Organizing Committee. After the 76 Games finished, LtCol Desjardins became CFB Montreal’s Base Administrative Officer until Apr 79 when he was assigned to the UN Emergency Forces Middle East (UNEF 2) as the Assistant Chief of Logistics. Completing six months in Ismailia Egypt, André returned to CFB Montreal as the Base Technical Services Officer until leaving the Canadian Forces in Sep 81. André remained active after his military service. He served one year as Director Sani Sport in St. Bruno, two years as Director of Security at the Montreal Convention Center, and a further 17 years with Public Works Canada as Assets Management at their Montreal Office. He is currently enjoying his retirement, living on Nuns’ Island, Montreal. |
