'It looked like he wiped a tear away': Edmonton veteran celebrates 100 years
One of the original members of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 435 Squadron recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
Warren Smith was a Radio Technician, fixing radios in the Hercules while based primarily in Burma during the war. A war his daughter said he shouldn’t have been fighting in.
“His eyesight was bad, and he couldn’t pass the eye test, so he memorized the eye chart,” said Debbie Smith, Warren’s daughter.
“He just desperately wanted to be a part of the Canadian contingent during the war.”
She had to learn about her dad’s time in the conflict through a book he ghost-wrote titled “The Inventive Life of Warren Smith.”
“He has a ton of war stories,” said Debbie. “But he didn’t tell his daughters because my mom didn’t want to know what went on during the war, because he did some risky things she didn’t want to hear about.”
However, he did share his stories with his grandchildren.
“It’s a gift,” said grandson Scott Moore. “He’s one of the most special men in my life and in a lot of people in my family’s lives.”
So when it came time for Warren’s 100th birthday on Sept. 27, there were two parties and several cakes to mark the special occasion.
“Every year, we celebrated another milestone, and we made a big deal of it because we honestly didn’t think he would make the next one,” Debbie said.
“Now I think he will outlive me,” she added with a laugh.
To make this birthday even more special, the family invited the current 435 Squadron, which is now based in Winnipeg, MB, to one of his parties.
“100 years is a milestone for anyone,” said Curtis Cusack, RCAF Squadron 435 Pilot Leader.
Cusack was one of three squadron members who made the trip to Edmonton.
“I made a joke that this is more of an honour for myself because I’m one of the newest members of the Squadron,” Cusack said.
“It’s nice to be able to look back at our heritage and be there with our members that were a part of it,” he added.
Warren has had a series of small strokes and doesn’t speak very well. Debbie said people typically don’t get much of a reaction from him anymore, but the day of the party was different.
“That day he was reacting to everybody. You can tell by the look on his face and in his eyes that he knew who everybody was, holding their hand and visiting,” she said.
The 435 also gave him a framed picture of a Hercules signed by the entire current Squadron.
“It looked like he wiped a tear away from his eye when we presented it to him,” said Cusack. “Even though he’s non-verbal, I think he definitely understood what was going on.”
Moore said his grandfather is an inspiration.
“Someone that I look up to. Someone I try to model my life, my being a husband, father, all of that, after him.”
With files from CTV Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.