{"id":12335,"date":"2022-02-20T05:17:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T10:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rca-arc.org\/?p=12335"},"modified":"2022-02-20T20:21:25","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T01:21:25","slug":"cwo-rsm-lj-vallee-omm-mm-cd-1923-2000-2","status":"publish","type":"greatgunners","link":"https:\/\/rca-arc.org\/greatgunners\/cwo-rsm-lj-vallee-omm-mm-cd-1923-2000-2\/","title":{"rendered":"CWO (RSM) LJ Vallee OMM, MM, CD (1923-2000)"},"content":{"rendered":"

CWO (RSM) LJ Vallee OMM, MM, CD (1923-2000)<\/h2>\n

\"\"Leo Joseph Vallee was born in Carleton Place, Ontario, on 15 December 1923. His father worked in a spinning mill and raised Leo and his younger brother after his wife\u2019s death in 1928. An active youth excelling in sports and outdoor activities, Leo attended schools in Carleton Place and Renfrew.<\/p>\n

In February 1940, at age 16, Rudy (an obvious nickname) joined the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment and soon attended his first summer camp in Petawawa. In the following March he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery and trained at Peterborough and Petawawa. The possibility of adventure, challenge and a broad general education appealed to young Gunner Vallee.<\/p>\n

In July 1941 he embarked as a member of the 14th Field Regiment RCA on the Empress of Canada, bound for Britain. During the three years he would spend with his unit preparing to invade France ,he mastered the duties of driver, gun number, signaller and technical assistant as the unit learned to use its self-propelled howitzers.<\/p>\n

Gunner Vallee played his part in the historic assault. After a month and a half in Normandy he earned the Military Medal for \u201cgallant and distinguished services in the field\u201d by his actions in a gun position fire which ignited charge bags and spread to a gun.<\/p>\n

He served in North-West Europe as a bombardier until hostilities ended, then volunteered for the Canadian Army Pacific Force. On repatriation he joined the 1st Canadian Field Artillery Battalion RCA, Petawawa, but never deployed to the theatre.<\/p>\n

At the end of the Pacific war in August 1945, he was posted to the 71st Field Regiment RCA in Petawawa. In September 1946 he married and joined the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) in Camp Shilo, Manitoba.<\/p>\n

In early 1947 he attended the Unit Air Transportability Course at the Joint Air School, Rivers, Manitoba, beginning a long association with airborne forces. He was posted to B Light Battery (Para) 1 RCHA as a Group III instructor in the spring of 1949, and qualified as a parachutist.<\/p>\n

The following September he joined 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery as it prepared for service in Korea. In October 1950 he was sent to Korea with its Advance Water Party, but returned to Fort Lewis in December 1950, to rejoin the Regiment as it trained.<\/p>\n

After six months training at Fort Lewis, his unit boarded the American ship, General Edwin D. Patrick, arriving on 4 May 1951 in Pusan, Korea. Now a Warrant Officer 2nd Class, he served in Korea until 27 December. Soon after he found himself at Shilo and the Gunner School once again. He qualified as a Field Branch Artillery Instructor (Group IV), and was posted to 1st Light Battery (Para) as Battery Sergeant Major.<\/p>\n

In late 1957, as part of the normal three-year rotation of regiments to the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group serving with the British Army of the Rhine, Sergeant-Major Vallee, now with the British Drill and Duties Course and a three-month attachment to the Royal Horse Artillery under his belt, joined the 1st Regiment to serve as Battery Sergeant-Major (BSM) of B Battery. After three years in Europe, he returned to Petawawa\u2019s 4th Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery where he became BSM of L Battery. In September 1963 he was promoted and appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM). After three busy years he again travelled West to join Manitoba District\u2019s Instructional Staff, although he was soon attached to Canadian Forces Base Shilo. In January 1968 he returned to Eastern Ontario for employment at Canadian Forces Headquarters, Ottawa.<\/p>\n

His second appointment as RSM was made in November 1968, this time of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Germany. He played a key role in guiding the unit\u2019s conversion from light towed to medium self-propelled guns. His experience of some 25 years and of service on similar equipment during the World War II provided valuable insight to the employment of the 155mm M109.<\/p>\n

In September 1971 he was appointed RSM for an unprecedented third time, this time with the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He seemed to be everywhere, talking to soldiers, listening to their concerns, sharing risks and hardship, and setting an example. He accompanied the Regiment across Canada, into the Arctic, to the U.S. and Jamaica. He parachuted with the Regiment\u2019s sub-units at every opportunity.<\/p>\n

In late 1973 he left the Canadian Airborne Regiment and assumed the duties of Artillery Chief Warrant Officer with the Director of Artillery at National Defence Headquarters.<\/p>\n

Chief Warrant Officer Vallee\u2019s unique and significant contributions to The Royal Regiment, the Canadian Forces and to Canada were recognized in 1974 with his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit. He retired to pension on 30 December 1975 with 35 years service spanning two wars.
\nNot content to end his service, he worked from 1978 to 1983 as Officer in Charge of CFB Petawawa\u2019s Corps of Commissionaires detachment. His unwavering service to The Royal Regiment and concern for Canada\u2019s soldiers remains a paragon for future generations.<\/p>\n

Chief Warrant Officer Vallee passed away in Ottawa in 2000.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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