Retired Brigadier-General Cliff Walker, whose 35-year military career includes being appointed Commanding Officer of the Rifles when he was 28
Cliff Walker says that throughout his many years of service, working with young Canadians is still one of the greatest things he’s been able to do, “I’ve met kings and queens and presidents, but the best part of all is just seeing the quality of young persons from coast-to-coast in Canada that have stepped forward and said I would like to give something back to my country.”
Walker served for 35 years, and said he joined the army during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“In June of 1962 it looked like World War Three was about to break out. There was lineups of four people abreast that came out of the armoury door all the way down to Dewdney Avenue to Athol Street waiting to enlist. I don’t think that you would ever see that again today,” he said.
Walker said his father was a war veteran and recruiting officer at the time. He said his father told him that it was now his turn to serve the country.
“The day before I enlisted he signed all the papers saying I was 18 years old and eligible. The day before I’d joined the army, I’d blown out 15 candles on my birthday cake,” he said.
At just 15 years old, Walker served as a combat engineer. Luckily for him and others who enlisted, the threat of World War Three was averted through diplomacy.
But even though the threat of the war was gone, Walker said he decided to stay in the military and follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I certainly was attracted to that life. My dad was my hero. I wanted to be like my dad. He was a soldier. I wanted to be a soldier. He was a teacher. I wanted to be a teacher. He was a disabled veteran. Unfortunately, I’m a disabled veteran. I didn’t want to do that following him,” he said.
But looking back on his career, Walker said he wouldn’t change a thing.
“I was honoured to have the opportunity to wear the uniform and serve my country,” he said.