KAWARTHA LAKES-Donald Smoke is the last surviving WWII Veteran at Alderville First Nation.
He joined the Royal Canadian Army, 15th Regiment in Petawawa, when he was 17. He was a Gunner and was known for his accuracy as a nine-mile sniper. He served in Belgium and the Netherlands. After the war ended in Europe, he signed up for active duty in the Pacific. Japan would surrender and World War II would come to an end before he would set sail.
In more recent years, Veteran Don Smoke was called upon, by a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations to participate with fellow veterans, at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day, to lay a wreath on behalf of all First Nations Veterans in Canada. In his words, he went to war to preserve his liberty and rights.
Thank you for your service!
Story sent in by Marsha Smoke
