{"id":289088,"date":"2026-11-12T01:26:17","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T01:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/289088\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T01:26:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T01:26:17","slug":"winnipeg-veterans-reflect-on-second-world-war-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/289088\/","title":{"rendered":"Winnipeg veterans reflect on Second World War service"},"content":{"rendered":"

CTV’s Daniel Halmarson visits Deer lodge centre to hear from two veterans who fought on opposite sides of the world during the Second World War. <\/p>\n

At 102 and 101, Richard Earl and Stephen Andrushko are among the few remaining Canadians who can tell what the Second World War was like first-hand.<\/p>\n

Both enlisted at 18, both served as radio operators, and both now live at Deer Lodge Centre, where they arrived within the past year.<\/p>\n

The duo is part of a rapidly shrinking group. According to Veterans Affairs Canada, just over 4,300 Canadian veterans of the Second World War and the Korean War are still living, down from 5,649 at the last Remembrance Day.<\/p>\n

The federal department said it has no breakdown by conflict this year, though it estimated last year that 3,691 Second World War veterans were still living.<\/p>\n

\"\"Richard Earl, 102, is pictured at Deer Lodge Centre on Nov. 6, 2026. The Royal Canadian Air Force veteran said he has never lost sight of his contributions during the Second World War. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) Richard Earl, 102, is pictured at Deer Lodge Centre on Nov. 6, 2026. The Royal Canadian Air Force veteran said he has never lost sight of his contributions during the Second World War. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) <\/p>\n

Earl, a born-and-raised Winnipegger, said he was the youngest of his siblings. When the war began, his five brothers all enlisted, and he followed their lead, joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. He credited his longevity to genes from his mother, who he said lived to be 97.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was only young in those days, and I was venturous, so (enlisting) sat very well with me at the time,\u201d Earl told CTV News last week. \u201cI just thought, I wanted to fly.\u201d<\/p>\n

He got his wish, but not in the way he expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I joined the Air Force, I never realized that I would end up in Southeast Asia,\u201d he said. \u201cYou got to do as you\u2019re told. You obey orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Earl, circled in red, is seen in a group photo from the 1940s during his time in the Air Force. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) Earl, circled in red, is seen in a group photo from the 1940s during his time in the Royal Canadian Air Force. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) <\/p>\n

Earl served as a radio operator on a transport aircraft flying between India and Burma, now Myanmar, carrying supplies to British troops. He was one of the original members of No. 435 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force when it formed in 1944.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe British 14th Army. We helped them with their supplies because an army needs an awful lot to fight on,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was just a wonderful experience to serve overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n

He returned to Canada, as did all five of his brothers, and was greeted by his family. Earl said he went back to his apprenticeship with the Canadian National Railway, worked on steam locomotives and raised four children.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did my part,\u201d Earl said, adding he has never lost sight of his contributions.<\/p>\n

\"\"Earl served as a radio operator on aircraft like this one, flying supplies between India and Burma during the Second World War. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) Earl served as a radio operator on aircraft like this one, flying supplies between India and Burma during the Second World War. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) <\/p>\n

On a separate floor of Deer Lodge Centre lives Andrushko, who enlisted in the Canadian Army. Asked for his secret to a long life, he gave credit to a higher power.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank the guy upstairs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Andrushko said he joined the way many young people do.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got out of school, you\u2019re looking around. The first thing you\u2019re looking for is a job, eh? And you go to different places. So finally, I said, I\u2019ll join,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did my training as a radio operator in Kingston, and then transferred to England, and then to Belgium when the war was still on.\u201d<\/p>\n

His service also took him to Germany and Holland, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a Canadian, you had the duty, the responsibility to do your share as an adult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Stephen Andrushko, 101, is pictured at Deer Lodge Centre on Nov. 6, 2026. The Canadian Army veteran served as a radio operator in Europe during the Second World War. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) Stephen Andrushko, 101, is pictured at Deer Lodge Centre on Nov. 6, 2026. The Canadian Army veteran served as a radio operator in Europe during the Second World War. (Daniel Halmarson\/CTV News Winnipeg) <\/p>\n

Some of his friends in the Navy and Air Force never made it home, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would have been nice if they were able to make it home, meet with their parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was glad to get home, and then I started looking for a job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

When he returned, Andrushko said he went to work for the Canadian National Railway and attended college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank the people of Canada that they welcomed us back again, gave us opportunity for jobs, to go to school, get an education, and improve your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

With files from CTV News\u2019 Daniel Halmarson and The Canadian Press<\/p>\n

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