Charles Belzile

Lt.-Gen. Charles Belzile was born in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, on March 12, 1933. As a youth, he was exposed to the armed forces as troop trains passed by his home during the Second World War. He joined the reserves, then the regular force with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in 1951. In 35 years of service, Lt.-Gen. Belzile has served in Korea, Germany, Cyprus and Canada. His appointments have included regimental duties with the Queen’s Own Rifles, Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion Royal 22e Régiment, Commander 4th Canadian Mechanized Group and Canadian Forces Europe in Germany. Since retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces, he has held numerous posts as a consultant and honorary chair. He is currently Chair of the VAC 60th Anniversary Committee on VE-Day commemorations and Grand President of the Royal Canadian Legion. International honours include Commander of the Legion of Honour of France and recipient of the Vimy Award. Lt.-Gen. Belzile resides in Ottawa, Ontario.

• Part 1: A Different Kind of Life

• Part 2: They Salute the Commission

• Part 3: Getting to Korea

• Part 4: Kept on Your Toes!

• Part 5: The Harshest Judges

• Part 6: Cold War Europe

• Part 7: I Call it a University

• Part 8: Ich bein ein Berliner

• Part 9: Cyprus Situation

• Part 10: Diplomacy Doesn’t Have a Rank

• Part 11: As Good as Any