Fonds Fonds 54 - Tom Hradec fonds

Thomas F. Hradec was born 6 January 1944 at Victoria, British Columbia. Raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan he worked in the nickel mines of Thompson, Manitoba, and for a short time with Burns and Co. in Prince Albert. Tom joined the Canadian Army on 02 August 1962 and was enlisted in the ranks of the First Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry after completion of Basic Training (the first and second phases were completed in Edmonton, Alberta and the third and final phase was conducted in Calgary, Alberta). He was posted in March 1963 to Victoria, British Columbia and then to Germany in the fall of 1963. Private Hradec remained in Germany until he was posted to Edmonton, Alberta, in the fall of 1966. While in Edmonton, he was posted to Jump Company after completing his (parachute) Jump Course in Rivers, Manitoba, that same year. In the spring of 1967 he was attached to the Alberta Centennial tour under the command of Major de Chastelain and was one of the main soldiers involved with the unarmed combat display. In the Fall of 1967 Private Hradec was on the Junior NCO's course conducted in Sarcee Barracks (Calgary, Alberta). Shortly after the completion of this course he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In the spring of 1968 Corporal Hradec was posted with the First Battalion to Cyprus. While in Cyprus he served on three different outposts, Stampede Corral, Saddle and Templose. He returned to Canada in October 1968 and was posted to Calgary. In October 1969 Corporal Hradec was posted to Germany with the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. In 1971 the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and the Royal Canadian Regiment formed the Third Mechanized Commando Unit, stationed in Baden Baden, southern Germany. Tom was promoted to Master Corporal in 1972. In the fall of 1974 M/Cpl. Hradec was posted back to Canada to the First Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry stationed in Calgary. On the 15th of September 1975 he was honourably discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces. Since his release from the Canadian Armed Forces Tom was with the Alberta Correctional Services until he retired in 2002. He was National President of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United nations Peacekeeping in the 2000s, and was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in 2008. In 2016 he was living near Moyie, BC.