Published July 12, 2015 · By Rolly Dusseault
Cpl Bob Bussell has finally decided to call it quits and retire for good.
Bob was born in Montreal, PQ and enrolled in the military on 23 May 1974. He started basic training in Cornwallis, NS in June 1974, completed Combat Engineer QL3 shortly after, and then was posted to 1 Fd Sqn, Petawawa from Dec 1974 to Feb 1979.
Posted to CFB Chilliwack Base Operations for the first time in 1979, Cpl Bussell enjoyed playing enemy force against CF Officer Cadet School (CFOCS) candidates as well as teaching First Aid. After a short three years in Chilliwack, a posting took place in 1982 to Lahr, Germany to choke down some spätzle and bratwurst.
In Germany, Cpl Bussell remustered over to the heavy equipment side (042 trade), then joined a new unit called Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) in 1986. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, he came back to Canada on an early repat in 1987.
Cpl Bussell, missing the mountains, was again posted back to CFB Chilliwack and he worked with different units including Base Ops, DMER pool, CFOCS, CFSME, etc., until base closure in 1997. Cpl Bussell was then posted to the Reserve world in 1997 with 6 FES as the RSS transport NCO until June 2004.
Cpl Bussell enjoyed working with the Reserves so much, he decided to be one. 6 FES, now 39 CER, is where Cpl Bussell has been employed and continues to work until retirement in June 2015. Cpl Bussell has always been known as the “go to guy,” qualified in every piece of heavy equipment and watercraft the Army has to offer.
The Engineer Family wishes Cpl Bussell all the best in his retirement after over 41 years of service. He will be hanging his hat in the Chilliwack Area.
Any anecdotes or well wishes can be forwarded to MWO Terry Haley email: Terrance.Haley@forces.gc.ca or call (604) 858-1011 Ext 1088.