MWO WARD SAMSON WILL RETIRE ON 30 JULY 2009 AFTER MORE THAN 28 PLUS YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CANADIAN FORCES, THE THIRD REGIMENT ROYAL CANADIAN HORSE ARTILLERY AND THE CONSRUCTION AND ENGINEERING BRANCH. DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER MWO SAMSON SERVED IN MANY LOCATIONS. HE STARTED HIS CAREER 02 JANUARY 1981 AT THE CF RECRUIT SCHOOL IN CORNWALLIS. FROM MARCH 1981 TO DEC 1988 HE WAS STATIONED AT CFB SHILO, MANITOBA AS AN ARTILLERYMAN, WITH A TRIP TO CYPRUS FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 1982. IN JANUARY 1989 HE REMUSTERED TO THE 612 STRUCTURAL TECHNICIAN TRADE AND WAS POSTED TO CFB SHEARWATER NOVA SCOTIA FROM JUNE 1989 TO JULY 1993 AND ON TO CFB GOOSE BAY LABRADOR FROM JULY 1993 TO JULY 1996 WHICH INCLUDED A TRIP TO ALERT. FROM THERE HIS TRAVELS TOOK HIM TO CFB COLD LAKE, ALBERTA FROM JULY 1996 TO JULY 1998 AND THEN ON TO THE CF SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING AT GAGETOWN FROM JULY 1998 TO JULY 2004. FROM GAGETOWN HE WAS POSTED TO THE CANADIAN EMBASSY IN KYIV, UKRAINE FROM JULY 2004 TO FEBRUARY 2007.UPON HIS RETURN TO CANADA HE TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN OTTAWA AND HIS NEW POSITION AT DIRECTOR GENERAL AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (DGAEPM R&CS).

WARD AND CINDY HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE BACK TO DEER LAKE, NEWFOUNDLAND (THE ROCK FOR YOU FOREIGNERS) WHERE THEY ALREADY HAVING THEIR HOME WAITING FOR THEM.

A SMALL RETIREMENT LUNCHEON WILL BE HELD IN WARD’S HONOUR, (DATES TO BE DETERMINED) BEST WISHES, ANECDOTES AND MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO CWO KEITH THISTLE, EMAIL: KEITH.THISTLE@FORCES.GC.CA .