1. AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO QUEEN, KING AND COUNTRY, MASTER WARRANT OFFICER PATRICK LOVE MMM CD RCCS WILL RETIRE FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ON 31 MARCH 2023. THIS SERVICE INCLUDES 2 YEARS AS A MEMBER OF THE PRIMARY RESERVE.

2. PATRICK INITIALLY ENROLLED IN THE PRIMARY RESERVE IN 1982 AS A MOBILE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (MSE OP) WITH 23 SERVICE BATTALION IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO. IN 1984, HE TRANSFERRED TO THE REGULAR FORCE, AS A RADIO OPERATOR NOW KNOWN AS A SIGNAL OPERATOR. UPON COMPLETION OF RADIO OPERATOR TRADE QUALIFICATION TRAINING AT THE CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS (CFSCE) IN 1985, PATRICK WAS POSTED TO 427 TACTICAL HELICOPTER SQUADRON (427 TAC HEL), IN PETAWAWA, ONTARIO.

THROUGHOUT PATRICK’S CAREER HE HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AT 23 SERVICE BATTALION HAMILTON ONTARIO, CENTRAL MILITIA AREA HEADQUARTERS TORONTO ONTARIO, 427 TAC HEL PETAWAWA ONTARIO TWICE, 4 CANADIAN MECHANIZED BRIGADE GROUP (CMBG) HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL SQUADRON (HQ AND SIG SQN) LAHR GERMANY, 2 CMBG HQ AND SIG SQN PETAWAWA ONTARIO TWICE, 734 COMMUNICATIONS SQUADRON REGINA SASKATCHEWAN, COMBAT TRAINING CENTRE HEADQUARTERS GAGETOWN NEW BRUNSWICK, 3 AREA SUPPORT GROUP SIGNAL SQUADRON GAGETOWN NEW BRUNSWICK, 742 COMMUNICATIONS SQUADRON DETACHMENT WAINWRIGHT ALBERTA, 4TH CANADIAN DIVISION HQ/JOINT TASK FORCE CENTRAL TORONTO ONTARIO , NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND (NORAD) HQ COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO USA, 3RD CANADIAN DIVISION HQ EDMONTON ALBERTA AND CANADIAN MANOEUVRE TRAINING CENTRE HQ WAINWRIGHT ALBERTA.

PATRICK’S DEPLOYMENTS INCLUDE: EX LIGHTNING STRIKE GOOSE BAY LABRADOR 1986, EX BRAVE LION BARDUFOSS NORWAY 1986, G7 SUMMIT TORONTO 1988, OPERATION PIVOT PORT AU PRINCE HAITI 1995, THE FLOOD OF THE CENTURY WINNIPEG MANITOBA 1997 AND WHILE SERVING AT NORAD TO ALASKA, FLORIDA AND NEW YORK STATE 2015-2020.

MWO LOVE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ORDER OF MILITARY MERIT IN 2009. IN 2020 PATRICK WAS AWARDED THE UNITED STATES DEFENSE MERITOROUS SERVICE MEDAL FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEFENSE OF NORTH AMERICA WHILE SERVING AT NORAD HQ.

FAMILY AND COMRADES IN ARMS HAVE BEEN INFLUENTIAL DURING MWO LOVE’S CAREER. THE CAMARADERIE AND SHARED EXPERIENCES WITH HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS HAS ALLOWED HIM TO PROGRESS AND SERVE AS LONG AS HE HAS. HE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE WITH WHOM HE HAS SERVED FOR THE FRIENDSHIP AND GUIDANCE THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED. PATRICK IS PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF HIS SPOUSE SONDRA, HIS SON JAMES ALSO A SIGNALS OPERATOR SERGEANT AND HIS DAUGHTER MELISSA.

3. MWO LOVE’S PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE TO RETURN HOME TO MORINVILLE AB, ENJOY THE SUMMER WITH SONDRA AND FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO WITH HIS TIME AND NOT DRIVE SONDRA CRAZY.

4. A DEPART WITH DIGNITY WITH COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE HELD AT 1200 HOURS ON 29 MARCH 2023 AT THE GARRISON WAINWRIGHT WARRANT OFFICER’S AND SERGEANT’S MESS FOR THOSE WHO CAN MAKE IT IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY VIA TEAMS FOR ALL OTHERS WHO WOULD CARE TO PARTICIPATE.

BEST WISHES, ANECDOTES, AMUSING STORIES AND PICTURES MAY BE PASSED TO CWO A.G. TODD – [email protected].