Gord Schissler

Gordon Schissler was 19 when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (RCNR) on August 5th, 1943. He received basic training in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and due to having 2 years of previous experience as a seaman on Great Lakes ships, Gord was instantly promoted to Able Seaman. During his training on a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun, Gord was to shoot a banner being pulled behind a plane. Because he shot off the tail of the plane, he earned the gunner position onboard the ship he was stationed too. He was stationed in Plymouth, England and Azores Portugal and throughout his service he was a helmsman, anti-aircraft gunner and he worked in rum ration distribution.

Two memorable missions for Gordon included, on the morning of D-Day when his ship (HMCS Cowichan) swept Omaha Beach for mines to clear for the landing of US troops and another mission, soon after D-Day, where he hoisted an unexploded German mine onboard with a winch. He, his best friend Duncan Cameron and the ship's captain, were tasked to disarm it. When they opened the access panel, Duncan said “What colour wire do I cut first?” Gord said “We’re Georgian Bay boys, the water’s blue, cut the blue one!” They disabled the mine and lived to tell the tale. 

Because of his wartime service, Gord lost some of his hearing and received an arm injury both from operating and firing the gun. He was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945, 1939-1945 Star, the Volunteer Service Medal and the France and Germany Star. 

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