Don Russell grew up in Calgary and started working on a farm at a young age. By the time he was 17 (and a half!), he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy, eager for a change after long, hot days in the fields. “You can’t imagine what it was like working on a farm,” Don recalls. “It’s 100 degrees, and you’re paid 25 cents a day.” When he joined the Navy, one of his officers remarked that he was always smiling. Don replied, “You guys pay me a dollar a day, I only have to get up at 7:00 am, have a hot breakfast, I’m getting a free education, and you pay for my clothes! On the farm, I had to be up at 5:30, eat cold oats for
Initially, Don wanted to join the Air Force, but with a Grade 6 education, he didn’t meet the qualifications. Even the Navy required at least Grade 8, so Don fibbed about his education and passed the aptitude test. With than, he was enlisted in the Navy.
While his service in the Navy was life changing, it was his time aboard the HMCS Athabaskan during the Korean War that left the most significant mark. The Athabaskan, a tribal-class destroyer, was deployed on three tours during the Korean conflict starting in 1950, with duties ranging from anti-submarine patrols to troop transport, evacuations, and bombardments.
At just 20 years old, Don served aboard the Athabaskan for 18 months as a stoker in the boiler room. He remembers conditions were harsh below deck. “It was so cold there, there were icicles hanging off the fans. People don’t realize how cold it really was.”
In addition to his duties in the boiler room, Don delivered signal messages between ships, sometimes under dangerous circumstances. On one occasion, he found himself on a small 20-foot whale boat in complete darkness, with enemy ships firing overhead. “We were taking a signal from our ship to another one, but we couldn’t light up the lamps because there were shore guns aimed at us,” he explains.
Although he never knew for sure if the ship took enemy fire, he remembers when the Athabaskan was targeted by gunfire from the shore. The captain ordered the crew to return fire, and Don felt the power of the ship’s guns reverberating through the hull. “There was nothing left on the beach,” he recalls.
The Athabaskan was also involved in a dramatic rescue mission when an American Panther jet crashed just two miles ahead. The Athabaskan rushed to rescue the pilot, bringing him aboard in just 10 minutes. “I was on deck at the time and saw the whole thing! We got him on board and got him back to his carrier,” Don remembers.
After leaving the Navy, Don built a long and successful career in engineering. He worked in various roles across Canada, including with BC Ferries, the Department of Highways, and Island Tug. Engineering became his lifelong trade, shaped by the career in the Navy.
But Don never lost his love of aviation. In his spare time, Don developed a passion for rebuilding old airplanes and even set up a machine shop in a hanger he rents at Victoria Airport. “I won’t part with it!” he says.
Don’s life has been full of hard work, adventure, and service, and at 91, he continues to share his stories, leaving behind a legacy of courage and commitment.
Don receives support through the Veterans Health Centre program and recently moved to Veterans Memorial Lodge. Like all Canadian veterans, Don gave up so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today, and it is our privilege to support him. You can help veterans like Don enjoy the comforts of home and simple pleasures by making a donation today
