Originally from Roblin, Manitoba, Vavenby resident Joe Short joined the Canadian military (army) on Nov. 8, 1957 at age 17. He served with the second battalion, 2 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI - Airborne) until 1963.
From there he transferred to the cook trade and served three years in Soest, Germany, with the Vandoos’ medical unit.
Postings in Canada included Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Wainwright, Kingston, Gagetown, CFB Shiloh in Manitoba and six months at CFS Alert on Ellesmere Island.
Overseas postings included one six-month tour to Cyprus, two six-month tours to Egypt, the Golan Heights on the Israel/Syria border, and Norway.
He trained with several American military units in bases in Alaska, Yakima and Fort Lewis.
He spent the last two years of his military career on HMCS MacKenzie at CFB Esquimalt.
Upon retirement in 1985 he taught foods at a college in Nanaimo and also owned two cafes in Sidney, B.C.
Short moved to Vavenby in 1998 where he has been active in the local Legion. Positions served with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 259 include president, vice-president and sergeant-at-arms.