KARL D. RYCKMAN

​Born:
Enlisted:
Tour:​​
​Rank:
​Discharged:

​​Essex Ontario
December 1950
Mediterranean, Caribbean & Korea
Leading Seaman, Engineering Mechanic First Class
December 1955

    Karl Douglas Ryckman was born on October 28, 1931 in Essex, Ontario. It was December, 1950 when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy at HMCS Hunter in Windsor and assigned his service number of 9595-H. Karl soon found himself on a train headed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia where he completed five months of basic training. Then in July, 1951, Karl was posted to HMCS Naden in Esquimalt, British Columbia to complete a course in Engineering Mechanics. 

    Returning to Halifax in November, 1951, Karl was then drafted as a stoker to HMCS Magnificent, an aircraft carrier. While on this tour of duty, Karl visited ports in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, as well as attending the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in England. 

    He remained with the “Maggie” until July, 1954, at which time he was drafted to HMCS Huron, a tribal class destroyer. The Huron was deployed to Korea for peacekeeping services and remained there until March, 1955, at which time she returned to Halifax Harbour. Karl remained in the Huron until his discharge in December, 1955. At the time of discharge, Karl was a Leading Seaman, Engineering Mechanic First Class (LSEM1).

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