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Thomas "Tommy" George Prince, (born on 15 Oct 1915 in Scanterbury, Manitoba, Canada) was Canada's most-decorated Aboriginal war veteran, having been awarded a total of 11 medals, one posthumously. Among those were six service medals.
Prince was raised on the Brokenhead OJIBWAY Nation reserve, north of Winnipeg.- He enlisted in the Canadian Army on 3 June 1940 and was assigned to the 1st Field Park Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. By 1942 Prince was a sergeant with the Canadian Parachute Battalion. Posted to the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, he was among a select group of Canadian soldiers sent to train with an American unit to form a specialized assault team. They became the 1st Special Service Force (1st SSF), known to the enemy as the "Devil's Brigade."
Tommy Prince distinguished himself with the 1st SSF in Italy and France, using the skills he'd learned growing up on the Reserve.-
In Italy he was responsible for the destruction of four german tanks that had been firing on Allied troops.-
In France, Prince endured a gruelling trek across rugged terrain to locate an enemy bivouac area. He led the brigade to the encampment, resulting in the capture of over 1000 german soldiers.-
When the fighting ended in southern France, Prince was summoned to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI decorated him with the Military Medal (MM) and, on behalf of the American president, the Silver Star with ribbon. Prince was one of 59 Canadians who were awarded the Silver Star during WW2, only three of whom also possessed the MM.-
Tommy Prince was honourably discharged on 15 June 1945 and returned to Canada. He came home to discover that the business he'd entrusted to friends had failed in his absence. Facing unemployment and discrimination, he re-enlisted and served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
During two tours of duty in the Korean war he won the Korean, Canadian Volunteer Service and United Nations Service medals. He was wounded and was honourably discharged on 28 Oct 1953.-
In civilian life, Prince had to fight his own demons, including alcoholism, a battle he won. He had a strong sense of civic duty and a fierce pride in his people.- He lived as a vagrant in hostels, and passed away in a hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 25 November 1977, at the age of 62.
After his death, the Tommy Prince Award, and the Tommy Prince Scholarship, was established posthumously in his memory. Several streets and buildings was also named for him.-
Prince was raised on the Brokenhead OJIBWAY Nation reserve, north of Winnipeg.- He enlisted in the Canadian Army on 3 June 1940 and was assigned to the 1st Field Park Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. By 1942 Prince was a sergeant with the Canadian Parachute Battalion. Posted to the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, he was among a select group of Canadian soldiers sent to train with an American unit to form a specialized assault team. They became the 1st Special Service Force (1st SSF), known to the enemy as the "Devil's Brigade."
Tommy Prince distinguished himself with the 1st SSF in Italy and France, using the skills he'd learned growing up on the Reserve.-
In Italy he was responsible for the destruction of four german tanks that had been firing on Allied troops.-
In France, Prince endured a gruelling trek across rugged terrain to locate an enemy bivouac area. He led the brigade to the encampment, resulting in the capture of over 1000 german soldiers.-
When the fighting ended in southern France, Prince was summoned to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI decorated him with the Military Medal (MM) and, on behalf of the American president, the Silver Star with ribbon. Prince was one of 59 Canadians who were awarded the Silver Star during WW2, only three of whom also possessed the MM.-
Tommy Prince was honourably discharged on 15 June 1945 and returned to Canada. He came home to discover that the business he'd entrusted to friends had failed in his absence. Facing unemployment and discrimination, he re-enlisted and served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
During two tours of duty in the Korean war he won the Korean, Canadian Volunteer Service and United Nations Service medals. He was wounded and was honourably discharged on 28 Oct 1953.-
In civilian life, Prince had to fight his own demons, including alcoholism, a battle he won. He had a strong sense of civic duty and a fierce pride in his people.- He lived as a vagrant in hostels, and passed away in a hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 25 November 1977, at the age of 62.
After his death, the Tommy Prince Award, and the Tommy Prince Scholarship, was established posthumously in his memory. Several streets and buildings was also named for him.-
