Jordanville, NS, Canada
Milton Jordan
Current Location: Liscomb, NS, Canada
While stationed in Petawawa, ON in 1975, Sgt Jordan received his orders to go to Egypt for a six-month UN peace keeping mission. Leaving his wife at home with five children, he left in May to carry out his orders. When he left Petawawa, there were still patches of snow on the ground, and when they arrived in Egypt, temperatures were in excess of 40°C.
His job while in Egypt was to oversee food supplies. Including the Canadian contingency that he was part of, there were seven different countries participating in the mission. He soon learned that each country had their own preferences as far as food was concerned and he learned what to order for each contingent. He still smiles when he talks about how happy the Polish contingent was the day their sausages arrived.
For the first few months, their camps consisted of tents set up next to a racetrack outside of Cairo. They were then moved to Port Said where they set up in bombed-out buildings. After their tents in Cairo, they felt like they were living in luxury. The average temperature in Egypt is 35°C so their workday was from 6:00 am until noon. Sgt Jordan’s first job of the day was to check the supply building. One morning he walked in to find that a barrel of molasses had exploded from the heat. Sgt Jordan, along with Major Murphy, would regularly drive out into the desert to check what was required for the other camps. Despite language barriers, they managed to keep everyone fed.
The thing that hit hardest (besides the heat) was witnessing the poverty of the local people. Entire families would gather on the sidewalk to eat meager meals. Very few people could afford to pay for buses. Once the paying customers had been loaded and the bus started moving, people would start jumping on the outside and hold on for a free ride. When the UN supply ships were being unloaded, there were armed guards posted to prevent looting.
Sgt Jordan did manage to get some “tourist” activities in during his stay. He visited the Great Pyramids and got to ride a camel. He also made a trip to King Farouk’s palace and was stunned by the size and luxury. It was hard to imagine that, in a country with so much poverty, there was also this kind of wealth.
Sgt Jordan was proud to be in Egypt serving his country and the United Nations, but it was a long time away from home and family. He looked forward to the letters from home written on tissue thin “airmail” paper/envelope combination. By the time his tour was over in November, he was happy to get back to the snow in Petawawa but will always remember with pride his service with the peacekeeping forces.
Biography
Milton Jordan (Miltie) was born Dec 15, 1935, in Antigonish NS, and grew up in Jordanville with five older siblings, a half sister, and a younger brother. Miltie went to school in Indian Harbour Lake until the age of 14. He left school in grade 8 to go work in the woods to help support the family.
With few opportunities in rural NS during the 1950’s, he took his older sister’s advice and joined the army following in her footsteps, and those of his father and older brother. On Aug 4, 1954, he joined the army and began Basic Training in Petawawa, ON. That began his 25-year career in the army with 3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (3RCHA) which included postings to Debert, NS (1954–1957), Gagetown NB (1957–1960), Iserlohn, Germany (1960–1964), Winnipeg MB (Jan 1964–Oct 1964), back to Gagetown, NB (Oct 1964–Aug 1971), Petawawa ON (1971–1976), and his final posting to Gagetown (1976–1978). While serving in Germany, he was transferred to the Ordinance Corps, and then in 1971 he was again transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers. In 1975, while stationed in Petawawa, Miltie did a six-month peacekeeping tour in Egypt. He was honorably discharged on April 18, 1979.
On May 18, 1957, Miltie married Pauline Lorena Rudolph and they had five children. Being away from family in strange new places was sometimes challenging, but the kids all have fond memories of family activities, including camping and fishing in the summer, and backyard skating rinks and mile-long toboggan hills in the winter.
After retiring from the army in 1979, Miltie and Pauline returned to their roots. They moved to Liscomb, NS to build their retirement home. Miltie enjoyed several more careers over next 30 years but has always been most proud of his military service.
In 1979 he took a truck driving course and drove pulp trucks until 1981. The job was very demanding and kept him away from home a lot, so he decided to make another change. His next job was manager of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 86 in Liscomb (Spanish Ship Bay) NS. He held that position from 1981-1986. Miltie took it upon himself to spend most of his free time organizing fund raising events and collecting money and prizes from local businesses, and securing government grants for community projects such as a ball field and playground. Even after leaving as manager, Miltie has remained a dedicated member. Over the years he has been honored with numerous volunteer awards, and in 2013 was awarded a lifetime membership.
From 1986 to 2000, Miltie managed the municipal dump and transfer station. With military precision, he soon had the place looking more like a picnic park than a dump. His outgoing personality and infectious sense of humor made a trip to the dump an adventure to look forward to.
Miltie’s commitment to his community did not go un-noticed. While preparing to retire at 65, he was urged to run for municipal council. He then embarked on his political career. In Oct 2000, he was elected as a municipal councillor, and soon after became Deputy Warden and then Warden. During his term, he was instrumental in securing money for the smaller communities in the municipality for activities such as Christmas Tree Lighting and other community events. In 2004, Miltie retired for the last time.
After retiring, Miltie had more time to focus on personal activities, but continued to serve the community and his Legion branch, and still holds a flag for Remembrance Day Ceremonies. At 87, Miltie has slowed down some, but you will still see him mowing his yard and plowing his driveway. He also acts as the self-appointed flag police for the community. He once stopped at the local RCMP office to tell them that their ragged flag was a disgrace and should be changed. A couple days later, it was. He has also been seen putting a new flag (from his personal supply) up at the local senior’s apartment complex. He and Pauline currently live on 6th lake in Stillwater NS, and enjoy frequent visits from their four remaining children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Egyptian garbage truck.
At the pyramids.