Fonds Fonds 72 - Vince W. Kennedy fonds

Vince W. Kennedy, b. 3 October 1948, joined the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (Canadian Militia) in 1964 and enlisted with the Regular Army in 1967. He attended Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, British Columbia and the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor Degree in International Studies. He was commissioned into the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in 1971 and served as a subaltern in the Third Battalion in Esquimalt, British Columbia. From there he was posted to #3 Canadian Mechanized Commando in Germany and served as the Adjutant, now a Captain, at the Infantry School, Combat Training Centre, Gagetown, New Brunswick in 1978. He also attended the Canadian Land Forces Command Staff College in Kingston and the British Combat Team Commander's Course in the United Kingdom. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1979 he took command of A Company, Third Battalion, Royal Green Jackets in Oakington, UK where he was promoted to Major and went to Cyprus in 1980 as part of the British contingent in UNFICYP (United Nations Forces in Cyprus). He returned to Canada in 1981 and the Canadian Forces Command Staff College in Toronto. In 1982 he commanded B Company, Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and went with the Battalion to Cyprus in 1982 until 1983 when he was transferred to Admin Company. When the Second Battalion left for Germany in 1984 Major Kennedy organized the Farewell to Winnipeg Tattoo. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1985 and assumed the duties of Senior Staff Officer Individual Training at Mobile Command Headquarters. Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy was then posted to Army Staff College at Frontenac, Kingston in 1986 as a member of the Directing Staff until 15 July 1987, when he took command of the First Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry until 16 August 1989 at the end of the 75th Anniversary National Reunion of the PPCLI. Lt. Col. Kennedy then went "under" to the Australian Army Command and Staff College, Fort Queenscliffe, Victoria, as a member of the Directing Staff until January 1991, when he attended the Joint Services Staff College in Canberra, Australia, and earned a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies. He returned to Canada in July 1991 to take up the duties of Senior Staff Officer Operations and Plans at Mobile Command Headquarters during a hectic time in army force generation for Croatia, Bosnia, Cambodia and Somalia. He was promoted to Colonel in January 1993 and posted as Chief of Staff, 1st Canadian Division Headquarters. After 3½ years of active training and contingency work there, he proceeded as a student to the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA. He took up the position as Chief of Staff, Canadian Forces College Toronto, upon return to Canada in 1997. He was promoted to Brigadier-General and took up his duties in Ottawa in 2000. In 2003, after 38 years of service, BGen Kennedy retired and continued to live in Ontario with his wife Wendy. He continued to be involved in the PPCLI regimental family, as a member of the Regimental Guard and the PPCLI Association.