Rank	Lieutenant, Captain
Unit #	42nd. Canadian General Transport Company R.C.A.S.C., R.C.A.S.C.
Resident	6 McKenzie Avenue., London Ontario

Leslie Wilson Garen had a long and distinguished military career, serving throughout the world. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Garen and resided at 33 Patteson Ave, Chatham. Brother to Robert, Rennie, Elsie, Keith and Don, all of Chatham. He was married to Grace May Haynes, for nearly 65 years.

His military service included:

Royal Canadian signals Militia, 1927-1936
Canadian Active Service Force, 1940-1946
Commissioned as a Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) officer, attaining the rank of Captain in 1943, served until 1968
Served in the United Kingdom, Far East, 1939-1945; Korea 1950-1951
Also, served in Germany, Holland, Belgium, the Middle East and Central Africa, Japan and Italy
Port Movement Officer responsible movement of all cargo and personnel for the Canadian Army Brigade in Europe, 1952-1953
Received a special citation from Queen Juliana of Holland, following his work in the (Great) Flood, 1953.
In charge of Movement Control in Montreal from 1954-1955
In charge of Movement Control in Quebec City from 1955-1956
First military man in the Congo after the insurrection, prior to the arrival of the United Nations (UN)
Assistant to the Maritime Commission of the Republic of the Congo, on behalf of the UN Congo force, July to October 1960
Ports Movement Officer at Thule, Greenland for 6 months, 1961
Served one year in Pisa, Italy as Transportation Officer-in-Charge for the UN, responsible for all materiel and personnel, 1962

The following story is written by Leslie’s daughter, Sherry L. (Garen) Butler:

LESLIE WILSON GAREN, CD
19 October 1914 – 02 November 2005Leslie Wilson Garen was a member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and a member of the National Headquarters Chapter. Leslie was also an active member of the royal Canadian Legion, Korean Veterans Association of Canada Inc, Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Association, The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Association and the Royal Canadian Air Force Association.Leslie had quite a varied and active military career having joined the Canadian Army (Active) in April 1940 and took his discharge in April 1946. During this period of time he served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in Canada, Britain and South Pacific—Okinawa. He earned the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, Canadian volunteer Service Medal with Clasp and the 1939-45 War Medal.Prior to his enlistment in the Canadian Army in 1940, Leslie had also served in the Canadian Army (Militia) from September 1929 to May 1936.Leslie rejoined the Canadian Army (Regular) Regular Component in October 1950 and served until August 1968. He served in the United States, Far East – Japan and Korea, Continental Europe – Netherlands and Italy, Middle East – Beirut, Lebanon, and the Congo. He earned the Korean Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, Special Service Medal with NATO Bar, United Nations Service Medal (Korea), United Nations Emergency Force Medal (UNEF) with 56 Transport Company, Organisation des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC), Canadian Centennial Medal (1967), Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) and Canadian Forces Decoration with 2nd Clasp.
May He Rest in Peace

Leslie’s obituary was from the Ottawa Citizen Newspaper.

GAREN, L.W. (Capt. Ret’d.) RCASC W.W. II Korean War Leslie Wilson Garen, 91, at University Hospital in London, on November 2, 2005 due to complications from pneumonia. Born in Chatham, Ontario, son of the late John and Elizabeth Garen. Beloved husband of the late Grace May Pearl Garen for 64 years. Dear father of Bob Garen (Marge) of Ada, Michigan and Sherry Butler (John) of Sooke, B.C. Much loved grandfather of Kirsten, Andrea, Tara, Peter and David. Great grandfather of Alexander, Brian, Julia and Dylan. Survived by his youngest brother Don (Dorothy) of Canmore, Alberta, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his brothers Robert, Rennie, and Keith and his sister Elsie. Les served overseas during W.W.II in England and the South Pacific including Okinawa. Later in Korea, the Congo, and Japan and with UNEF in Lebanon, Holland, Italy and other areas around the world in his military career. There will be no formal service, instead a memorial reception will be held at 800 Wonderland Road South, London, on Tuesday, November 8th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. There will be a graveside service at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham in the spring. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, 123 St. George St., London N6A 3A1. We will all miss his generosity and sense of humour. A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London (1-877-246-7186) in care of arrangements.