I just saw that WO Culbertson passed away on the 8th of October, 2008. I worked with and got to know Ian around 1998 until 2000, in Gagetown where he, at that time, was mostly working as a Crse WO for leaderhip courses. He was a respected man, both for his knowledge and his way of saying it like it was. He was a walking book of knowledge and experience. I had bumped into him numerous times on trips to Gagetown between 2001-2006, and it was always good to catch up and hear some more of his stories and jokes. The last I heard, he was working as a Harassment Advisor or something of that nature (or so I had heard) which, for anyone that knew him, was something that got a chuckle or two.
RIP Ian.
From the Last Post section on the
PPCLI website, which has a very nice write-up done in .pdf format, which is where I have taken this from (the .pdf file was too big to include as an attachment):
Warrant Officer Ian Culbertson, MMM, CD
15 March 1949 – 8 October 2008
Warrant Officer Ian Culbertson was born in Brandon, Manitoba, on 15 March 1949.
After serving for five years in the Army Cadets and retiring as a Cadet RSM, Ian joined the Canadian Forces as an Infantryman in 1967 at the age of 17. He immediately began his Regular Force service with the Second Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and served with 3 Canadian Mechanized Commando in Baden-Soellingen, Germany until 1971. During this period he performed extremely well and quickly gained a reputation as an excellent soldier, a description that stayed with him throughout his entire career. In 1973 Ian was posted to 1 PPCLI in Edmonton, and later transferred to the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He was exceptionally proud of his service as a paratrooper, having served with the Regiment from 1974 – 1979 and from 1981 – 1985, and maintained very strong ties to the ‘Brotherhood’ up until the time of his passing. His overall service is exemplified by his performance in Cyprus in April 1974. Over a very tense period of 30 days, while under daily fire from machineguns at their post between the Turkish village of Louroujina and the Greek village of Lymbia, (then) Cpl Culbertson quickly drew the attention of his Platoon and
Company Commanders. He was described as “very astute, quick thinking, physically fit, frank and forthright… and he craves responsibility.” For his sustained dedication during this period he was awarded the Order of Military Merit. Ian continued to be recognized for these kinds of personal attributes as his service extended into the Reserve Force beginning in 1991. While serving in this capacity he continued to win friends and earn the respect of all who knew him, remaining in uniform until this very day.
Warrant Officer Ian Culbertson faced his death with the same straight-forward, determined and professional approach that garnered him the outstanding level of respect and admiration that has been shown to him throughout this difficult time. His presence will be greatly missed not only by those closest to him; Darin, Tanya, Isobel and Susan, but also by his extended family and those very many friends that he influenced over 42 years of professional and dedicated military service.
Airborne Prayer
May the defence of the Most High be above and beneath,
around and within us,
in our going out and in our coming in,
in our rising up and our going down,
all our days and all our nights,
until the dawn when the son of righteousness shall arise
with healing in his wings for the peoples of the World
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
An Airborne Soldier.
