We regret to advise of the death of Major Donald Calvin Duplisea, OMM, MB, CD (Ret’d) in Fredericton, NB on 9 December 2016 at age 68. Born in St. Stephen NB, Don joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1964 under the Soldier Apprentice Training Program in the 13th Intake and served a full and varied 44-year Military Engineering career.
Following his two years of Sapper Apprentice training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, Don was posted to 2 Field Squadron in Camp Gagetown NB. He was subsequently posted to 5ieme Escadron de Genie du Canada in Valcartier, QC where he worked as a field section member and later as a heavy equipment operator. He was then posted to 4 Field Squadron in Lahr Germany as a Master Corporal where he was in charge of the Heavy Equipment Section, Field Section Commander, Brigade Training Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and, finally, as a Reconnaissance Sergeant in 4 Combat Engineer Regiment.
Don had specialties both as a Heavy Equipment Operator and a Combat Diver. As a combat diver he completed the Basic Course in 1971 and the Supervisor Course in 1975. Upon commissioning he became a Combat Diving Officer. Don was always a leader in diving while in the field units. He attended Exercise Roguish Buoy from the beginning and remained active with combat diving through to his retirement. He recently made significant contributions to the 50 Years Anniversary Celebrations in Gagetown and the diver history publication. During his tour in Germany, Master Corporal Duplisea was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his efforts in saving the lives of two service members who had become trapped in an Armoured Personnel Carrier when it sank during Amphibious Training in Lahr.
Upon his return to Canada in July of 1978, he attended his Senior Leaders Course and Field Engineer 6B course and was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer. During his second tour at 5 Regiment de Genie du Combat Don was employed as Troop Recce Warrant Officer, Troop Warrant Officer, Regimental Training NCO and Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM) of 51 Escadron de Campagne. In 1982 he was posted to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa to work on the Occupational Analysis of the Field Engineer Trade. In 1984 he was posted to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) in Petawawa, ON where he was employed as Regimental Training NCO and SSM 25 Support and Para Squadron. In 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of 2 CER.
Don was Commissioned from the Ranks as a Captain in 1986 and was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack where he completed his classification training as a Military Engineer Officer. Following his classification training he remained at CFSME as the General Military Training Troop Commander, Field Engineer Standards Officer and the School Adjutant. In 1990 he attended a year-long German Language course and was subsequently posted to the German Army Engineer School in Munich Germany as the Canadian Liaison Officer and Instructor at the Euro-NATO Training Engineer Center.
Upon his return to Canada in 1994, Don was posted to the Construction Engineer Section at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, NB and was employed as Project Officer, Planning Officer, Quartering Officer and Requirements Officer. During this time he attended the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff Collage in Kingston Ontario and was promoted to Major. In July 1998 he was posted to the Combat Training Center Headquarters as the G1 Personnel, a position he filled until his transferred from the Regular Force to the Reserve Force in 2000. After transfer to the Reserve Force, Don was employed at CFSME as Officer Commanding Reserve Engineer Training Squadron. In 2006 Major Duplisea was inducted into the Order of Military Merit as an Officer for his outstanding and dedicated service to the Canadian Military Engineers and the Canadian Forces.
Don retired on his birthday in 2008 and became very active in the community. He was a member of Sunbury Lodge #42 Free & Accepted Masons of New Brunswick, Chief of the Fredericton Junction Volunteer Fire Department, Sunbury West Historical Society, Church Choir and Atlantic Retired Sappers Association.
Visitation will be held at Sunbury Funeral Home, Central Blissville, on Sunday, 11 December 2016 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Funeral Service will be at Tracy United Baptist Church on Monday,12 December at 2pm. Interment will be at a later date in the Tracy United Baptist Cemetery. Donations may be made in Don’s memory to Fredericton Junction Fire Dept., Tracy United Baptist Church or a charity of Donor’s choice. Condolences can be sent to Sunbury Funeral Home, Blissville, NB. {khDec2016}
