We regret to advise of the death of Major Raymond O. Lange, CD (Ret’d) of Chilliwack BC on 6 October 2021 at age 90 years. Ray was a Korean War veteran of 59th Independent Field Squadron (1953-54).
Ray served a full career as a Combat Engineer with the Canadian Military Engineers starting as a Sapper and ending with the rank of Major. Born in Saskatchewan, he attended the local Army Cadet unit from 1941 until 1947 at which time he began a career as a steeplejack in the construction industry. Ray joined the Canadian Army in 1953 and was sent to the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Camp Chilliwack BC to undertake his Basic and Corps training.
Ray’s first posting was to 3 Field Squadron, RCE where he soon deployed to Korea in February 1954. By this time, a truce was in effect in Korea and his unit was tasked with mine clearance, bridge building, road building, and water supply. Ray returned to Canada with 3 Fd Sqn in December 1954 but was soon posted to 1 Airborne Troop RCE in Calgary AB in February 1955 as a Lance Corporal. When the Airborne Troop was disbanded in 1958, Ray was posted to 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON as Recce Sergeant. During the next summer, his troop was tasked with fortifying the former base headquarters building, Bessborough Hall, in order for it to operate under conditions of a possible nuclear war. This project involved reinforcing the floor beams and placing over one million sandbags to protect and strengthen the walls.
Ray was next posted to 4 Field Squadron in Germany as a Field Troop Recce Sergeant (1959-1962). Upon his return to Canada, he was posted to RCSME for a two-year tour as Instructor in Field Engineering subjects. Ray was then posted to I Staff in Ottawa where he was responsible for, among other things, monitoring the training at 3rd Field Engineer Squadron RCE (Militia) and security of the armouries at Cornwall, Pembroke and Kingston.
Ray returned to 4 Fd Sqn in Germany in June 1969 for his second posting to the unit - this time as the Support Troop Warrant Officer. Upon the move of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group to Lahr, Ray was appointed as a Field Troop Warrant Officer. After this three-year tour in Germany, Ray returned to RCSME in 1972 as a Standards Writer. Upon his promotion to Master Warrant Officer in 1973, he was posted to 3 Field Squadron as a Troop Master Warrant Officer.
Ray participated in a three-month French language immersion course in St. Jean QC in August 1974 and was then posted to 5e Escadron du Génie du Canada in Valcartier QC. He was first the Support Troop MWO and, subsequently, he served as the Troop Commander of the Engineer Equipment Troop. After this tour, Ray was posted back to CFSME in 1977 as the Sergeant Major of the Heavy Equipment section for a year, followed by a move to Sergeant Major of Field Engineer Training Squadron that was soon followed by another year back in Standards.
Ray was next posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Chilliwack in early 1981 as a Training Master Warrant Officer in Regimental Headquarters. While in that position, Ray accepted the offer to become a Commissioned Officer and he was commissioned at the rank of Captain. He was then posted to 6th Field Engineer Squadron (Militia) to serve as the Unit Regular Support Staff Officer (RSSO).
Ray retired from the Regular Force in 1986 and transferred to the Supplementary Reserve. He was subsequently called out in In May 1987 in the rank of Major to serve as Officer Commanding of the Reserve Engineer Training Squadron at CFSME. Major Lange fully retired from the Canadian Forces upon the completion of this appointment later in that year. After retiring from the Canadian Forces, Ray ran a locksmith store at the Mall in Chilliwack.
Ray’s funeral will be held on 14 October 2021 at 11:00 AM. Join the Zoom Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
