Donald James Delong - Able Seaman
Donald James Delong was born on February 3, 1922 in Peterborough, Ontario. He was educated at King George School in East City. He joined the RCNVR in Kingston in the fall of 1942 and went to Cornwallis as a new recruit. After basic training Don was drafted to HMCS Stadacona and took a RDF course in the dockyard. He became a full fledged Radar Operator II. Don was then drafted aboard HMCS Ingonish in the fall of 1943. The Ingonish was on the short triangle run. In January 1944 he was drafted to the Ettrick, which like the Nene was an ex-RN ship. He became ill while aboard the Ettrick and was hospitalized in Halifax. Don was then drafted to the Nene and he served aboard the Nene until May, 1945. Don returned to Canada aboard the Ile de France and was sent home from Halifax and was discharged from the navy in September, 1945. He became a journeyman electrician for Peterborough Electric and worked for them for 42 years without a single day laid off. He retired in 1987. Don and Betty Barrett were married July 18, 1945. Betty and Don have four children (three boys and a girl) all of whom are leading productive lives. Don belongs to the Canadian Legion and the Peterborough Naval Association, having held the presidency of the latter for two terms. He plays golf, does some auto touring and spends much of winter in Florida. An eleven year battle with colon cancer claimed his life on Oct. 16, 2002.