John Hasek
Encyclopedia
John Henry George Hasek, CD
(January 28, 1938 – January 1, 1994) was a Czechoslovakian-born Canadian soldier, journalist and author. He later emigrated to Canada
and joined its armed forces
in 1957.
Major Hasek graduated from the University of Ottawa and later the University of New Brunswick with a Master of Arts in Psychology. As a member of the Canadian Forces he studied and worked as an instructor at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.
John served in The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
, The Royal Canadian Regiment
and later The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
.
Maj. Hasek served in Ghana, Vietnam and Cyprus and as the first Officer commanding the SkyHawks Parachute Team
, the Canadian Forces Parachute Team. An accomplished sky diver, John had several thousand descents to his credit, and served as a member of the Parachute Testing Wing/Trials and Evaluations center of the Airborne Center in Edmonton, Alberta.
After retiring in 1981, he worked as a freelance journalist and published The Disarming of Canada in 1987. Following the fall of the iron curtain, John founded Education for Democracy, a non-profit organisation bringing over 1500 volunteer English teachers to Czechoslovakia from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Australia.
Hasek covered the Croatian War of Independence
as a freelance reporter for the Washington Inquirer, Ottawa Citizen
, and Inter Press News Service. He was seriously wounded during June 1993 in western Bosnia-Herzogovina by a landmine, sustaining multiple injuries. He was transferred to the Stresovice Military Hospital in Prague on 30 June and died six months later on 01 January 1994.
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(January 28, 1938 – January 1, 1994) was a Czechoslovakian-born Canadian soldier, journalist and author. He later emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and joined its armed forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in 1957.
Major Hasek graduated from the University of Ottawa and later the University of New Brunswick with a Master of Arts in Psychology. As a member of the Canadian Forces he studied and worked as an instructor at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.
John served in The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. The regiment is located on rue de Bleury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bruno Plourde...
, The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
and later The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada is a militia regiment within the Canadian Forces, based in Toronto, Ontario. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group. It is the only Primary Reserve regiment in Canada to have a parachute role. The regiment consists of the reserve...
.
Maj. Hasek served in Ghana, Vietnam and Cyprus and as the first Officer commanding the SkyHawks Parachute Team
SkyHawks Parachute Team
The SkyHawks are the Canadian Forces Parachute Demonstration Team based at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. They are a sub-unit of the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre....
, the Canadian Forces Parachute Team. An accomplished sky diver, John had several thousand descents to his credit, and served as a member of the Parachute Testing Wing/Trials and Evaluations center of the Airborne Center in Edmonton, Alberta.
After retiring in 1981, he worked as a freelance journalist and published The Disarming of Canada in 1987. Following the fall of the iron curtain, John founded Education for Democracy, a non-profit organisation bringing over 1500 volunteer English teachers to Czechoslovakia from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Australia.
Hasek covered the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
as a freelance reporter for the Washington Inquirer, Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
, and Inter Press News Service. He was seriously wounded during June 1993 in western Bosnia-Herzogovina by a landmine, sustaining multiple injuries. He was transferred to the Stresovice Military Hospital in Prague on 30 June and died six months later on 01 January 1994.