Charles H. Belzile

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Charles H. Belzile bigraphy, stories - Generals

Charles H. Belzile : biography

March 12, 1933 –

Lieutenant-General Charles H. Belzile, CM, CMM, CD (born March 12, 1933) was a Canadian soldier and a former head of the Canadian Army. He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada student #H22547.

Education

Born in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, Belzile graduated from the Université de Montréal in 1953.

Later career

Military career

Belzile was commissioned in The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in 1951. He was then assigned as a platoon commander in Korea. Upon his return from the Korean theatre, he assumed a number of staff and command positions including that of Adjutant with 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and staff officer at Quebec Command Headquarters in Montreal.

In 1968 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and appointed Commanding Officer, Royal 22e Régiment in Valcartier. In 1972, he was appointed Commander, Combat Arms School, at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick as a colonel. He was later appointed to several high-profile positions in Canada and abroad. He commanded 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in the former Federal Republic of Germany as a brigadier-general. As brigadier general he was Senior Canadian Officer at Headquarters, Central Army Group (CENTAG) in Hammonds Barracks, Seckenheim, Germany. As major-general in 1977 he took command of Canadian Forces Europe. In 1981 he was promoted lieutenant-general and appointed Commander, Mobile Command, the title under which the army was known at that time. He retired from active duty in 1986.

Honours

In 2000, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He has also been made a Commander of the Order of Military Merit. He was a recipient of the Vimy Award, which recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of the nation and the preservation of our democratic values.

On 24 November 2001, he was appointed Honorary Grand President of The Royal Canadian Legion. He is a recipient of the French Légion d’Honneur.