A dedication ceremony was held at 15 Wing Moose Jaw on Wednesday to honour the late Master Warrant Officer Norman “Danny” O’Donnell.
The 15 Wing Military Police detachment building at 79 NATO Dr. was officially renamed the Master Warrant Officer N.E. O’Donnell, CD Police Detachment.
O’Donnell died on July 30, 1978, in the line of duty. He was leading an escort detail for Queen Elizabeth II when he suffered a fatal heart attack and crashed his vehicle.
Some of the dignitaries on hand for the ceremony included Moose Jaw Mayor James Murdock, 15 Wing Commander Col. Adam Carlson, Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and commander of the Canadian Forces Military Police Group Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan, and Lt.-Gov. of Saskatchewan Bernadette McIntyre.
Also in attendance were his nephew Richard Hansen and his granddaughter Kimberley O’Donnell.
Hansen shared many memories of his late uncle, including his love for the outdoors and, more specifically, fly fishing.
“It was special because we have a special uncle and we really enjoyed the things that I’ve done with him and to hear that he was going to be recognized for the service he performed was pretty special,” Hansen said of the dedication.
Kimberley said she never really got to know her grandfather and only recently learned the history behind his military service.
“I think something everybody can attest to as military families, they don't really talk about what they do or how they do it, and that was something big in my family,” Kimberley said.
“I honestly didn't even know that my grandpa had died in the line of duty and in the way that he did until December. My uncle had brought it up to me and he mentioned it and it opened this big can of worms of how amazing and incredible my family have been since my father's in military and my grandfather as well.”
Born in McNamee, N.B., in 1929, O’Donnell first enlisted with the Canadian Armed Forces as a private with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He completed his basic infantry training and went on to complete paratrooper training.
He was deployed to Korea, where he suffered wounds to his legs while rescuing another soldier behind enemy lines. He was also deployed on a peacekeeping mission during the Vietnam War.
When he returned, he joined the then Canadian Provost Corps and had peacetime postings in Germany, Gagetown, Bagotville, CFB Masset, and CFB Chatham. He also served at CFB Moose Jaw as the Wing Security Officer.
“NWO O’Donnell represents one of many military police members who have died in the line of duty, and I think given that he actually served some time here in Moose Jaw, it’s very fitting that they look to name one of the buildings here in Moose Jaw—and specifically the military police detachment—after him, as it brings back the fact that someone from this detachment gave the ultimate sacrifice and gave their life in service to their country,” said Brig.-Gen. Hanrahan.
Some of his other accomplishments include establishing the first search and rescue units at CFB Bagotville and his actions during the FLQ Crisis in Quebec, where he arrested two suspects attempting to break into the armouries during an undercover operation.
“I look at his character, his honour, his willingness to actually give of himself, as you heard today. It’s not just one example where he gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Hanrahan said.
“There’s many examples over his career where he put himself on the line and put himself in danger to serve others, and that very much speaks to what we expect of not just our Canadian Armed Forces, but he was also what I consider a profession within a profession in that he was a military police officer.”
O’Donnell passed away at the age of 48 while leading an escort detail for the Queen heading to CFB Moose Jaw. He suffered a heart attack and his vehicle careened into a utility pole. No one else was injured, and according to newspaper reports from the day, the Queen’s limousine was less than 25 metres behind O’Donnell’s vehicle at the time of the incident.