Charles Richard "Dick" Sharpe

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by canuck, May 15, 2010.

  1. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Among that small list of truly exceptional people I have had the privilege of being associated with, Dick Sharpe ranks near the top. Especially in his case, "they don't make like that anymore" and it's easy to see where the Greatest Generation idea came from.

    When as a green as grass rookie starting his first day as a junior manager at Sears Canada, I had Dick Sharpe (Pres./CEO) 'drop in' to my office to extend well wishes and congratulations. Over the next many years I was never anything but awed and impressed. I learned a lot about leadership along the way. Dick, now 85, is still a going concern.

    This link takes you to an interview with Dick about his RCAF wartime service.

    Heroes Remembers - Charles Richard “Dick” Sharpe - Veterans Affairs Canada
     
  2. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    stolpi and bamboo43 like this.
  3. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks Canuck.
     
  4. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Dick joined the RCAF in 1943, at age 18, having earned his pilot’s wings before enlisting. Within a year he was piloting a B-24 Liberator with 159 Squadron from a base in Digri, India and flying missions across Southeast Asia. At the tender age of 19, he shouldered the responsibility for the aircraft and a crew of 9 men while flying sorties of up to 18-19 hours across thousands of miles of open ocean or hostile territory. By wars end Dick had flown over 300 combat hours, a full tour.
    Good training for a future CEO!
    He once told that he once met the ambassador from Thailand at a black tie dinner and was asked, "have you ever visited Bangkok?" Dick's reply was, "Yes, I was over that city six or seven times but it was always dark and people were shooting at me so we didn't stay long".
     
    ozzy16, 17thDYRCH and stolpi like this.

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