Canada has lost a distinguished First Nations war veteran.
Thomas Settee passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 97 in Prince Albert.
He leaves behind a son and a daughter and long history of military accomplishments.
Liz Settee says her dad, who was a member of the Peguis First Nation, lived in Cumberland House until the age of five before coming to Prince Albert.
As a young man, he joined the militia before being shipped overseas to fight in the Second World War:
“He was one of the first ones on the beach at Normandy. He was in the war for 33 days before he was hit with a piece of shrapnel.”
He recovered and was later asked to escort prisoners of war back to the U.S.
In later years, Settee began boxing.
This fact was recently recognized by the Prince Albert boxing club, which changed its name to the Thomas Settee Boxing Club.
A service for the late veteran will be held 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Prince Albert Armories.