Member of the Month Article
Thomas D. Hanaway, (11929)
I was born quite by accident in Tampa FL on Nov.11, 1957 as my parent's were vacationing down there at the time and I arrived 2 weeks early. And what a day to be born on, everyone gets a holiday on my birthday being it is Rememberance Day here in Canada. Through this "birth" I automatically received dual Canadian/ US Citizenship. Talk about lucking out , I can go diving "legally" in CUBA while traveling on my Canadian passport!!
After the completion of high school I decided it was time to take action and enlisted in the Navy ( US) where I was homeported in Bremerton WA on the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37), from 1979-1983. It was during this time I acquired my love of SCUBA diving even though I never did make it to Navy Dive School I would have loved it. After getting my DD-214 I headed back to Canada where I applied to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police-Gendarmerie royale du Canada (RCMP-GRC), waited the 9 months before getting an acceptance, and headed off to Depot Division in Regina SK for 8 more months of training to become a LEO. It was much like being in the Navy so I was well prepared, as their days also start at 05:30!!! After graduating Troop 42-1985, I was quickly posted to Gjoa Haven in the North West Territories; it is now in Nunavut. From there my various postings all over Canada have included: North Vancouver BC, Iqualuit NWT, Old Crow Yukon, Pangnirtung Nunavut, Vulcan AB, Strathmore AB, Beaverlodge NB, Carman MB and now finally in Headingley Detachment which covers 2,075 square miles along the south and west sides of Winnipeg Manitoba and several small communities, where I will finish out my time after having put in 25 years.
In 1993 I attained the rank of Corporal, made the URT (Dive Team) and have been on this team now for 15 years. In 1999 I was promoted to Sgt., given the task of being the Team Leader/ Field Training Officer for the Western Region URT, more responsibility, (same amount of money) !! The year 2002 saw me advance to S/Sgt. where I currently am, and looking forward to retirement in 8 months.
I hold certifications from NAUI, PADI, IANTD, SSI, PSDA, ERDI, and The DCBC (Diver Cert. Board of Canada, in surface supplied air- non-restricted diver/tender). I am a member of IADRS and The PSDA , two organizations which are devoted to the training of, and safety of Public Safety Divers (PSD) (police, fire, EMT, SAR).
I began collecting stamps and covers back in the early 1960's as a youngster, but only became actively involved in Naval Cover collecting and postmarks in the 1980's. I currently have around 400 naval covers, mostly ones that I have sent for, and some which I don't know if they should be classified as naval covers or not, as they have the USS Submarine rubber cachets on them, but I have them cancelled at King's Bay GA, at the sub base there. The contract post office is kind enough to do that, and a few from Groton CT. (Editor: Tom also sends for cancels from Canadian Armed Forces bases and cachets from Canadian Navy and Coast Guard ships.)
I've been single all of my life which in a way can be counted as a blessing, as having no family to tie me down I have been able to dive in some of the most exciting places in the world. I have had the opportunity to dive in: Canada, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Cuba, Russia, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Barbados, Bahamas, Greece , Italy, Fiji, Australia and the Artic Circle!!!!!! That was one cold dive, but I would recommend it to any adventurer!!
This year I had the very good fortune of being in New York City during Fleet Week 2008 on an inter-agency Public Safety Divers seminar/training session. I had the privilege to train with some of New York's finest.