Jacques Dextraze

Jacques Alfred Dextraze (August 15, 1919 – May 9, 1993) was a Canadian military officer who rose through the ranks from private to general in his career and served as Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada from 1972–1977.

Early life Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Alfred Dextraze and Amanda (Bond) Dextraze, he joined Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in 1940 as a private, and was swiftly promoted through the ranks and then commissioned as lieutenant. Dextraze launched a small-scale operation during Pierre Mulele's Kwilu Province uprising of January 1964 in order to save at least some of the threatened aid workers and missionaries under attack from the jeunesse.

He also led missions to rescue a group of non-governmental organization personnel, who were hostages of Katangan rebels in the Congo. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service. He was one of Canada's most distinguished peacekeeping commanders.

In 1967 he was promoted to major general and lieutenant-general in 1968. In 1972, he was promoted to the rank of general and became Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces for an unusual period of five years.

Civilian career He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1977 and from 1977 to 1982 was chairman of the Canadian National Railway.

Honours In 1978 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Dextraze Pavilion, a dining hall at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean was named in his honour.

The General J. A. Dextraze Fitness Center at Canadian Forces College in Toronto is likewise dedicated to him.

Family In 1942, he married Frances Helena Pare. They had four sons; Richard, Jacques, Robert and John.

His son, Richard Paul Dextraze, was killed in Action (KIA) in Vietnam on April 23, 1969, where he fought as a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps, and was a posthumous recipient of the Silver Star medal and the Purple Heart. He is interred along with his father in Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal, Quebec.