Sergeant Michael Luchak 

Michael Luchak was born on November 3, 1919, into a large family of eight children in Vancouver, B.C.  Michael had three brothers and four sisters, being raised by his parents, who were Ukrainian immigrants.  His father, Nicholas Luchack was working long hours as a machinist to support his family.  While his mother was a homemaker and caregiver to the children.

During Michael’s formative years, he attended College Heights High School, however, left school after completing grade 11 to join the workforce.   At the time of enrollment in the military, he was working as an upholsterer, for Western Progressive Furniture Company in Vancouver, B.C.  According to his service records, Michael was multitalented and played a variety of sports but also played the guitar and enjoyed creating oil paintings.  His artistic ability allowed him to become a commercial artist. 

At 24 years of age, he joined the military on January 21, 1942, in Vermon, British Columbia (BC), and was taken on strength at the Canadian Infantry Training Centre in Calgary, Alberta, where he completed his basic and advanced training.  On June 21, 1943, Michael was promoted to the rank of Corporal.  It was then that he learned about a new unit of Canadian Paratroopers being formed and recruiting only the best candidates, and he put his name forth to transfer.  Michael passed all the rigorous physical testing and aptitude assessments and was sent to the U.S. for parachute training. 

Michael graduated from his parachute course at Fort Benning, Georgia on December 18, 1942, and joined the ranks of the elite 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.   He began receiving parachute pay on January 2, 1943.  He then was taken on strength with the Home War Establishment as part of the Canadian defense mechanism.  Once Michael was released from the military, he moved back to B.C. where he met his future wife.  Michael would later exchange wedding vows with Marjorie and they raised two children together.  Michael lived out his years until his passing on October 11, 2015, at 95 years of age. 

If you have taken the time to read the biography of Michael Luchak, then you have kept his memory alive.

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Bren Light Machine gun

This is a Bren Light Machine Gun, Sgt. Luchak would have used one similar to this during his training with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. The Bren Light Machine Gun weighed 25 lbs with a rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute and an effective range of 600 yards. Read more about the Bren in the equipment section of this website.