Paul Kaufman was born October 27, 1961 in Hamilton, Ontario. He joined the naval reserve coming out of high school, when he was drawn into a summer program along with some friends. He attended Brock University during this time, eventually making the decision to stay in the navy, where he became a radar plotter. He was at first assigned to HMCS Qu’Appelle, operating in western Canada. They completed a number of maneuvers during this time, often with American vessels. The Cold War was underway at this time, and the RCN specialized in tracking Soviet submarines. After that stint Paul was assigned to HMCS Cowichan, a minesweeper. It was a significant time of change in the Canadian navy: the rum ration had been shelved in the 1970s, and women were increasingly entering the ranks in the 1980s. Paul left the navy during this time, but he reconnected in recent years and became involved in Legion and Naval Association activities, promoting remembrance and community involvement. Paul Kaufman was interviewed by Scott Masters at Legion Branch 60 in Burlington, Ontario, courtesy of the Burl-Oak Naval Veterans.
