Tommy was well spoken, and gave lengthy testimony at hearings in 1946-47, representing his own band (as Chief, according to the proceedings of the hearings), as well as the Indian Association of Manitoba. The committee was extremely impressed with him. Part of his strategies and goals, were in raising agricultural production aggressively on the reserve and working toward elimination of the Indian Act. Some of his people did not agree with him in all respects of his testimony.

The government was slow to respond and little progress was made in his requests. Leaving the position, he was unable to continue his business, which had failed during his absence from it.

He became increasingly frustrated with his inability to bring about change in the immediate post-war years, and his life exemplifies the many frustrations and struggles facing returning veterans.

Prince was in action quickly. In February 1951, the Patricias joined the 27th Commonwealth Brigade on the battlefield. Soon after arriving in the war zone, the sergeant, who was second in command of a rifle platoon, led an evening "snatch patrol" of eight men into an enemy camp. The raid was a success; the group returned before dawn with two captured machine-guns.

Prince was with the 2nd Battalion PPCLI when, together with the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment, it was awarded the United States' Presidential Unit Citation for distinguished service in the Kapyong valley April 24 and 25, 1951, during one of the toughest actions of the war. The Patricias were to hold a defensive position at Hill 677 so that a South Korean division could withdraw during an attack by Chinese and North Korean forces. Although at one point the battalion was surrounded and resupply of ammunition and emergency rations could only be accomplished by air, the Patricias held their ground. The enemy withdrew. Ten PPCLI men were killed and 23 were wounded during the two-day battle. The award was a first for a Canadian unit.

Prince's time at the front was intense, but brief. His knees were subject to painful swelling and premature arthritis. It was a struggle for him to endure the constant, steep climbing demanded by the Korean landscape. After a medical examination in May 1951, he was hospitalized and then assigned administrative duties. In August, he returned to Canada.

Prince remained on active service as an administrative sergeant at Camp Borden in Ontario. Here his knees [responded] to the added rest and thus, in March 1952, he volunteered for a second tour of duty in the Far East. He sailed for Korea in October, 1952 with the 3rd Battalion, PPCLI.

The following paragraphs of dialogue and commentary are controversial, and based on interviews, a film documentary and published accounts. More information is vitally necessary, through research and testimonials of facts, with respect toTom Prince's medical condition, his subsequent return to Korea, events that took place there, and post military issues.

Regarding Prince's second tour in Korea, Peacock explains:

"In my mind, he should have never gone back for the second tour in Korea..my personal view, that the man was worn out psychologically, and the [people] that sent him back..well.. were they criminal? They probably thought they were doing him a favour".

In November 1952, the training of 3rd Battalion PPCLI in Korea, was interrupted by fighting on "the Hook", a key position west of the Sami-chon River that overlooked much of the rear areas of the U.N. forces. When a Chinese battalion gained a foothold on the forward positions of another U.N. unit on November 18, the 3rd PPCLI was ordered to help defend the sector. By dawn of the 19th, the U.N. unit, with assistance from the Patricias, had recaptured the post. Five Patricias were killed on the Hook and nine were wounded, Sergeant Prince sustained a leg injury.

Claude Petit ,(Korean war veteran):
"He was in there [a cave dug-out , protection from the shelling] picking out shrapnel with a bayonet, in his leg, somebody had told him to go back.. take a look at it..he said, Hell, I don't have time for that, ... that's just the kind of guy he was." He was hospitalized for a period, later returning to active duty.

Robert Peacock (Platoon Commander):
"Tommy was always pushing, pushing.., he had a reputation to maintain.. and he shouldn't to me, have been pushed or allowed to be pushed, into his final [bit] where he literally collapsed... it was too bad, because, it was a great legend there."

Narrative excerpt from the film documentary, "Fallen Hero":
The moment of 'collapse' came when Prince led a fighting patrol back to camp, his patrol had been ambushed..and Prince was shaken. He insisted that all his men were accounted for, but he'd forgotten a wounded soldier in the field.

Don Ardelian (Platoon Sgt), was to go back with a search party to rescue the missing man.
Ardelian: "The people he was working for directly, which would have been, the Intelligence and Operation Officers, should have realized that this individual was been pushed to the edge.."

Film narrative excerpt:
"Prince was arrested for leaving someone behind, and then claiming his patrol was complete..later the charges were dropped. It was clear that Prince was suffering from battle fatigue after so many years in the heat of war."

Don Ardelian (Platoon Sgt): "In my view, that was a sad sad situation, here was a fine outstanding soldier, one of the best this country has ever produced, and [we] let it end that way.. it didn't have to be that way at all, in my view, if his officers had been on top of the job, they would have had 'indicators' that they were working this one too far, it's not going to make it.. and he didn't, after that he was sent off to some administrative job.."

Prince recovered from the injury, but began to have continual difficulties with his arthritic knees. Between January and April he spent several weeks in hospital. In July 1953, the Korea Armistice was signed, and, the following November, Prince returned to Canada. The sergeant remained in the army, and was assigned as an instructor of new recruits in Winnipeg. Ultimately, Tommy's arthritic knees would result in being discharged from the armed forces in 1954.

Tommy had moved the family, to and from Winnipeg and the reserve, wherever he could secure work. In June of 1955, at the age of 39, Tommy made the news [for heroism], when he saved a man from drowning at the Alexander Docks in Winnipeg.

Though by 1961, seven years after leaving the military service, he was facing alcohol addiction, poverty due to racial, employment discrimination. In addition to arthritis in his knees, he was having sleep difficulties.
Three years later, in 1964, he and Verna separated. Alcohol related abuse, against her and the children, has been alleged. Tommy stayed in touch with the children as long as possible, inevitably, they drifted apart. The children were taken by "Child and Family Services", and placed in foster homes. Tommy was now facing the loneliness, of being isolated from his children, whom he still spoke of fondly.

Claude Petit, (Korean war veteran):
"I was hearing that he was drinking quite heavily and down on skid road, 'hawked' his medals and 'everything else', it's bad stuff, you know.. the thing is, somebody should have.. especially the [regiment].. he spent his life in there, that's all he knew.. You get into the system, [the Army system] The routine.. and that's probably why he...wouldn't hang on to a job, or he got fired and would start 'boozing'.. That's bad stuff, they should have took care of him"

Prince's son, Tommy jr. had lived with his father in Winnipeg for several years in the 1970's. After many years of separation, his daughter Beryl at 17, had an emotional reunion with her father. She had been searching for him and found him at 'Harbour Light', the Salvation Army Hostel.

Ironically, though Tommy's life had become extremely tragic, he was was remembered during ceremonies. The PPCLI honoured Sgt. Tommy Prince on Remembrance Day, and on special ceremonial occasions. On August 1975, 30 years since the end of WWII, a special salute and citation were given by the 2nd Battalion PPCLI at the Brokenhead Reserve in Manitoba, during an Indian Days celebration and in October of 1976, a Certificate of Merit was presented to Tom in recognition of his years of dedicated service to the Aboriginal people of Manitoba.

Sadly, Tommy Prince spent his last years as an alcoholic, trying to ease loneliness and cope with the physical pain of his chronically arthritic knees.
He resided in the Salvation Army, Social Service Centre, in October 1977.
As an alcohol-free man, he passed away November 25, 1977 at the Deer Lodge Hospital, with daughters Beryl and Beverly at his side.

With credit to Tommy's aunt, she pressed the government and military to fully recognize, one of Canada's most decorated soldiers. As a result of the efforts of the Prince family, the military relented. Sgt Prince would be given a memorial service with full military honours.

At his funeral, a delegation of the Princess Patricias served as pallbearers and draped a Canadian flag over his coffin for the memorial service.

As the trumpeter finished, five young men from the Brokenhead Indian Reserve began to chant the melancholy "Death of a Warrior" song, as drummers beat a sad lament. ...along with family, the crowd of over 500 included , people from all walks of life: active soldiers, veterans, Manitoba's Lieutenant-Governor Jobin, consuls representing France, Italy and the United States, farmers, fishermen, trappers, businessmen and many many others.

"Tommy Prince was a courageous, admirable and able man. He is a legend.. The leadership he extended beyond his culture is a gift to be acknowleged and honoured. He gave his all for his home and country." Doris Small

The heroic efforts during the wars did not achieve his goal of seeing his people become true equals in Canada. The National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) recognized his efforts, as well as those of Walter Deiter and Omer Peters, among others, paying tribute to these veterans through the establishment of the Heroes of Our Time Native Scholarship series. The Assembly of First Nations administers this important fund today, linking Indian veteran political leaders with the present generation.

Aboriginal Veterans fought and lost their lives in three wars and various military actions on behalf of Canada. Many were decorated as heroes, but upon their return home, they were unable to obtain the same benefits which other Veterans enjoyed. Further, these Veterans had to extinguish their aboriginal rights, preventing them from returning to their own communities to live.

Continuing the efforts, Senator Leonard Marchand brought this grave injustice to the attention of The Hon. Ronald A. Irwin, former Minister of INAC. Working with The Hon. Anne McLellan, former Minister of Natural Resources and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Aboriginal Veterans groups, the federal Government has established the
Aboriginal Veterans Scholarship Trust with a contribution of $1.15 million..

Senator Leonard Marchand receives, recognition for contribution to the Aboriginal community
at the 5th Annual (2001) ANTCO/ANDEVCO Business and Community Service Awards.