24

John and Reta Heinen fly to Canada
2 July 1952
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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John and Reta Heinen departing Amsterdam, July 2, 1952

John Heinen had previous experience with the immigrant ships. At 20 he was drafted in the army and sailed to the Dutch colony of Indonesia on the Grote Beer. Soldiers slept in hammocks slung 4 rows high. John recalled "With everyone being seasick, you wanted the top hammock!" On the return trip, after a year and a half of service, he was picked to stay behind and swab out the ship once they docked.
From the time he returned to Holland John had plans to immigrate, but it took almost 2 years to reconcile his parents to the idea. When John and his new wife Reta immigrated to Canada in 1952, they choose to fly.