Frank Cullen



Francis (Frank) Rankin Cullen was born in Dryden on July 31 1921. He completed his elementary schooling in Dryden and attended the High School.

Frank Cullen was an acquaintance of Russell McIntyre (graduate of DHS in 1942 and killed overseas in 1943). Though Frank was 2 years older than Russell, senior Cullen family members clearly recount the close friendship between those two young men.

Frank's name is mentioned in the 1939-1940 Argosy along with Nina Proudfoot as male and female representatives of the Athletic Association

At the age of 19 in 1940, he joined the R.A.F. and saw active duty as a pilot in England, Malta, North Africa and Italy.

At the end of the war he returned to Canada and enlisted with the Canadian Army. He subsequently entered the University of Toronto medical school and graduated in 1950.

Upon completion of his medical degree he served as a doctor in the Korean War. During his service in Korea, a photograph of Dr, Cullen was taken as he was treating a wounded soldier. This picture was used by the Canadian Military to promote Military Service to other Canadians. (see the picture below).

Dr. Cullen is the person on the far right taking the pulse of the wounded soldier. (cigarette smoking was not considered unhealthy until the early 1960s)

In 1964 Dr. Cullen received his specialty in anesthesiology. He continued his service with the Canadian Army serving military positions in Whitehorse, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax and Ottawa. Adding to the list of his accomplishments was the completion of a Flight Surgeon's course in Pensacola, Florida.

His last position in the Military was Commandant of the National Defence Medical Center In Ottawa. When he retired in 1977, he had attained a rank of Brigadier General.

He continued his career with the Department of Veteran Affairs for several years.

Dr. Cullen frequently returned to Dryden to enjoy one of his pastimes, which was hunting.

Dr. Cullen passed away in Ottawa on April 20, 2006.