▁He ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Cape ▁Bre ton ▁High land ers ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁and ▁fought ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁ser ge ant ▁in ▁Italy , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁wounded ▁during ▁the ▁assault ▁on ▁the ▁Goth ic ▁Line . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁his ▁unit ▁after ▁a ▁few ▁weeks ▁and ▁was ▁seriously ▁wounded ▁on ▁December ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Sen io ▁River . ▁As ▁a ▁result , ▁his ▁left ▁arm ▁and ▁leg ▁were ▁am put ated . ▁Und isc ou rag ed ▁by ▁his ▁inj uries , ▁he ▁returned ▁to ▁his ▁farm , ▁married ▁a ▁local ▁woman ▁named ▁Paul ine ▁Peters , ▁built ▁a ▁house , ▁and ▁raised ▁seven ▁children : ▁Bla ir , ▁He ather , ▁G ail , ▁Daniel , ▁Leo , ▁Walter , ▁and ▁Gl oria . ▁The ▁singer - song writer ▁Jenn ▁Grant ▁is ▁a ▁grand d augh ter . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁he ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Prince ▁Edward ▁Island ▁House ▁of ▁Assembly ▁and ▁sat ▁in ▁the ▁body ▁for ▁ten ▁years . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁Minister ▁of ▁Agricult ure ▁and ▁Forest ry ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁when ▁he ▁res igned ▁to ▁run ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁federal ▁election . ▁Elect ed ▁as ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Member ▁of ▁Parliament ▁for ▁Card igan , ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁Cab inet ▁of ▁Pierre ▁Tru de au ▁as ▁Minister ▁of ▁V