bobdina
06-02-2010, 11:41 AM
Valour Awards For Six Soldiers
National Post · Monday, May 31, 2010
Six Canadian soldiers have been awarded Military Valour decorations for heroic acts in Afghanistan, including one soldier given the Star of Military Valour for saving the life of a wounded comrade during a firefight with the Taliban. Michaelle Jean, the Governor-General, announced the honours yesterday, along with 27 Meritorious Service Decorations. The Star of Military Valour -- the second-highest of three honours created by Queen Elizabeth in 1993 -- was awarded to Corporal Jeremy Pinchin of Pembroke. The Medal of Military Valour went to five soldiers, including one given posthumously to Corporal Mark Robert McLaren of Omemee, who rescued his team's Afghan interpreter during a firefight, a month before Cpl. McLaren was himself killed by an IED outside Kandahar. The recipients' valour was detailed in the citations issued by Rideau Hall, recreated verbatim below:
CORPORAL MARK ROBERT MCLAREN, M.M.V. (DECEASED)
Omemee Medal of Military Valour
On Nov. 6, 2008, Corporal McLaren's joint Canadian-Afghan patrol was ambushed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The attack seriously injured his team's Afghan interpreter, paralyzing him and leaving him exposed to
MASTER CORPORAL DAVID RICHARD TEDFORD, M.M.V. , C.D.
Pembroke and Omemee
Medal of Military Valour
On Oct. 8, 2008, Master Corporal Tedford's patrol was ambushed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. While providing cover for exposed troops, his vehicle's main cannon jammed. As his gunner attempted to fix the weapon, he rose out of the turret to return fire with the machine gun mounted atop the vehicle. Realizing the cannon could not be repaired from inside, he exited the vehicle amidst a hail of bullets, cleared the jam and began pouring heavy fire upon the enemy. With fearless determination, Master Corporal Tedford's selfless action in suppressing the enemy throughout the firefight ensured his patrol's successful fighting withdrawal. further enemy fire. Heedless to the incoming fire, Corporal McLaren crawled 10 metres to his colleague's position, extracted him to a safe location and administered first aid. Corporal McLaren's courage and selfless devotion to his team prevented the interpreter's immediate loss and allowed for his safe evacuation.
CORPORAL JOSHUA O ' TOOLE, M.M.V.
Petawawa
Medal of Military Valour
On Oct. 21, 2008, Corporal O'Toole was manning the defensive tower of a combat outpost, in Afghanistan, when it was attacked by insurgents. As rounds impacted the tower and rocket-propelled grenades sailed over his head, Corporal O'Toole left the security of his location to fire an anti-armour weapon at the attackers' location. After a successful hit, he remained in a highly vulnerable position, taking up a heavy machine gun to continue returning fire.
Corporal O'Toole's fearless and relentless actions suppressed the enemy, allowing friendly forces to quickly establish defensive positions and defeat the attack.
MASTER CORPORAL JEREMY PINCHIN, S . M . V.
Pembroke
Star of Military Valour
On Nov. 16, 2008, Master Corporal Pinchin's small sniper detachment was on an isolated rooftop, in Zhari District, Afghanistan, protecting the southern flank of a joint Canadian-Afghan patrol. As they were advancing on an enemy position, they were attacked and outnumbered by a well-co-ordinated group of insurgents. When a fellow soldier sustained a life-threatening wound, Master Corporal Pinchin immediately administered first aid and shielded him, thus exposing himself to great risk. Fortunately, his protective armour bore the brunt of several enemy strikes as he aided his comrade. Master Corporal Pinchin's selfless act of heroism saved the life of a fellow soldier.
CORPORAL RICHARD L. ANDERSON, M.M.V.
Petawawa and Bathurst, N.B.
Medal of Military Valour
On Jan. 31, 2009, Corporal Anderson came under small-arms fire with his joint Canadian-Afghan patrol, in Zhari District, Afghanistan. During the initial stages of the ambush, an Afghan soldier was severely wounded and lay exposed to the relentless attack. As the battle raged around him, Corporal Anderson exposed himself to enemy fire while he and the patrol medic attempted to move the soldier to safety. With no cover, he immediately began to provide first aid despite enemy rounds impacting inches from his position. Corporal Anderson's selfless disregard for his personal safety saved the wounded soldier's life.
MASTER CORPORAL MICHAEL TRAUNER, M.M.V.
Petawawa and Sudbury
Medal of Military Valour
On Sept. 18, 2008, Master Corporal Trauner was providing security for military engineers, in Western Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle's main armament was destroyed by a rocket-propelled grenade strike. With his dismounted colleagues pinned down by the ambush, he immediately emerged from the turret to engage the attackers with the machine gun mounted atop the vehicle. By placing himself in a highly exposed and vulnerable position, he was able to suppress insurgent fire and protect his fellow soldiers. Master Corporal Trauner's selfless and tenacious actions undoubtedly saved many Canadian and Afghan lives.
National Post · Monday, May 31, 2010
Six Canadian soldiers have been awarded Military Valour decorations for heroic acts in Afghanistan, including one soldier given the Star of Military Valour for saving the life of a wounded comrade during a firefight with the Taliban. Michaelle Jean, the Governor-General, announced the honours yesterday, along with 27 Meritorious Service Decorations. The Star of Military Valour -- the second-highest of three honours created by Queen Elizabeth in 1993 -- was awarded to Corporal Jeremy Pinchin of Pembroke. The Medal of Military Valour went to five soldiers, including one given posthumously to Corporal Mark Robert McLaren of Omemee, who rescued his team's Afghan interpreter during a firefight, a month before Cpl. McLaren was himself killed by an IED outside Kandahar. The recipients' valour was detailed in the citations issued by Rideau Hall, recreated verbatim below:
CORPORAL MARK ROBERT MCLAREN, M.M.V. (DECEASED)
Omemee Medal of Military Valour
On Nov. 6, 2008, Corporal McLaren's joint Canadian-Afghan patrol was ambushed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The attack seriously injured his team's Afghan interpreter, paralyzing him and leaving him exposed to
MASTER CORPORAL DAVID RICHARD TEDFORD, M.M.V. , C.D.
Pembroke and Omemee
Medal of Military Valour
On Oct. 8, 2008, Master Corporal Tedford's patrol was ambushed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. While providing cover for exposed troops, his vehicle's main cannon jammed. As his gunner attempted to fix the weapon, he rose out of the turret to return fire with the machine gun mounted atop the vehicle. Realizing the cannon could not be repaired from inside, he exited the vehicle amidst a hail of bullets, cleared the jam and began pouring heavy fire upon the enemy. With fearless determination, Master Corporal Tedford's selfless action in suppressing the enemy throughout the firefight ensured his patrol's successful fighting withdrawal. further enemy fire. Heedless to the incoming fire, Corporal McLaren crawled 10 metres to his colleague's position, extracted him to a safe location and administered first aid. Corporal McLaren's courage and selfless devotion to his team prevented the interpreter's immediate loss and allowed for his safe evacuation.
CORPORAL JOSHUA O ' TOOLE, M.M.V.
Petawawa
Medal of Military Valour
On Oct. 21, 2008, Corporal O'Toole was manning the defensive tower of a combat outpost, in Afghanistan, when it was attacked by insurgents. As rounds impacted the tower and rocket-propelled grenades sailed over his head, Corporal O'Toole left the security of his location to fire an anti-armour weapon at the attackers' location. After a successful hit, he remained in a highly vulnerable position, taking up a heavy machine gun to continue returning fire.
Corporal O'Toole's fearless and relentless actions suppressed the enemy, allowing friendly forces to quickly establish defensive positions and defeat the attack.
MASTER CORPORAL JEREMY PINCHIN, S . M . V.
Pembroke
Star of Military Valour
On Nov. 16, 2008, Master Corporal Pinchin's small sniper detachment was on an isolated rooftop, in Zhari District, Afghanistan, protecting the southern flank of a joint Canadian-Afghan patrol. As they were advancing on an enemy position, they were attacked and outnumbered by a well-co-ordinated group of insurgents. When a fellow soldier sustained a life-threatening wound, Master Corporal Pinchin immediately administered first aid and shielded him, thus exposing himself to great risk. Fortunately, his protective armour bore the brunt of several enemy strikes as he aided his comrade. Master Corporal Pinchin's selfless act of heroism saved the life of a fellow soldier.
CORPORAL RICHARD L. ANDERSON, M.M.V.
Petawawa and Bathurst, N.B.
Medal of Military Valour
On Jan. 31, 2009, Corporal Anderson came under small-arms fire with his joint Canadian-Afghan patrol, in Zhari District, Afghanistan. During the initial stages of the ambush, an Afghan soldier was severely wounded and lay exposed to the relentless attack. As the battle raged around him, Corporal Anderson exposed himself to enemy fire while he and the patrol medic attempted to move the soldier to safety. With no cover, he immediately began to provide first aid despite enemy rounds impacting inches from his position. Corporal Anderson's selfless disregard for his personal safety saved the wounded soldier's life.
MASTER CORPORAL MICHAEL TRAUNER, M.M.V.
Petawawa and Sudbury
Medal of Military Valour
On Sept. 18, 2008, Master Corporal Trauner was providing security for military engineers, in Western Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle's main armament was destroyed by a rocket-propelled grenade strike. With his dismounted colleagues pinned down by the ambush, he immediately emerged from the turret to engage the attackers with the machine gun mounted atop the vehicle. By placing himself in a highly exposed and vulnerable position, he was able to suppress insurgent fire and protect his fellow soldiers. Master Corporal Trauner's selfless and tenacious actions undoubtedly saved many Canadian and Afghan lives.