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Topic: Valour under fire lauded (Read 240 times)
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Jesse Reed
Veteran 100+ Member
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Posts: 153
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6 soldiers receive 2nd-highest honour
OTTAWA -- Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald didn't hesitate to act when the convoy he was in was hit by a roadside bomb. The veteran soldier from Shilo, Man., and Morrisburg, Ont., climbed into a burning vehicle to drive it off the road and allow the rest of the convoy to get out of the fire zone.
Fitzgerald was among six soldiers who were honoured by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean yesterday for performing extraordinary deeds under fire in Afghanistan. The country's awards for military valour were established in 1993, but had not been awarded before.
Sgt. Patrick Tower and Capt. William Hilton Fletcher, both of Edmonton, became the first soldiers to receive the Star of Military Valour, second only to the Victoria Cross as a decoration for courage. Fitzgerald and three others were awarded the Medal of Military Bravery, the third ranking medal.
Last summer in Afghanistan, Tower took action when Canadian soldiers came under heavy fire as they attacked a Taliban outpost.
After two senior leaders were hit, Tower took ocommand. With rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire lashing the area, he led a medic and a second soldier 150 metres to the rescue of the wounded. He loaded them on a vehicle and got them out. Four soldiers died that day and more might have been but for Towers.
That same summer, Capt. Fletcher, Tower's commander, made a habit of leading under fire, even after two soldiers were shot.
Jesse
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Jesse Reed
reedj@rogers.com
1-866-808-9066
(Toll free North America)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 3473
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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VP
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Jesse Reed
Veteran 100+ Member
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Posts: 153
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I don’t care if there VP, RCR, or the VanDoos this is just general information and I think they deserve the recognition regardless of who they are.
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Jesse Reed
reedj@rogers.com
1-866-808-9066
(Toll free North America)
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John Saulnier
John
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The Good Years
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A Soldier, is a soldier, is a soldier!
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RCR DEPOT-1965(SICILY PL) CYPRUS-1966-GERMANY-1967-70-LONDON-1970-73-GERMANY-1973-77-LONDON-1977-81-CFSPDB-1981-85-CFOCS-1985-89.RETIRED 89. REMAINED IN CHILLIWACK UNTIL 1998,MOVED TO NB IN 98 TO PRESENT TIME.
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Right on brothers, and there is only so much recognition that can be given. It should be fully given, and to one and all. We , older soldiers , can at least feel what they have gone thru, and WE know ,that enough thanks and recognition CANNOT be given... and too, that most of thses guys downplay what they have done...but ,i hope as a nation ,as a people ,ALL will always remember the sacrifice these and all veterans have made , and indeed , make ,everyday.. ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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