Military Honours.....

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Well done ,our troops..

Governor General to Present the First-Ever Military Valour Decorations at Inaugural Ceremony in Ottawa
OTTAWA, Feb. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Her Excellency the Right Honourable
Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, will
present six Military Valour Decorations to members of the Canadian Forces who
have displayed gallantry and devotion to duty in combat. The ceremony will be
held in the Ballroom at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Monday, February 19,
2007 at 10:30 a.m. This will mark the first time that these decorations, which
were created in 1993, will be presented.
During the same ceremony, the Governor General will also present
33 Meritorious Service Decorations (Military Division) to individuals whose
specific achievements have brought honour to the Canadian Forces and to
Canada.
Media interested in covering this event and in interviewing recipients
are asked to contact the Rideau Hall Press Office before the day of the
ceremony.

Note: A highlight reel of B-roll footage from the ceremony will be
available for media use late afternoon the day of the ceremony at the
following address
http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca...news/ggawards/

<<
RECIPIENTS

(Note: the ranks indicated reflect the substantive ranks of the
recipients at the time that they performed the actions for which they
are being honoured).

MILITARY VALOUR DECORATIONS

Star of Military Valour
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Name Current posting and hometown
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Major William Hilton Fletcher, S.M.V., C.D. Edmonton and St. Albert,
Alta.
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Sergeant Patrick Tower, S.M.V, C.D. Edmonton, Alta.; and Sidney,
B.C.
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Medal of Military Valour
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Name Current posting and hometown
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Sergeant Michael Thomas Victor Denine, Edmonton, Alta.;
M.M.V., C.D. Shea Heights and St. John's,
N.L.
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Master Corporal Collin Ryan Fitzgerald, Shilo, Man.; Trenton and
M.M.V. Morrisburg, Ont.
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Private Jason Carl Allan Lamont, M.M.V. Edmonton, Alta.; and
Greenwood, N.S.
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Captain Derek Prohar, M.M.V. Edmonton and St. Albert,
Alta.; and Avonlea, Sask.
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MERITORIOUS SERVICE DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)
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Name Current posting and hometown
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Colonel Stephen Joseph Bowes, M.S.C., C.D. Halifax, Hammonds Plains and
Bedford, N.S.
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Colonel David Allison Fraser, O.M.M., Edmonton, Alta.;
M.S.C., M.S.M., C.D. and Halifax, N.S.
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Chief Warrant Officer Michael Lawrence Edmonton and St. Albert,
McDonald, M.S.C., C.D. Alb; and Doaktown, N. B.
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Colonel Steven Patrick Noonan, M.S.C., C.D. Ottawa and Kars, Ont.
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Chief Warrant Officer Randy Allan Northrup, Edmonton and St. Albert,
M.S.C., C.D. Alta.; and Chipman, N.B.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Robert Voith, Kingston, Ont.; and
M.S.C., C.D. Calgary, Alta.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division)
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Lieutenant-Colonel David James Anderson, Edmonton, Alta.;
M.S.M., C.D. and Pierrefonds, Que.
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Major Julia May Atherley-Blight, Kingston and Harrowsmith,
O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. Ont.
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Honorary Captain (N) Sonja Ingrid Bata, Toronto, Ont.
O.C., M.S.M., C.D.
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Brigadier-General Stuart A. Beare, Kingston, Ont.; and Shilo,
M.S.M., C.D. Man.
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Major Timothy James Bishop, M.S.M., C.D. Edmonton, Alta.; and
Woodstock, N.B.
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Chief Warrant Officer Ward Desmond Brown, Trenton and Toronto, Ont.
M.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.
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Colonel Michael Derek Capstick, Calgary, Alta.; and
O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. Montreal,Quebec
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Major Kirk Allister Gallinger, M.S.M., C.D. Ottawa and Niagara Falls,
Ont.
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Master Corporal Steven Gregory Gartside, Ottawa, Ont.; and
M.S.M. Grand Manan, N.B.
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Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, Brandon, Man.;
M.S.M. (Posthumous) and Calgary, Alta.
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Major Nicholas James Elliott Grimshaw, Ottawa and Kingston, Ont.
M.S.M., C.D.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Niels Christian Koefoed, Copenhagen and Gilleleje,
M.S.M. Denmark
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Corporal Christopher Eugene Kopp, Winnipeg and Westbourne,
M.S.M., C.D. Man.
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Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Oswald Ottawa, Ont.; and Québec,
Maurice Paul LeBlanc, M.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. Que
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Corporal Shaun Lindsey, M.S.M. Edmonton and Lancaster Park,
Alta.; and Brighton, Ont.
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Master Corporal Jason MacKinnon, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L.;
M.S.M., C.D. and Inverness, N.S.
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Warrant Officer James Ronald McArthur, Ottawa, Ont.; and
M.S.M., C.D. Summerside, P.E.I.
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Major James Duncan McKillip, M.S.M., C.D. Ottawa, Ont.
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Sergeant David Claude Payne, M.S.M., C.D. Gander and Port aux Basques,
N.L
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Carla May Penney, Edmonton and St. Albert,
M.S.M., C.D. Alta.; and Springhill, N.S.
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Lieutenant-Colonel George James Petrolekas, Brunssum, the Netherlands;
M.S.M., C.D. and Saint-Mathias, Que.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Ernest Putt, Edmonton and St. Albert,
M.S.M., C.D. Alta.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Shane Bruce Schreiber, Edmonton, St. Albert
M.S.M., C.D. and Lloydminster, Alta.
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Sergeant Chadwick Jack Shaw, M.S.M., C.D. Richelain and Chambly, Que.;
and London, Ont.
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Major Mason James Stalker, M.S.M., C.D. Edmonton, Alta.; and
Revelstoke, B.C.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre Joseph Albert Ottawa, Ont.; and
Paul St-Cyr, M.S.M., C.D. Saint-Hubert and Verdun, Que.
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Master Warrant Officer Shawn Douglas Edmonton, Alta.; and
Stevens, M.S.M., C.D. Ladysmith, B.C.
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>>
Additional information on the Military Valour Decorations, the
Meritorious Service Decorations and citations for recipients can be found at
http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4976.



For further information: Media information: Marilyne Guèvremont, Rideau
Hall Press Office, (613) 998-7280; Media Liaison Office: Department of
National Defence, (613) 996-2353 or (613) 996-2354; Public information:
Chancellery of Honours, 1-800-465-6890

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Thanks for this, Alex. I do confess I get confused about our new 'made in Canada' medals system... why we had to abandon the MC, MM, DCM, DSO etc is beyond me. I'm glad that our servicemen/women are being recognized, though.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Colonel David Allison Fraser, O.M.M., Edmonton, Alta.;

I can't figure this one out B-Gen Fraser is the fine officer who commanded the troops in A-stan. When I check the Governor General's site his MSM and MSC are clearly listed in the Honours search page, but nothing on the OMM. I can't believe that he is wearing this if it wasn't awarded and I doubt that DND would make this type of mistake (it's not the first time I have seen Fraser listed with the OMM). Any ideas?
In any event, Fraser is a fine officer (and a former GGFG Cpl)

From the Governor General's website
Colonel David Allison Fraser, OMM, M.S.C., M.S.M., C.D.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta [Canada]

Cross
October 18, 2006

Colonel David Allison Fraser, O.M.M., M.S.C., M.S.M., C.D.
Edmonton, Alberta and Halifax, Nova Scotia
Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)

As the Commander of Task Force Afghanistan and multinational forces in Afghanistan from March 1 to November 1, 2006, acting Brigadier-General Fraser experienced challenges of a breadth and depth unmatched in Canadian military operations carried out over the past half-century. In complex, intensive counter-insurgency operations, he created the operational conditions that led to a seamless and highly successful transition to NATO command. His exceptional leadership, unflinching resolve and superb professionalism have contributed to enhanced collaboration between the Afghan government, the international community and coalition forces.


Medal
June 26, 1996

Lieutenant-Colonel David Allison Fraser, M.S.M., C.D.
Meritorious Service Medal (military division)

In 1994, Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser, then Major, served as Military Assistant to two successive UN Commanders of Sector Sarajevo in Bosnia-Hercegovina. In the performance of his duties, he demonstrated a high level of personal commitment, as well as considerable tact and diplomacy, which exceeded by far the contribution expected of his rank and expericnce. He effectively promoted good relations among the various countries involved in this multinational effort. Thanks to his exceptional dedication in all operation and planning activities, Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser became a key figure in the success of the mission.

[servicepub (RIP)]

The Governor General has honoured Canada's first fallen female soldier for sacrificing her life in Afghanistan with a meritorious service medal.
Capt. Nichola Goddard, a Calgarian who last May became the first Canadian woman soldier killed in combat, was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her work in Afghanistan.
Goddard died at age 26 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack while serving in Afghanistan on May 17.
In Ottawa on Monday, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean presented 33 medals for meritorious service, some for work done in Afghanistan, some for other missions.
Jean presented Goddard's husband, Jason Beam, with her award.
"I'm not quite sure she would enjoy all this publicity about it and being up front and on stage and everything," he said.
"She definitely deserves it and definitely earned it."
The Goddard family's grief was played out in the public eye as the nation mourned the passing of the first female Canadian soldier to die in battle.
When Goddard was buried in Ottawa, her family kept some of her ashes to place in Calgary.
On Monday, Jean presented six other medals to men who performed extraordinary deeds under fire in Afghanistan.
On a stifling afternoon in Afghanistan last summer, a group of Canadian soldiers came under heavy fire as they attacked a Taliban outpost.
After two senior leaders were hit, Sgt. Patrick Tower took over command. With rocket-propelled grenades going off all around, with machine-gun fire lashing the area, Tower led a medic and a second soldier over 150 metres of bullet-whipped ground to the rescue of the wounded.
He loaded them aboard an armoured vehicle and got them to safety. Four soldiers died that day and more might have been lost but for Towers.
That same summer, Capt. William Hilton Fletcher, Tower's company commander, made a habit of leading under fire, even after two soldiers were shot down beside him.
On Monday, Sgt. Patrick Tower of Edmonton and Sidney, B.C. and Capt. William Hilton Fletcher of Edmonton, became the first soldiers to receive the Star of Military Valour, second only to the Victoria Cross as a decoration for courage. Four others were awarded the Medal of Military Bravery, the third ranking medal.
The country's awards for military valour were established in 1993, but were never awarded until Monday.
Fletcher and Tower were cited for courage and selflessness.
"Sgt. Tower's courage and selfless devotion to duty contributed directly to the survival of the remaining platoon members," his citation read.
Fletcher's citation said: "His selfless courage, tactical acumen and effective command were pivotal to the success of his company in defeating a determined opponent."
Tower, a soft-spoken, modest young man, said he was surprised by news of his award. "I was just doing my job."
He said the loss of four soldiers killed that afternoon, overshadows the honour, but he paid tribute to his comrades.
"Although it was a bad day, the way the troops acted, the way they fought and faced the enemy, they showed so much bravery that day. The medal's for the whole platoon."
Sgt. Michael Denine of Edmonton and St. John's, N.L., Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald of Shilo, Man., and Morrisburg, Ont., Pte. Jason Lamont of Edmonton and Greenwood, N.S., and Capt. Derek Prohar of Edmonton and Avonlea, Sask., were cited for valiant and selfless action.
Denine was in an armoured vehicle when its main gun and machine-gun broke down. He climbed out to an exposed gun and drove off the attackers while completely exposed to fire.
Fitzergerald was in a convoy that was hit by a roadside bomb. He 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.
Lamont, a medic, sprinted across open ground under fire to aid a wounded soldier.
Prohar was serving with the American Green berets when their convoy was ambushed. Despite being wounded, he manned a machine-gun to return fire.
The Governor General said the fighting in Afghanistan has exposed soldiers to the deadliest combat since Korea.
"However, our forces' experience in Afghanistan suggests that the most trying circumstances can bring forth the most noble human qualities," she said. "Qualities like loyalty, bravery, resourcefulness, compassion, boldness and sheer determination."
Fletcher said he doesn't remember what went through his head as he led his men to the attack. But he said he's learned that the ties between fighting men are very close.
"It's been said that you go to war for Queen and country but you fight for your fire-team partner, the guy by your side, and I think that's very true.
"There's a bond that I really can't put into words that I've got with the soldiers I was overseas with."
Fletcher said the hardest things he did in Afghanistan were the airport ceremonies sending dead soldiers home.
"We take, I guess, a bit of comfort there knowing that they all died doing their duty. They died moving towards the enemy. They died doing what we asked of them."
Tower is due to return to Afghanistan a year from now.
Why?
"I believe deeply in the mission and why we're there. I've seen all the good things that we do over there."
Fletcher isn't scheduled to go back, but said he would go without a qualm.
"I would go back any time because I firmly believe we are doing some good there."
He said he has some advice for soldiers going to Afghanistan for the first time: "Stay low, move fast and rely on your training."