Topic: 26 Jan 12: Latest round of bravery, other medals

[Old Sweat]

Here is a link to a National Post story re the award to the MMV to MBdr Holmes.

I interviewed Holmes and the other Canadian in early 2011. They had an impressive story to tell, including that early in the engagement they were informed that the Taliban commander had radioed that there were two Canadians present and they should be killed first. Needless to say, they stayed and fought.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/24/133336/

[jollyjacktar]

Gutsy guy, thanks for the story link.   

[GAP]

Gutsy guy, thanks for the story link.   

 

[milnews.ca]

Kudos!

[Jim Seggie]

Gutsy guy, thanks for the story link.   

Wow. Awesome. Well done!

[dogger1936]

BZ!!

It's nice to see that some of this stuff put forward now YEARS ago is still getting processed! Well Done Mcpl!

[Strike]

BZ to all!

Soldiers and pilot recognized for valour in Afghanistan

The Canadian Press

Date: Thursday Jan. 26, 2012 12:54 PM ET

OTTAWA — It was one of the those heart-stopping moments every pilot who flew in Afghanistan feared -- the dull thud of rounds hitting the helicopter and the smell of smoke.

But for Capt. William Todd Fielding, it wasn't some abstract concern and on Thursday he was awarded the country's third highest valour decoration for what he did in the critical moments after the Taliban sprayed his CH-147 Chinook with gunfire.

Fielding was among seven members of the Canadian Forces to receive the Medal of Military Valour from Gov. Gen. David Johnston in a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

His helicopter was hit in the fuel tank and immediately caught fire as it took off from a forward position in the volatile Panjwaii district, west of Kandahar city on Aug. 5, 2010.

The native of Niagara Falls, Ont., managed to land the burning chopper in the middle of insurgent controlled territory and get everyone off safely without any casualties.

The other recipients were soldiers and included Master-Cpl. Adam Holmes, Master-Cpl. Gilles-Remi Mikkelson, Pte. Philip Millar, Master-Cpl. Paul Mitchell, Pte. John Nelson, and Sgt. Graham Verrier.

Holmes was recognized for actions that took place in Panjwaii that same brutal summer of 2010, when the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment battle group was locked in a series of bloody fights with Taliban insurgents and foreign fighters.

A native of Kapuskasing, Ont., Holmes repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire and single-handedly turned back a group of insurgents who had come within 50 metres of his unit's position.

Both Mikkelson, Millar and Nelson were praised separately for delivering life-saving first aid treatment to wounded soldiers under fire.

Mitchell and Verrier were recognized for holding their ground under fire and inspiring other soldiers in separate battles in 2010.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120126/william-todd-fielding-medal-of-valour-120126/

[Scoobs]

Well done guys.  I'm friends with Bill Fielding and he is a very modest fellow.  Only spoke of the incident when asked and gave little info.  I'm very glad that he got something.

By the way, having done H&A in KAF for 9 and a half months, I can tell you straightforward that nominations are actioned ASAP.  Not YEARS after as a previous poster stated.  The amount of nominations received during a 6 month ROTO is incredible.  Agreed that stuff that occured in 2009 should have been actioned earlier, but on the whole, the system has dramatically improved.

Let's end with the positive, BZ to all that received H&A today!!

[David1997]

Very good story  nice to see .

[Jed]

BZ to Bill Fielding. Nice to see guys that you started with do well.

[Strike]

BZ to Bill Fielding. Nice to see guys that you started with do well.

Here here!  Not that I started with him, but we were in the same Sqn for a time.

[bigzoomie]

BZ to Bill Fielding. Nice to see guys that you started with do well.

I have more than a few hours in the logbook with Bill sitting beside me.  Great to see him getting the recognition he deserves.