Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 26, 1989
• Invested on: July 11, 1989

Master Corporal Kenneth Anthony Brodhagen, M.B., C.D.
Major Joel Rodney Clarkston, M.B., C.D.
Master Corporal Allan Joseph Oliver Gallant, M.B., C.D.
Lieutenant Jay Stuart Medves, M.B.
Master Corporal Stephen Alex Waite, M.B., C.D.
Medal of Bravery

On October 2, 1987, a fishing vessel was caught in heavy seas and high winds in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Parson's Pond, Newfoundland, ran out of fuel and, adrift, was in grave danger of being driven onto the rocky coast. The crew of a rescue helicopter, which was temporarily at St. Anthony, Newfoundland, responded when other rescue units were unable to, due to the wind conditions. Flying through weather at times beyond the safety limits of the aircraft, the crew managed to reach the scene. With the small vessel adrift and wallowing it was not possible to lower the Search and Rescue technicians from the helicopter to the deck. They asked the vessel's crew to transfer to a life-raft which was allowed to drift on a line some thirty metres downwind, thus allowing the rescue operation to proceed. It took another thirty minutes to rescue the four fishermen.