Star of Courage

• Awarded on: January 19, 1976
• Invested on: February 16, 1976

LCdr Lucien Voyer of the Canadian Armed Forces was drowned when valiantly swimming to the aid of his ten-year-old daughter who had fallen into a raging mountain stream, near Creston, British Columbia, on July 12, 1974. LCdr Voyer and his family had set up camp near the stream and the children were exploring the area when the mishap occurred. While amusing herself balancing along logs which crossed to an island, the little slipped and plunged into the water. An older brother found her clinging for her life onto a log and shouted for help. When LCdr Voyer came racing to the scene, his daughter was being swept away by the current. With complete disregard for his own safety, the man dove into the rushing surge of water and swam to her aid but could only briefly hold her above water. They were torn from each other and dragged downstream. Although the son followed their course along the shore and attempted to reach them with a branch, they disappeared below the surface and sadly, both drowned.