Star of Courage

• Awarded on: June 13, 1988
• Invested on: August 19, 1988

On March 12, 1985, Claude Brunelle, a Pinkerton security guard, lost his life when terrorists attacked the Turkish embassy in Ottawa. At approximately 7 a.m., three heavily armed men drew up to the embassy gate in a truck, quickly scaled the gate and opened fire on the security hut. Mr. Brunelle, who was inside the bullet-proof kiosk, immediately called in the emergency code to his supervisor, then left the safety of the hut to confront the attackers in an attempt to stall their entry into the embassy. In the exchange of gun fire, Mr. Brunelle was mortally wounded and died instantly, but his action delayed the assailants just long enough to allow the Ambassador to escape. The three terrorists held eleven people hostage in the embassy for four hours, then surrendered.