Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: March 16, 1981
• Invested on: June 19, 1981

Robert William Carter, M.B.
Ralph Stephen Hemphill, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Helicopter pilot Robert Carter and Flight Engineer Ralph Hemphill of Transport Canada, rescued three young men stranded on a derelict barge at Low Point, Nova Scotia on the night of 23 July 1979. After several attempts to rescue the youths by sea had aborted because of very heavy seas and high winds, the tow-man crew of the Coast Guard were called in and immediately set to work. The partially submerged boat was pitching and rolling thus frustrating Mr. Carter's efforts to place the helicopter on the stern. However, with considerable skill, he finally succeeded in setting the skids of the craft down on the top edge of the trawler, dangerously close to a mast, leaving a clearance of only 45 centimetres for the main blades. Then the flight engineer Mr. Hemphill exited. In buffeting winds and spray, he made his way on hands and knees to the young men, then proceeded to escort them one at a time to the waiting helicopter. All were flown to the safety of the shore.