Star of Courage

• Awarded on: January 17, 1983
• Invested on: March 04, 1983

In the early hours of 20 April 1981, Pte. Roger Chiasson showed outstanding gallantry when on peacekeeping duty in Cyprus with the Canadian Airborne Regiment. While occupying an observation site, a depressed fellow soldier had left his post, entered a minefield between the Turkish and Greek positions, and approached the Turkish side. Pte. Chiasson at once informed his superiors. Then, well aware that the ground was seeded with live anti-personnel mines, and that beyond a certain point he would probably come under direct fire, he ventured into the minefield. In the dangerous minutes that followed he calmed his comrade and coerced him to return to the safety zone.