Sergeant James Gordon Edward, M.M.M., M.B., C.D.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Medal of Bravery
Sergeant James Edward risked his life during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, in Tehran. On November 4, 1979, a mob of Islamist students and militants stormed the American embassy and took the personnel hostage. Sergeant Edward, as the head of security at the Canadian embassy, was responsible for the safety of all personnel during this turbulent and dangerous time. His immediate actions in providing key information to the authorities mitigated the highly volatile situation and limited casualties. About six weeks into the hostage crisis, Sergeant Edward was detained by Revolutionary Guards but was set free after five hours of interrogation. His actions greatly contributed to the release of the hostages on January 20, 1981.