Corporal Miroslaw Mirek Lesiak, S.C.
Star of Courage
Cpl Miroslaw Lesiak of the Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, New Brunswick, suffered serious burns when attempting to save the lives of the pilot and co-pilot of an aircraft which had crashed and caught fire on an airstrip at Gagetown, on May 2, 1971. Cpl Lesiak, who was thrown clear of the plane on impact, went at once to the rescue of the others. He directed three remaining passengers to get clear of the plane and went on to assist the pilot and co-pilot who were trapped in the wreckage. Although suffering severe burns, the rescuer nevertheless persisted and succeeded in extricating the injured co-pilot. The intensity of the fire prevented Cpl Lesiak from a further attempt to help the pilot.