Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1974-12-20
Invested on: 1975-04-03
On August 17, 1974, Col. Guy Lessard with another Canadian officer was attempting to gain the cooperation and withdrawal of two groups of the belligerents situated at opposite ends of a street in Nicosia. While they were thus engaged, a truck driven by a Turkish Cypriot civilian entered the area. The driver was forced from his vehicle and his life threatened. In this tense and hazardous situation, Col. Lessard immediately placed himself in front of the man and shielded him until a military vehicle was brought up into which the man climbed and was removed from danger. Col. Lessard's conduct in the face of the combatant soldiers was a prime factor in restoring calm.