Master Corporal Joseph Arnold MacAuley, M.B., C.D.
Corporal George Edward Makowski, M.B.
Corporal Craig Douglas Seager, S.C., M.B., C.D.*
Medal of Bravery
On 2 April 1983, MCpl. Joseph MacAuley, Cpl. George Makowski and Cpl. Craig Seager, members of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron from Canadian Forces Base Comox, through their efforts rescued two women and a man from certain death following a plane crash 75 km north-east of Vancouver. The three survivors were stranded on a precarious, avalanche-prone cliff-face and had spent the night in a makeshift shelter, battling sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall. With the help of a civilian helicopter pilot, Mr. T. A. Dixon, the team determined to reach the survivors as quickly as possible because the already bad weather conditions were forecast to deteriorate and delaying the rescue attempt another day would likely result in the death of the survivors. The team leader, MCpl. MacAuley, decided upon an untested rescue procedure and Cpls. Makowski and Seager were transported to the scene in a jury-rigged net slung beneath the helicopter. Once they had reached the survivors, Cpl. Seager stayed at the crash site with the injured man while Cpl. Makowski climbed back into the net while they rode to safety. MCpl. MacAuley remained in the cockpit throughout, giving direction to the pilot and continuously advising him of the clearance from the cliff-face, the movement of the rescue apparatus and the extraction of the survivors.
* This is the second award for bravery to Cpl Seager.