Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 18, 2002
• Invested on: December 09, 2002

Craig D'Alessio, M.B.
Richard Leo Gervais, M.B.
Roger Alexander Roy, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On July 19, 1998, Craig D'Alessio, Richard Gervais and Roger Roy rescued two men trapped in a burning car in Cornwall, Ontario. Alerted by the sound of screeching tires, the rescuers ran to the scene where the out-of-control vehicle had slammed into a concrete utility pole. Gasoline was pouring from the ruptured tank and the passenger side was ablaze. Without hesitation, Mr. Roy reached in through the open driver's door and released the victim's seat belt, then he and Mr. D'Alessio pulled the dazed man to safety. Meanwhile Mr. Gervais was met by a wall of flames when he attempted to open the passenger's door. Determined to save the seriously injured man, he raced around the wreck to find that Mr. Roy had returned and crawled in through the driver's side in a desperate attempt to free the unconscious passenger. Seeing Mr. Roy's pants and shoes on fire, Mr. Gervais yanked him out of the car to allow bystanders to douse the flames with fire extinguishers. With combined efforts, Messrs. Roy, Gervais and D'Alessio then managed, on their third attempt, to pull the victim out moments before the entire vehicle was engulfed into a fireball.