Meritorious Service Cross
- Awarded on: November 23, 1987
- Invested on: June 01, 1988
Rank: Captain
On the night of 6 October 1986, Captain Kleemann was the crew commander and pilot of a Sea King helicopter launched from HMCS NIPIGON to rescue two seriously-injured crewmen from the fighting vessel SEA HAWK. Due to the vessel's small size and configuration, only a 2 metre by 2.5 metre stern deck area was suitable for a hoist rescue. Weather conditions were deplorable, with 6 metre seas, winds gusting to 45 knots and very poor visibility due to darkness and rain. Despite using the lee of a nearby large bulk carrier to gain some protection from the seas, the SEA HAWK continued to pitch erratically, and standard rescue procedures repeatedly failed. Captain Kleemann then boldly manoeuvred his helicopter lower and perilously close to both ships under such arduous conditions that the slightest error would have been catastrophic. With exceptional skill and the finest of crew coordination, he achieved a hover just above the SEA HAWK's wildly pitching stern from which the rescue was completed. Captain Kleemann's outstanding professional performance of his military duty at a rare high standard has brought great credit to both himself and the Canadian Forces.
