Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 1995-07-26
Invested on: 1995-09-15
Lieutenant-Commander Read was the staff officer to the Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda during the civil war in 1994. Shortly after the withdrawal of the Belgian contingent, the overall situation became explosive. Lieutenant-Commander Read was sent to rescue Canadians of Rwandese birth. On two occasions, he was surrounded by armed and hostile civilian crowds and belligerent forces, but conducted his charges to safety. Later, he was appointed commander of the developing logistics support base and ensured it was defensible, organized and controlled under these tense and unpredictable conditions.