Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 1993-01-14
Invested on: 1994-03-04
On 30 October 1991, Warrant Officer Ritchie led an overland rescue party from Canadian Forces Station Alert to the crash site of a Hercules aircraft. In white-out conditions and total darkness, navigation was extremely difficult. The party was forced to return to their base after eight hours. After refuelling their vehicles and taking additional survival equipment, the team made a second attempt. After forty-eight hours of stress and fatigue, the mission was accomplished. Its success is attributable to the outstanding leadership, professional knowledge and perseverance of Warrant Officer Ritchie.