Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Cross
Awarded on: 1990-03-26
Invested on: 1990-06-20
Lieutenant-Colonel E.J. Smith was the Airlift Control Element Commander in Incirlik, Turkey, for OPERATION VAGABOND, the airlift of the Canadian United Nations contingent to Iran and Iraq between 10 August and 3 September 1988. This airlift presented a most challenging air transport operation in a tense peacekeeping situation. The successful completion of 119 missions was largely due to Lieutenant-Colonel Smith's outstanding leadership, initiative, motivation and dedication.