Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2006-10-25
Invested on: 2007-02-19
Major Gallinger served as the officer commanding A Company, Operation ARCHER, in Afghanistan from January to August 2006. In July 2006 alone, he led A Company into no less than 20 firefights, captured significant enemy material and destroyed an enemy improvised explosive device group. Following a gruelling block-by-block capture of Garmser district, he pushed the Company to clear some 200 Taliban insurgents from the outlying area. Throughout this intense combat, A Company did not suffer a single fatality. This success is directly related to the outstanding leadership of Major Gallinger. His actions have brought great honour to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.