Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Cross
Awarded on: 1996-06-26
Invested on: 1996-09-13
On December 2, 1995, then Captain Burden was crew commander of a Sea King helicopter rescue team that saved thirty people from the sinking Motor Vessel Mount Olympus, which had been caught in a severe Atlantic storm almost 2,000 km southeast of Nova Scotia. Hampered by the early morning darkness and severe weather conditions, Captain Burden successfully steadied the helicopter over the vessel for nearly four hours, enabling his crew to hoist all thirty people to safety. Captain Burden demonstrated outstanding leadership, professionalism and skill throughout this life-saving mission.