Meritorious Service Medal

• Awarded on: February 2, 2011
• Invested on: December 13, 2011

Co-recipients: Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert Clement Thibault, M.S.C., C.D.
Sergeant William Joseph Kelland, M.S.M., C.D.
Captain Andrew John Mercer, M.S.M., C.D.
Warrant Officer Keith Paul Mitchell, C.V., M.S.M., C.D.


On the morning of June 9, 2008, the aircrew of Cormorant Helicopter Rescue 913 successfully evacuated a critically injured sailor from the MV Maersk Dunedin, near Halifax. Aircraft commander Lieutenant-Colonel Thibault made critical command decisions as he piloted the aircraft under exceptionally demanding circumstances. He was assisted by First Officer Captain Mercer, who helped fly the aircraft for nearly 10 hours, twice landing on Sable Island for fuel as the aircraft’s endurance was pushed to its limits. In conditions where visibility was so poor that they could not even see the vessel in distress, flight engineer Sergeant Pawulski was instrumental in providing advice to help guide the aircraft into position over the deck in order to facilitate the hoist operation. Search and rescue technicians Warrant Officer Mitchell and Sergeant Kelland were then lowered onto the heaving deck, where they rendered life-saving medical aid to the injured sailor and coordinated his removal to the rescue helicopter. The team’s conduct, dedication and professionalism in the planning and execution of this daring rescue brought great credit to the Canadian Forces.