Local Canadian Forces members honoured with medals
Posted Nov 16, 2012 10:58:23 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nearly one thousand Canadian Forces members are being honoured with medals today after a dangerous mission off the coast of Libya in 2011.
Operation Mobile prompted the deployment of HMCS Charlottetown, which docks in Halifax, as well as other military craft to enforce the NATO arms embargo and no-fly zone during the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
“Your actions in the waters off the Mediterranean, and in the skies over Libya, sent a strong message to the world that when the government decides that it is time for Canada to get involved the Canadian Forces will deliver,” said Chief of Defence Staff, General Tom Lawson told the assembled company at CFB Stadacona. “You made a difference and helped save countless Libyan civilian lives.”
Locally, 210 Canadian Forces members were pinned with Libya medals today for their service in Operation Mobile and Operation Unified Protector. An additional 740 members received medals across the country.
The Department of Defence said Canada responded rapidly to the United Nations mandate and NATO-led operation “to protect the people of Libya from the former Gaddafi regime” in March of 2011.
Canada deployed two frigates, HMCS Charlottetown and HMCS Vancouver, and their Sea King helicopter detachments.
During the mission, the Charlottetown became the first Royal Canadian Ship to be fired upon and return fire since the Korean War.
“We were trained for it,” said LS Caroline Chartier, who served on Charlottetown during the attack. “Basically it was like a regular training day. The only thing was, it was real this time.”
“It happened quickly,” said fellow crew member Lt. JD Forbes. “People are so professional and trained to do their jobs that no one had much time to think about it until it was done and said.”
Canada also deployed CF-188 Hornet fighters, CC-150 Polaris in-flight refueling tankers, CC-130 Hercules tankers and CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft.
