Star of Courage

• Awarded on: March 5, 1973
• Invested on: June 22, 1973

Corporal Roderick Villon Verchère, S.C.
Star of Courage
Captain John Ross Farncombe, M.B.
Captain Palmer Leonard Wenaas, M.B., C.D.
Medal of Bravery

Following the disastrous landslide on May 5, 1971, at St.-Jean-Vianney, Quebec, Capt Wenaas, Capt Farncombe and Cpl Verchère of the Canadian Armed Forces combed the area by helicopter looking for survivors. Much of the search was made in darkness and under hazardous flying conditions. The following morning, Capt Farncombe and his crew located a survivor atop a car, and hovering over the vehicle hoisted the victim to safety. Cpl Verchère disembarked from the helicopter to make a search of houses which were in imminent danger of collapse. In the course of the search operation, the two pilots and Cpl Verchère displayed perseverance and courage in the face of grave risks.