Star of Courage

• Awarded on: November 23, 1987
• Invested on: June 10, 1988

Lieutenant Médric Léo Robert Cousineau, S.C.
Star of Courage

On the night of October 6, 1986, Lt. Medric Cousineau, a member of the crew of a Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue helicopter, risked his life to rescue two seriously-injured crewmen from an American fishing boat. At the time of the rescue it was dark and weather conditions were terrible, with rain, strong winds and heavy seas; and the deck of the boat, which was pitching and rolling continuously, was obscured by antennae, fishing apparatus and machinery. Fully aware of the hazardous conditions, Lt. Cousineau volunteered to be lowered to the deck of the vessel in order to move the injured men from the boat to the helicopter. On the first attempt he was thrown overboard when the boat pitched violently, but on a second attempt, although he fell into the sea, he managed to scramble aboard. He was able, despite the flying spray and the tremendous noise of the large helicopter hovering close overhead, to quickly organize the preparation and evacuation of the two injured crewmen. Had Lt. Cousineau not willingly put his own life in jeopardy, both of the injured men would certainly have died.