Star of Courage

• Awarded on: August 28, 1997
• Invested on: May 15, 1998

Sergeant Kenneth James Power, S.C., C.D.
Master Corporal Gregory Allan Smit, S.C., C.D.
Star of Courage

On September 24, 1996, Search and Rescue technicians Sgt Power and MCpl Smit rescued four sailors from a sailboat in danger of capsizing in heavy seas in the Atlantic Ocean, off Sable Island, Nova Scotia. The vessel's wildly gyrating mast made a standard hoist recovery impossible, so MCpl Smit and Sgt Power were lowered into the raging sea from a hovering rescue helicopter and battled 6-meter waves to swim to the vessel. Sgt Power evacuated the first two sailors, one at a time, by hooking them to his harness and leaping into the ocean. As they were lifted to safety, they were dragged underwater and slammed several times against the hull. In complete exhaustion and having swallowed a large amount of water, Sgt Power was unable to attempt another rescue. The line was then lowered to MCpl Smit who managed to rescue the third sailor. As he was dropped near the vessel for pick-up of the last sailor, a large wave separated them. MCpl Smit's attempts to hand-signal information to the helicopter crew failed and he was hoisted up without the victim. Although weakened, MCpl Smit mustered enough strength to be lowered again to the man who had drifted away from his boat, and the final hoist was successfully completed.