Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 10, 1998
• Invested on: May 10, 1999

James Harding, S.C.
Star of Courage
Captain Gerry Dawson, M.B.
Petty Officer Robert A. King, M.B.
John E. Olson, M.B.
Inga Thorsteinson, M.B.
Raymond William Trognitz, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

During a severe storm on October 30, 1996, with Robert King, Inga Thorsteinson and Raymond Trognitz of the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Westfort ready to assist, Gerry Dawson, James Harding and John Olson of the Glenada rescued two men from a disabled American cruise ship on Lake Superior, Ontario. Ripped from its mooring and sent adrift by gale-force winds, the damaged 34- metre ship had been towed towards Thunder Bay by a passing freighter until the line broke sending it adrift again. Responding to the distress call, the Westfort and the Glenada battled 120-kilometre- per-hour winds and four-metre waves to attempt a rescue. While keeping in contact with the Westfort, the 24-metre tug boat Glenada reached the ship, and with no other rescue means available, it was decided that the victims would have to jump from one ship to the other. Despite the extreme rolling of the ship, Cpt. Dawson navigated the tug boat close to the cruise ship in near-zero visibility. Mr. Harding wedged himself into the bow to keep from slipping on the ice-covered deck, and prepared to grab the men as they jumped aboard. The first attempt failed when the Glenada jammed into the stern of the other ship and broke the railing. Undeterred, the rescuers persevered and on the second attempt, Mr. Harding succeeded in securing one man, then the other, as they leaped onto the deck.