AFP Newsletter - Spring 2022 ENGLISH

Armed Forces Pensioners’ / Annuitants’ Association of Canada Issue #39 • Spring 2022 6 NCVA supports request for awarding a Victoria Cross to Private Jess Larochelle I n a recent letter submitted to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, The National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) has indicated its full support for a petition being submitted to the House of Commons, seeking the award of the Victoria Cross for Private Jess Larochelle. Brian Forbes, NCVA chairman, sent the letter of support on behalf of NCVA’s 68 member-organiza- tions. He noted that a group of soldiers called “Valour in the Presence of the Enemy,” headed by former CDS General Rick Hillier, launched an initiative to review the citation of the Star of Military Valour for Pte Laro- chelle for his heroism in Afghanistan on October 14, 2006. The group has uncovered new elements in rela- tion to his incredible acts of bravery, arguing that this new information should trigger a review of his citation and that there is strong evidence to upgrade his award to the Victoria Cross. Private Jess Randall Larochelle of Petawawa, Ontar- io, Canada was awarded the Star of Military Valour on March 14, 2007. The citation included the following information: On October 14, 2006, Private Larochelle of the 1st Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group was manning an observation post when it was destroyed by an ene- my rocket in Pashmul, Afghanistan. Although he was alone, severely injured, and under sustained enemy fire in his exposed position at the ruined observation post, he aggressively provided covering fire over the otherwise undefended flank of his company’s position. While two members of the personnel were killed and three others were wounded in the initial attack, Private Larochelle’s heroic actions permitted the remainder of the company to defend their battle positions and to successfully fend off the sustained attack of more than 20 insurgents. His valiant conduct saved the lives of many members of his company. The above-referenced group of soldiers, “Valour in the Presence of the Enemy” provided this summary of the additional details describing the heroic actions of Private Larochelle: “What it doesn’t say that his injuries were a broken back, detached retina, deaf in his right ear, and firing all the rockets caused shoulder problems. Two years later shrapnel was still pushing itself out of his body. Imagine coming to with all these injuries and fighting off a sustained attack. It also doesn’t mention that the two LAVs on that flank had weapon stoppages meaning he was the only sustained fire on that flank. And by his own testimony he says he volunteered to go to the OP despite the fact that the platoon was short handed and undermanned. With knowledge that an attack was im- minent he went down to the OP with two C6 machine guns meaning you would have needed four people to properly man that position because the C6 is a two-man weapon. He also manned this OP for an additional 12 hours after the battle, before coming back to carry his section mate during the ramp ceremony. This informa- tion is missing from his citation and because of this we are calling for a review.” This initiative to upgrade Pte Larochelle’s award has the support of General Omar Lavoie, who was brigade commander at the time. He is the author of Pte Laro- chelle’s citation, and a witness to the battle in which Pte Larochelle fought so heroically. The initiative is also endorsed by three other tour brigade command- ers, the RCR Association and the PPCLI Association, and the Royal Canadian Legion. AFP/AAC 2-555 Hall Ave. E., Renfrew, ON K7V 4M7 Phone: 613-432-9491 Melina Menard, Production Email: admin@afpaac.ca Website: www.afpaac.ca