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OTTAWA -- David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present a Meritorious Service Medal on Thursday to Major Derek Prohar, a McGill University graduate from Avonlea, Sask., who played hockey and football at McGill.
The presentation ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m., in Rideau Hall.
It is the second military decoration for Prohar, who previously received the Medal of Military Valour in 2007, after working as a liaison officer with the United States Special Forces in Afghanistan during the battle at Sperwan Ghar, September 5-12, 2006.
Prohar was a defensive back with the McGill Redmen football team for one season, then joined the hockey Redmen, where he played at forward and patrolled the blueline from 1994 to 1998. He won the University's Richard Pound Award in 1998 for proficiency and leadership in athletics before graduating with a bachelor's degree, majoring in economics and political science.
Prohar was an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team operations officer and headquarters company commander in Afghanistan. He planned and influenced operations, guaranteeing the necessary support to mentor teams operating in isolated and high-threat locations.
In 2006, he held the rank of captain and was working as the rear machine gunner on the battalion commander's vehicle when wounded by an improvised explosive device during an intense enemy ambush and despite his injuries. He continued returning fire and assisted the commander with the control of the attack, which resulted in the successful seizing of key terrain.
The Governor General will present seven Medals of Military Valour to members of the Canadian Forces who have displayed gallantry and devotion to duty in combat, as well as four Meritorious Service Crosses (Military Division) and 28 Meritorious Service Medals (Military Division) to individuals whose specific achievements have brought honour to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.
RECIPIENTS
MILITARY VALOUR DECORATIONS
Medal of Military Valour
Captain William Todd Fielding, M.M.V., C.D. Niagara Falls, Ont.
Master Corporal Adam Holmes, M.M.V. Kapuskasing, Ont.
Master Corporal Gilles-Remi Mikkelson, M.M.V. Bella Coola, B.C.
Private Philip Millar, M.M.V. Lower Sackville, N.S.
Master Corporal Paul Douglas Mitchell, M.M.V. Weymouth, N.S.
Private John Nelson, M.M.V. Wiseton, Sask.
Sergeant Graham Marc Verrier, M.M.V., C.D. Winnipeg, Man.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)
Colonel Christian Drouin, M.S.C., C.D. Montreal, Que.
Colonel Simon Charles Hetherington, M.S.C., C.D. Oakville, Ont.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Simon Armand Vinet, M.M.M., M.S.C., C.D. Longueuil, Que.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jerome Francis Walsh, M.S.C., C.D. Ottawa, Ont.
Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division)
Colonel David Edward Barr, M.S.M., C.D. Victoria, B.C.
Major Annie Bouchard, M.S.M., C.D. Roberval, Que.
Master Corporal Danny Denis Boyd, M.S.M., C.D. La Tuque, Que.
Colonel Shane Anthony Brennan, M.S.M., C.D. Ottawa, Ont.
Corporal Bobby Brown, M.S.M. Holland Centre, Ont.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Freeman Butterworth, M.S.M., C.D. Glace Bay, N.S.
Colonel James Roy Forestell, M.S.M., C.D. Campbellford, Ont.
Warrant Officer Joseph Jacques Friolet, M.S.M., C.D. Bathurst, N.B.
Colonel Raymond Marc Gagne, M.S.M., C.D. St-Gilles de Lotbiniere, Que.
Lieutenant-Commander Louis Christian Hache, M.S.M., C.D.Petit-Rocher, N.B. and Middle Sackville, N.S.
Captain(N) Richard Philip Harrison, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.Victoria, B.C.
Colonel Jeffrey Holachek, M.S.M. (United States Army) Cleveland, Ohio,
Major Patrick John Koch, M.S.M., C.D. White Rock, B.C.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Frederick McGrath, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. St. John's, N.L.
Sergeant Charles Andrew McLean, M.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. Ottawa, Ont.
Captain(N) John Frederick Newton, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. Halifax, N.S.
Captain James Alan O'Neill, M.S.M., C.D. Hamilton, Ont.
Warrant Officer George Nelson Parrott, M.S.M., C.D. Duncan, B.C.
Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Brian Patrick, M.S.M., C.D. Kitchener, Ont.
Captain(N) Kenneth John Pickford, M.S.M., C.D. Ottawa, Ont. & Halifax, N.S.
Major Derek Prohar, M.M.V., M.S.M. Avonlea, Sask.
Major Liam Wade Rutland, M.S.M., C.D. Pembroke, Ont.
Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Scheidl, M.S.M., C.D. Ottawa, Ont.
Captain Robert Scott, M.S.M. Prince Albert, Sask.
Major Donald James Senft, M.S.M., C.D. Kelowna, B.C.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffery Douglas Smyth, M.S.M., C.D. Chatham, Ont.
Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Whited, Jr., M.S.M. (United Colorado Springs, States Army) Colorado, U.S.A.
Brigadier-General Gregory Achilles Young, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. Windsor, Ont.
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)
@EarlZukerman (twitter)