Star of Military Valour recipients honoured with plaque

Cpl Carbe Orellana, Canadian Forces Support Unit, Ottawa Imaging Services
Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, and Warrant Officer (Retired) Patrick Tower unveiled the commemorative plaque at the Valour Building May 25 in Ottawa.

Last Monday, Master Warrant Officer David Shultz, Range Control Officer, was in Ottawa to take part in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Valour Building, formerly known as La Promenade Building at 151 Sparks Street.

The solider was joined by 11 other military members, all recipients of the Star of Military Valour.

The bronze plaque, unveiled by Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, is in honour of the heroic actions of 20 military members during Canada’s 12 year military mission in Afghanistan.

“This plaque, and the name of this building, serve as a reminder of the self-sacrifice and devotion to duty embodied by our Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan,” said Kenney, addressing 12 of the Star of Military Valour recipients, and two families of the fallen who were present at the ceremony. “We honour these remarkable individuals who have been presented with the Star of Military Valour for their service to their country.”

The plaque and building also serve as reminders of the contributions made by all men and women in uniform during the Afghanistan mission.

MWO Shultz received the medal for his actions in Kandahar in May 2008 when he formulated and executed a flanking manoeuvre to attack the enemy ambush.

His manoeuver neutralized the insurgent’s position and allowed his patrol to secure the surrounding area; but quickly after, his patrol was attacked again.

Disregarding personal risk to himself, MWO Shultz plunged into intense enemy fire to direct his soldiers and engage the enemy. He repeatedly re-entered the danger zone to remove injured personnel, and execute the patrol’s fighting withdrawal.

Due to his actions, countless other casualties were prevented.

“A lot of it goes back to the training that we’ve had,” he says. “And I would be lying if I said adrenaline wasn’t involved. You’re moving around pretty quick, and it’s confusing, just absolute chaos. There was smoke and noise because the entire area was being chopped apart by enemy machine-gun fire.

“Everyone was doing what they were trained to do.  There was a lot of fighting and killing and dying. All of us were fighting for the lives of each other. If it hadn’t been for the soldiers working as hard as they did, I’d be dead right now.”
MWO Shultz says he accepted the medal on behalf of his Platoon who fought that day.

“I’d never consider it to be an award for myself. I proudly wear it on behalf of all six platoon members, and believe the recognition has to go to the guys who don’t have names on a piece of paper, or who haven’t received medals,” he says.  “I’d also like to thank my family and friends for their support, especially my wife and our kids. She is a very strong woman and has stood beside me during the good times and the bad.”

More than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014, making it the largest deployment of military personnel since the Second World War.

Rachel Lallouz
Staff Writer