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McGill grad to receive Military Decoration from Governor General, Thursday

Published: 25 January 2012

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OTTAWA -- David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present a Meritorious Service Medal on Thursday to Major Derek Prohar, a Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Niagara Falls, Ont.

Master Corporal Adam Holmes, M.M.V.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Kapuskasing, Ont.

Master Corporal Gilles-Remi Mikkelson, M.M.V.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bella Coola, B.C.

Private Philip Millar, M.M.V.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Lower Sackville, N.S.

Master Corporal Paul Douglas Mitchell, M.M.V.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Weymouth, N.S.

Private John Nelson, M.M.V.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Wiseton, Sask.

Sergeant Graham Marc Verrier, M.M.V., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Winnipeg, Man.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)

Colonel Christian Drouin, M.S.C., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Montreal, Que.

Colonel Simon Charles Hetherington, M.S.C., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 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.ÌýÌý Ottawa, Ont.

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Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division)

Colonel David Edward Barr, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Victoria, B.C.

Major Annie Bouchard, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Roberval, Que.

Master Corporal Danny Denis Boyd, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý La Tuque, Que.

Colonel Shane Anthony Brennan, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýOttawa, Ont.

Corporal Bobby Brown, M.S.M.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 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.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Campbellford, Ont.

Warrant Officer Joseph Jacques Friolet, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌý Bathurst, N.B.

Colonel Raymond Marc Gagne, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 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)ÌýÌý Cleveland, Ohio,

Major Patrick John Koch, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 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.ÌýÌýÌý Ottawa, Ont.

Captain(N) John Frederick Newton, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.Ìý Halifax, N.S.

Captain James Alan O'Neill, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Hamilton, Ont.

Warrant Officer George Nelson Parrott, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌý Duncan, B.C.

Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Brian Patrick, M.S.M., C.D.Ìý Kitchener, Ont.

Captain(N) Kenneth John Pickford, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ottawa, Ont. & Halifax, N.S.

Major Derek Prohar, M.M.V., M.S.M.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýAvonlea, Sask.

Major Liam Wade Rutland, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Pembroke, Ont.

Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Scheidl, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ottawa, Ont.

Captain Robert Scott, M.S.M.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Prince Albert, Sask.

Major Donald James Senft, M.S.M., C.D.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Kelowna, B.C.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffery Douglas Smyth, M.S.M., C.D.Ìý Chatham, Ont.

Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Whited, Jr., M.S.M. (UnitedÌý Colorado Springs, States Army) Colorado, U.S.A.

Brigadier-General Gregory Achilles Young, O.M.M., M.S.M., C.D. ÌýWindsor, Ont.

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SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

McGill Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012 (Tel.)

m.athletics.mcgill.ca (mobile website)

earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca?subject=E-mail%20hyperlink%20for%20Earl%20Zukerman"> earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca

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