Corporal Clinton John Orr, Medal of Military Valour

Citation Medal of Military Valour

Corporal Clinton John Orr, MMV

Belleville, Ontario; and Chilliwack, British Columbia

Corporal Orr was a member of 23 Field Squadron, 1st Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, in Rotation 2 of Operation Archer in Afghanistan. On September 3, 2006, he was operating an armoured vehicle attached to 2 Troop during an assault in Pashmul. Amidst intense combat action and under direct enemy fire, he placed himself at great risk by manoeuvring to recover one light armoured vehicle, and only ceased his relentless attempts to extract a second one when informed that the vehicle’s crew had withdrawn to safety. His focus on the mission and his courage in the face of danger have brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.

These are three articles describing Cpl Orr's experiences leading to the award.

Combat bravery earns Orr a medal

Reprinted from Chilliwack Times October 12, 2007

Chilliwack native Corporal Clinton John Orr received the Medal of Military Valour from Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean in a ceremony held in Ottawa early Friday.

Orr was operating an armoured vehicle in Afghanistan on Sept. 3, 2006, during an assault in Pashmul.

"Amidst intense combat action and under direct enemy fire, he placed himself at great risk by manoeuvring to recover one light armoured vehicle and only ceased his relentless attempts to extract a second one when informed that the vehicle's crew had withdrawn to safety," Jean's office said in a press release.

"His focus on the mission and his courage in the face of danger have brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada."

Orr was a member of 23 Field Squadron, 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, in Rotation 2 of Operation ARCHER at the time of the incident, and he is currently stationed in Petawawa, Ont.

Also being recognized with a Medal of Military Valour at the ceremony held this morning was Captain Michael John Reekie of Abbotsford. On Aug. 19, 2006, while deployed with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, in Ma'sum Ghar in Afghanistan, Jean's office reports that, "Reekie carried out valiant actions during an intense firefight with Taliban insurgents. Displaying superb judgment, he assessed the changing tactical situation and repositioned his vehicle to maximum advantage, enabling the successful interception and defeat of a numerically superior enemy force during the ensuing three-hour firefight. His outstanding initiative prevented the enemy from outflanking the position. Captain Reekie's selfless courage and exceptional leadership undoubtedly saved the lives of numerous Alpha Company soldiers."

Medal winner tells tale from the trenches

Reprinted from The Chilliwack Progress

By Jessica Murdy - Chilliwack Progress - October 19, 2007

He was there to clear the path for his fellow soldiers. But when the day was over Corporal Clinton Orr had saved 10 lives.

It was Sept. 3 and NATO forces were moving in on Taliban territory within the Panjwaii District, west of Kandahar. Canadian soldiers were trying to take over a school occupied by the terrorist group.

But a series of deep ditches, called wadis in Arabic, cuts through the landscape in Afghanistan. It makes advancing quickly difficult, and ditches must be filled before they can be crossed. The school in Panjwaii was behind several ditches, Orr explains in a telephone interview.

It was his job to breach the trenches that lay in their path. An engineer with the army, he was deployed to operate heavy equipment. It’s usually not a combat role.

“But I was put in that role for that tour” he says.

They were just about through to the school when the mission changed drastically.

“I had one breach left to get to the other side when the ambush started,” he says.

Rocket-propelled grenades were being launched by the Taliban, and a light-armoured vehicle had fallen in a trench, immobilized and unable to fire.

“They were three metres down, and only 50 metres from the school where the Taliban were,” he says. “They were sitting ducks.”

Eight people were in the back of the vehicle, plus the driver and the gunner.

He moved into place, under constant enemy fire, to pull their vehicle out of the trench.

“They were in such an angle in the ditch that they couldn’t aim anywhere,” he says. “They were pointing down.”

Heavy equipment only moves at about eight kilometres per hour, he adds. And the Taliban are now targeting such engineering devices.

It’s usually traveling that is the most dangerous for NATO soldiers, he says.

“They know exactly our routes, they have all their guns ready to fire at you,” he says.

But the most astounding sight for Orr was that September day, watching the fire fight from the small window in his bulldozer.

“You’ve never seen anything like it,” he says. “It was intense to watch.”

From that perspective, he couldn’t see that people were dying at the time, he says. It wasn’t until later that he found out four Canadian soldiers died.

“I lost a good friend that day,” Orr says. “Sergeant Shane Stachnik. He was also an engineer.”

But he also gained the respect of the Canadian military. Last Friday, he was awarded the Medal of Military Valour in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

It’s an honour that’s been given to only a few soldiers, since its establishment in 1993.

The ceremony, held for Orr and several other medal recipients, was “really organized.”

“They know exactly what they’re doing there,” he says. It was also a chance to meet high-ranking officials, including Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, and Rick Hillier, Canada’s top general.

“The governor general is one of the nicest people you will ever meet,” he says. “She makes you really comfortable when you talk to her.”

And he’s getting comfortable back on base in Gagetown, too.

Orr’s medal is away being mounted right now, and he’ll wear it for a parade next week. But mostly, he’s been at the centre of some good-hearted humour among his unit.

“They call me National Treasure,” he says.

He’s back to teaching heavy equipment operation, and he’s preparing himself for a possible third mission.

“I told them I would go,” he says. And it turns out he’s in the five per cent roster to fill a tour, if needed.

It’s not a sure shot that he’ll go to combat again, but it makes it a possibility.

But that’s the reality in the Canadian military right now, he says.

“There are so many tours,” he says. “Everybody’s been on at least one tour.”

Local soldier receives medal

Reprinted from The Chilliwack Progress

By Jessica Murdy - Chilliwack Progress - October 12, 2007

When Corporal Clinton Orr receives his medal at Rideau Hall today, he’ll be branded a hero. But for the Orr family, serving in the armed forces is not about heroics. It’s about tradition.

Several relatives have served before him, including his father, and the legacy will likely continue. Because sitting in the audience at today’s ceremony, along with Orr’s parents, is his nephew, Bobby.

He will see his uncle shake the hand of Governor General Michaëlle Jean. He will see Canada’s top general, Rick Hillier. And he’ll see the Medal of Military Valour pinned on his uncle’s uniform, along with nine other soldiers. He likely be taking in every detail, as the 10-year-old already has plans to join the forces.

The Chilliwack trio flew to Ontario earlier this week to take part in the ceremony, and all three were excited at the prospect of meeting some of the top political figures in Canada.

While the government provides travel for one family member, they all wanted to be a part of the day. It’s one that will live in Orr family history forever, they told the Progress before leaving.

The Medal of Military Valour is an honour that has only been bestowed upon a handful of soldiers, since its creation in 1993. It is the third highest award, behind the Victoria Cross and the Star of Military Valour.

Orr was awarded the medal after courageously putting himself in harm’s way on September 3, 2006.

The Governor General’s office briefly touches on his actions that day, saying “he was operating an armoured vehicle attached to 2 Troop during an assault in Pashmul.

“Amidst intense combat action and under direct enemy fire, he placed himself at great risk by maneuvering to recover one light armoured vehicle and only ceased his relentless attempts to extract a second one when informed that the vehicle’s crew had withdrawn to safety.

“His focus on the mission and his courage in the face of danger have brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.”

Another local soldier is receiving the Medal of Military Valour today, Abbotsford’s Captain Michael John Reekie.