Sgt Bill McLeod
17 Wing Photojournalist
17 WING WINNIPEG, Man. – Corporal Miguel Chavez, a member of 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was presented the Sacrifice Medal at 17 Wing Winnipeg by Brigadier-General M.P. Galvin, 2 Canadian Air Division (CAD)Commander, on 7 February 2012.
During an intimate ceremony in the Warrant’s and Sergeant’s Mess attended by family and senior members of 2 CAD, the 17 Wing Command Team, the Joint Personnel Support Unit, and 2 PPCLI, Cpl Chavez also accepted his Certificate of Service. After 9 years military service Cpl Chavez is transitioning to civilian life as a student studying Communication Engineering.
“I like to get to know a little bit about someone I present a medal to,” said BGen Galvin. “Lieutenant-Colonel Grimshaw, your former Company Commander described you as calm and competent, someone with a cool and collected head on the battlefield. I have never served in the army, but this seems to be a very good recommendation for a soldier in Afghanistan.”
On 2 March 2006 in Kandahar Corporal, then Private, Chavez was employed as an air sentry in a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III that was conducting a convoy task. Cpl Chavez was seriously injured when he was thrown from his vehicle after it rolled 2 or 3 times upon impact with a local vehicle.
Cpl Chavez returned to Canada where he was determined to heal and return to Afghanistan to finish what he was unable to do on Task Force 1-06. Cpl Chavez returned to Afghanistan not only once, but twice more. Approximately 6 months after being injured Cpl Chavez returned on Task Force 3-06 with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, and again on TF 1-08 with the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
The Sacrifice Medal was created to provide a tangible and lasting form of recognition for members of the Canadian Forces and those who work with them who have been wounded or killed by hostile action as well as Canadian Forces members who died as a result of their service.
For more information about the Sacrifice Medal please visit:
