We here at A Parallel Too High stand behind the Canadian military and their families unequivocally and therefore are proud of all the men and woman who have decided to serve this great nation, both now and in the past. Since we recognize that freedom and liberty are never free; and so from time to time when we have the opportunity we will be sure to honour our military and our soldiers as best we are able.
Not only that, but honestly "if you aren't standing behind the troops, feel free to stand in front."
Master Bombardier Adam Holmes, of the Yankee Battery of the 2nd Regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, is to be awarded the Medal of Military Valour (MMV) in recognition of his duty in the face of the enemy in Afghanistan. Not only that, but on Thursday (today) he and many other Canadian soldiers are to receive medals of various sorts for their service and sacrifice to our great nation, Canada.
More After the Break
Master Bombardier Adam Holmes was what they call an Forward Air Controller (FAC). Meaning his job was to be on the front lines, reporting back to air command how best to utilize their assets in the air to take out enemy positions and eliminate the enemy when possible. In this particular case Master Bombardier Holmes was working for and with the United States 101st Airborne Division. When in July of 2011, he and 100 other soldiers, most of which were Canadian and U.S. forces, were given the difficult task of clearing territory that was heavily booby-trapped and controlled by the Taliban.
Yet, as the force approached and engineers began to work on removing the booby-traps, they soon found themselves under fire. Soldiers immediately ducked and began to look for cover, while Master Bombardier Holmes had to risk his neck trying to peer over cover and locate the positions from which the enemy fire emanated. Once the enemy was located he was tasked with firing smoke grenades in the enemy's direction, to allow the helicopter gunships and other assets in the air, to locate the enemy on the ground and hit them hard.
Sniper fire and IED's were the worst of the enemy attack, with Holmes’ partner receiving a bullet that pierced his helmet, but fortunately missed his head underneath. As the fire continued, Master Bombardier Holmes, the ground commander and others were planning the operation and attempting to locate the enemy positions on the field, by examine the mortar impacts to determine what direction they were coming from. As they were doing this mortars and heavy gun-fire began to descend upon the group who had been sent to examine the mortar impacts.
Immediately there was chaos as troops scrambled for cover. Yet, Master Bombardier Holmes went about carrying wounded to safety all the while talking with the fighter jets in the air, in an attempt to find the enemy's location for them, so the fighter jets could end it, but unfortunately with no success.
On the third day, it was much of the same. Yet, exhaustion was beginning to creep in with the heavy equipment needed for the job combined with the excessive heat of Afghanistan. Master Bombardier Holmes was quick to point out that it was hard to chase down the enemy and end the fight, because authorization for counter-strikes was hard to come by, because of the fear of causing collateral damage to the Afghan villages in the vicinity.
During the day, Master Bombardier Holmes suddenly heard a large bang outside his building and he immediately rushed to the scene and began to help two soldiers who had been injured by the blast. Yet, as Master Bombardier Holmes was attending to their wounds, he was hit by a second blast and immediately knocked unconscious. When he awoke he saw that he had been hit in the leg and in the wrist, and he immediately stumbled back to the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) and began to administer first aid to himself, and where he, upon discovery, received first aid from others at the collection point. Marking the end of his contribution to the operation that was being carried out by his brothers and sisters in arms.
Clearly, these self-less acts of bravery should not go unnoticed and on behalf of the Canadian people A Parallel Too High would just like to say, "God Bless Master Bombardier Holmes and his recovery; God Bless his family and all the military families of Canada; God Bless the Soldiers of Canada, Afghanistan and the United States who are fighting for our liberty; and God Bless Canada." - And this is exactly why we shall and should NEVER FORGET.
- Corey S. & William S.
<THINK ABOOT IT>
Original Article: National Post - Wednesday January 25, 2012.
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