Hillier at the Albany Club

Thanks to an invitation from my Irish Embassy Correspondent, I had the pleasure of listening to General Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD speak at The Albany Club yesterday, as the inaugural guest of honour at the first annual Reverend John Weir Foote, VC, CD Memorial Luncheon. If you have never read the story of how the Reverend earned his Victoria Cross, you should - it is one of the most compelling acts of courage you could imagine.

I was joined by the resourceful Chris Taylor (it was his Blackberry that snapped the photo). Although quite a number of the many attendees were current or former politicians, they had the surprising good grace to keep their mouths shut and let Hillier do the talking. The one time they raised their voices was to cheer the soldier, the sailor, and the airman that the CDS brought with him, as well as Hillier himself. Of course, these were all impressive gentlemen.

Lt (N) William Garner was the officer chosen to take a motor vessel into Lebanon last summer to lead the evacuation of Canadians caught in the crossfire between Hezbollah and the IDF. He was the fellow responsible for negotiating safe passage through the IDF blockade. Commissioned from the ranks, Lt (N) Garner is a fine example of the men and women who serve our country on and under the waves.

I introduced myself to MCpl Daryl Presley at the reception prior to the luncheon, when I noticed a bronze oak leaf pinned to his SWASM. It turns out this soldier from 1PPCLI was Mentioned in Dispatches for actions he took in July of 2006 in Sangin District, Afghanistan. When dismounted elements of his company were targeted in an intense and sustained ambush, MCpl Presley maintained an exposed position on his LAV in order to control the fire of the main cannon while simultaneously engaging the enemy with the mounted machine gun. As Gen Hillier said: "Standing before you is a real Canadian hero."

I was also honoured to shake the hand of WO Bryan Pierce, CV, CD of 17 Wing in Winnipeg. The Warrant was wearing a red cross on a ribbon around his neck, the first time I had ever seen a Cross of Valour in person. For those who don't know, this is our nation's highest award for bravery. A SAR Tech by trade, he was awarded this decoration for a November 1996 night jump into three-metre Arctic waves to provide medical aid to a critically ill fisherman on a Danish trawler near Resolution Island, NWT. He and his partner were caught by heavy winds and spent fifteen minutes in the freezing waters before finally making it to the fishing boat and saving the ill sailor's life. Per Ardua indeed.

Although the remainder of General Hillier's remarks were to remain off the record, I will say that the man is a brilliant speaker. His passion for his country, for his Canadian Forces, and for his soldiers is a beacon. We are lucky to have such a man leading our military, especially at such a time as this. Chris put it so much better than I would have:

What I will say is that General R. J. Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD is the right man for a demanding job at a critical point in Canada's history. The general is an articulate and approachable proponent of the services and personnel under his command. His speeches are filled with anecdotes from individual soldiers and families; he cares deeply for the men and women under his command, and they can sense it. Hillier is not the hot-headed ranter certain publications delight in portraying; rather he gives every appearance of being an ordinary guy with ordinary enthusiasms, called upon to do extraordinary things in the course of his duty. Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen are fortunate to have an effective, indefatigable advocate in this Chief of the Defence Staff.

I couldn't agree more.