Jess Larochelle
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Jess Larochelle, SMV | |
|---|---|
| Died | 31 August 2023[1] |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ | Canadian Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 9 Platoon, Charles Company, Royal Canadian Regiment |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Star of Military Valour |
Private Jess Randall Larochelle was a Canadian soldier who received the Star of Military Valour, a Canadian military decoration, in recognition of actions under enemy fire taken at Strong Point Centre in the Pashmul region of Afghanistan.
During the battles for the Panjwayi District in the autumn of 2007, Larochelle was a rifleman in the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battlegroup, serving as mounted infantry in a LAV III. Their mission was local protection for a bulldozer working on Route Summit between Patrol Base Wilson and Forward Operating Base Masum Ghar. Enroute, one of the platoon's four LAV IIIs struck an IED and returned to base leaving three sections to the task. Their halt point was Strong Point Centre, a rocky outcrop with ruined building and previously prepared defences.
In the afternoon of October 14, 2006 mere minutes before an imminent attack Private Jess Larochelle volunteered to relieve an observation post bringing up additional ammunition for the machine gun. Shortly after occupying the OP, Private Larochelle’s position was heavily rocketed by Taliban insurgents. A rocket-propelled grenade hit his position, knocking him unconscious. When he came to, he discovered two members of his section had been killed (Sgt Darcy Scott Tedford, CD and Pte Blake Neil Williamson[2]) and four others wounded. Realizing that he had to return fire on the enemy or risk being overrun and that his comrades in the section LAV were unable to return fire, he dragged himself back to the C6 machine gun under concentrated small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire.
Two groups of Taliban were manoeuvering towards Strong Point Centre. One of approximately 20 fighters at 300-400 yds and another of about 10 at 200 yds. The 20 year old returned fire on the enemy until his machine gun ammunition ran low. Beside him were fifteen unused M72 rocket launchers delivered when the position was initially occupied, and which had survived the incoming explosion. Knowing the blast characteristics of the M72, Private Larochelle exposed himself to enemy small arms, rocket propelled grenade, and mortar fire, and launched all but two of the rockets at his disposal. That effective fire and sparse C6 firing, killed a number of the enemy and forced them to retreat.
As the fighting waned, the attentions of the platoon leadership were focussed on assessing and evacuating the numerous injured members. Given a choice, Larochelle chose to remain in his position, with a Corporal and the platoon Warrant Officer joining him for the overnight. His actions saved the lives of the remainder of his section, and secured the company's positions.
Later the next day, after the battle had ended, Private Larochelle paid final honours to his platoon mates, helping carry the caskets of the fallen Canadians in a ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield. Only after the ceremony was complete, Private Larochelle sought medical attention. The doctors on base determined that he had fractured vertebra in his back, a blown eardrum, and a detached retina. The extent of his injuries was severe enough that he was medically released from the Canadian Armed Forces.
His actions under fire were deemed fit for the Star of Military Valour. Other information which could have substantiated recommendation for the Victoria Cross was not considered. The fact that he volunteered to occupy the OP knowing an attack was imminent, the fact he continued to man that position until relieved the next morning, the severity of his undisclosed injuries, the fact that the two LAVs on his position went down with weapon stoppages were not considered.
The citation for his Star of Military Valour awarded on March 14, 2007, reads: The citation for his Star of Military Valour reads:
Private Jess Randall Larochelle, S.M.V.
Petawawa, Ontario
Star of Military ValourResources
- Youtube interview with Private (retd) Larochelle by General (retd) Rick Hillier Apr 8, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7cDEPaHJw
- THE DEFENCE OF STRONG POINT CENTRE – 14 OCTOBER 2006 by Colonel Bernd Horn, OMM, CD, PhD, http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo8/no1/horn-eng.asp
- Reporting by embedded journalist Christie Blatchford https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/how-a-bad-day-turned-so-much-worse/article733447/
- House of Commons Petition e-3636, opened for signatures November 2, 2021, and closed March 2, 2022. Presented to the House of Commons May 19, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00494), and government response tabled August 17, 2022
- Mike Harrison, "Federal government refuses to honour Northern Ontario soldier", accessed 1 September 2023, https://web.archive.org/web/20230307012044/https://www.thesudburystar.com/opinion/columnists/column-federal-government-refuses-to-honour-northern-ontario-soldier
References
External links
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