National Post

Beyond the call of duty: Master Bombardier to be awarded medal for valour
It was almost fully dark and the Canadian Leopard C1 main battle tank was resting awkwardly at a 60-degree angle, one set of tracks invisible in the water flowing down the wadi. For a vehicle with impressive “go-anywhere” capabilities, this tank was going nowhere. The return to base was on hold.

What had been a confident, show-of-force, quick-reaction rescue was suddenly a big, fat vehicle convoy target strung out along 500 metres of Afghan farm road. A Taliban mortar team’s dream.

I dropped into a handy ditch and three Canadian soldiers welcomed me with an offer of a smoke and a joke about tank drivers. But when a Kalashnikov started firing all three were on their feet, running in the direction of the sound. I ran after them — for about 10 paces until my brain caught up.

Master Bombardier Adam Holmes was the first to climb out of the trench that night in the summer of 2007.

This Thursday morning in Ottawa Master Bombardier Holmes will be awarded the Medal of Military Valour (MMV), in recognition for valour and devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy in 2010.

This is how he earned it.