U.S. Army Honours Heroic Canadian

Another story of a Canadian who served honourably in the US Military:

U.S. Army Honours Heroic Ottawan

U.S. Department of Defense

Growing up in Ottawa’s Manor Park, Grant Derrick wanted more than anything else to be a hockey hero.

A goalie, he loved being at the heart of a team, being its crisis manager, its rock. But when his professional hockey dream didn’t materialize, Derrick studied e-commerce at Ottawa’s CDI College, then accepted a job in Memphis, Tennessee. He tried to settle into office life, but it just didn’t feel right.

“I never made it in hockey; I had never made it in anything else,” says Derrick, a graduate of Immaculata High School.

“I was still young, and before I settled down or it was too late for me to do anything else, I wanted to challenge myself: to go out and see what I could really do.”

He joined the U.S. army in 2003, determined to secure a place on a special forces unit. He earned his Green Beret and went on to serve one tour of duty in Iraq and three in Afghanistan, where the nature of his heroism was ultimately defined.

Last month, Staff Sgt. Derrick, a combat medic, was awarded the Silver Star for his “exceptionally valorous conduct” during a 10-hour battle with Taliban insurgents.

His mother, Marie Hallé, travelled from Ottawa to attend the medal ceremony in Fort Bragg, North Carolina....

There is a long history of Canadians heading north to fight alongside Americans in war zones around the world. Staff Sgt. Derrick' story is well worth the read here.

Thank you for your service, Sir.