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Great White North
Canadian JTF-2 special ops force gets American citation
2004-12-08
Canada's special operations military unit, Joint Task Force 2, has been awarded the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in battle. It's just the second Canadian military unit to receive the honour. U.S. President George W. Bush made the presentation in California to the American commander of the multinational force in Afghanistan of which JTF-2 was a part from October 2001 to April 2002. The citation, first awarded after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on Dec. 7, 1941, is given to units of the United States and allied nations "for extraordinary heroism in actions against an armed enemy."
"The unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign."
The only other Canadian unit to receive the citation is the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, for actions at the 1951 Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War. Military officials refused to release details of JTF-2's exploits in Afghanistan.
"We could tell you, but then we'd have to kill you."
While their operations went largely unnoticed by their countrymen, their U.S. counterparts took journalists into combat operations for days on end. Officials say that's because the U.S. special forces number in the tens of thousands, while Canada's contingent is believed to be fewer than 1,000, and members could be targeted by Canadian left-wing loonies terrorists. In a recruiting video released in May 2003, the deputy chief of defence staff, Vice-Admiral Greg Maddison, described in cryptic terms JTF-2's involvement in Afghan operations. "In numerous challenging missions against Taliban and al-Qaida targets, they captured enemy personnel, equipment, and material of significant intelligence value and hampered the enemy's ability to conduct operations against us and our coalition partners," said Maddison.
The unit became the centre of attention for a few days in 2002 after a photograph emerged showing JTF-2 soldiers bringing in enemy prisoners to a holding facility at Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. It was the first evidence that Canadians had taken prisoners during the conflict, coming at the peak of debate over the fate of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters captured by the Americans. In the fall 2001 budget, the federal government announced a five-year, $118.5-million special forces expansion project.
Posted by:Steve

#4  For the record:

Though military officials won't release details of JTF-2's exploits in Afghanistan, the citation says the task force was "the driving force behind myriad combat missions."

Its "extremely high-risk missions" included:

-search and rescue, recovery dive operations, non-compliant boardings of vessels, reconnaissance.

-sensitive site exploitation, direct action missions, apprehension of military and political detainees.

-destruction of cave and tunnel complexes, identification and destruction of al-Qaida training camps, destruction of enemy ordnance, co-ordinating unconventional warfare operations.

The task force "set an unprecedented 100 per cent mission success rate ... while operating under extremely difficult and constantly dangerous conditions," the citation says.

"They established benchmark standards of professionalism, tenacity, courage, tactical brilliance and professional excellence while demonstrating superb esprit de corps and maintaining the highest measure of combat readiness."

Good on ya!
Posted by: Uleque Glavise4887   2004-12-08 11:06:16 PM  

#3  The PUC used to be known as a Navy Cross equivalent award for a unit's performance.
Posted by: Jarhead   2004-12-08 8:11:49 PM  

#2  While serving in [CLASSIFIED] during the period [CLASSIFIED], JTF-2 was engaged in [CLASSIFIED]. Despite [CLASSIFIED] and [CLASSIFIED], it performed its assigned duties with merit and distinction.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2004-12-08 4:20:01 PM  

#1  Maybe with this new administration in Canada, those Canadian snipers will get the medals they earned in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Don   2004-12-08 1:44:08 PM  

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