Media Release

2 December 2015

CDF ANNOUNCES DISTINGUISHED AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Tim Keating, today announced three awards for Distinguished and Meritorious Service in Afghanistan.

The announcement follows the earlier release of a Government Special Honours List of four gallantry awards, three earned in Afghanistan and one in South Sudan, and an award of the Distinguished Service Decoration, also for service in Afghanistan.

“It is my pleasure to announce two awards of the Defence Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM) and the award of a CDF Commendation to members or former members of the New Zealand Defence Force, in recognition of their outstanding service in Afghanistan in 2012,” says LTGEN Keating.

“I congratulate all the personnel who have been honoured this week for the way they conducted themselves in the challenging environments of Afghanistan and South Sudan.

“They carried out their duties, and more, in the best traditions of the New Zealand Defence Force, and they are a credit to us all,” he says.

The three awards announced by LTGEN Keating are to:

Captain (then Lieutenant) Peter Ryan Hutson RNZIR:Awarded the DMSM for meritorious service as a patrol commander in Afghanistan over the period May to July 2012.

Lance Corporal Samuel Tobias Millar RNZIR (Rtd): Awarded the DMSM for meritorious service during the incidents in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan on 4, 5 and 19 August 2012.

Trooper James Ewen Baldwin, RNZAC (Rtd): Awarded a Chief of Defence Force’s Commendation for his gallant actions at Baghak on 4 August 2012.

ENDS

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