22 February 2012: Canadian General Natynczyk Receives Legion of Merit
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, presents the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) to General Walter Natynczyk, Canadian Forces Chief of the Defence Staff, on February 16, 2012.
Last week in Washington, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) to Canadian General Walter Natynczyk.
General Natynczyk, the Canadian Forces Chief of the Defence Staff, earned the award for his extraordinary leadership of the Canadian Forces during several critical international operations, including Canada's long term and continuing engagement in Afghanistan, the humanitarian response in Haiti, and Operation Unified Protector in Libya.
In presenting the award, General Dempsey praised General Natynczyk's extraordinary leadership. The official decoration also states that "(t)here is no stronger U.S. ally and supporter of the Overseas Contingency Operation than General Natynczyk", and that his "actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Canadian Forces, and the Government of Canada."