Maj. Derek Prohar, a former McGill football and hockey player from Avonlea, Sask., is among 44 soldiers who will be awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. The announcement was made by David Johnston, the governor general of Canada, last week.
It is the second military decoration for Prohar, who previously received the Medal of Military Valour in 2007, after working as a liaison officer with the United States Special Forces in Afghanistan during the battle at Sperwan Ghar, September 5-12, 2006.
Prohar was a defensive back with the McGill Redmen football team for one season, then joined the hockey Redmen, where he played at forward and patrolled the blueline from 1994 to 1998. He won the University’s Richard Pound Award in 1998 for proficiency and leadership in athletics before graduating with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in economics and political science.
Prohar was an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team operations officer and headquarters company commander in Afghanistan. He planned and influenced operations, guaranteeing the necessary support to mentor teams operating in isolated and high-threat locations.
In 2006, he held the rank of captain and was working as the rear machine gunner on the battalion commander’s vehicle when wounded by an improvised explosive device during an intense enemy ambush and despite his injuries. He continued returning fire and assisted the commander with the control of the attack, which resulted in the successful seizing of key terrain.
The recipients will be invited to receive their decorations at a ceremony to be held at a later date. Canada’s military valour decorations include, in descending order of rank, the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour.
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