Vaino Olavi Partanen

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen was a member of the Canadian Forces and a recipient of the Cross of Valour for his actions during an engine room explosion aboard HMCS "Kootenay" on October 23, 1969. The Cross of Valour is Canada's highest decoration for bravery in non-combat circumstances.
His citation reads:
CPO1 Partanen, with his crewmate Petty Officer 2nd Class Lewis John Stringer (also posthumous), were the first recipients of the Cross of Valour. Both men were also recipients of the Canadian Forces Decoration.