Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen (27 May 1928 – 23 October 1969) 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 23 October 1969. The Cross of Valour is Canada's highest decoration for bravery in non-combat circumstances. He was born in Antrea, Finland.[1]
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.