In 1942, the Canadian army took part in the Dieppe Raid, the first major attempt to take troops across the English Channel. Among the men, stood John Weir Foote, a Canadian chaplain.
Foote was not intended to take part in the raid, and when his commanding officer told him that he was going to sit this one out, Foote said that he'd have to be arrested to keep him away from the action, so he was assigned as a stretcher bearer.
During the raid, Foote rescued 30 soldiers and carried them to safety all while being under continuos enemy fire. The raid itself didn't finish well and, as the assault force began it's retreat off the beach, Foote managed to get himself on one of the rescue crafts, only to voluntarily disembarking back on the beach and surrendering to the Germans. He realized that the soldiers being taken to a pow camp needed religious guidance more than a bunch of soldiers returning home.
After 3 years of imprisonment with one serious escape attempt, Foote was released. He was awarded the Victoria Cross; making him the only Canadian Chaplain to receive such an honor.