Four Canadian soldiers who risked their lives in Afghanistan have become the first to receive medals for "gallantry and devotion to duty in combat."

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean announced the national honours, which are awarded to recognize acts of valour, self-sacrifice or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy, on Friday.

The Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour were created in 1993, but this is the first time the decorations have been awarded. The actual medals themselves will be presented to the four soldiers at a ceremony at a later date.

"I'm very proud to introduce to you four Canadian heroes behind me," Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of defence staff, said at an event Friday evening in Calgary where the four men received ribbons to mark the announcement.

"Incredible soldiers. Canadians have heard me go on endlessly about what treasures they have in uniform and what credentials they are in fact for Canada internationally."

The Star of Military Valour is going to Sgt. Patrick Tower, who is based in Edmonton and is originally from Victoria.

On Aug. 3, Tower led a platoon medic and another soldier across 150 metres of open terrain and under heavy enemy fire to help wounded comrades.

After learning the acting platoon commander had been killed, he assumed command and successfully got his troops out under continuous fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

"People use the terms hero and things like that. When I think of the 3rd of August and what happened that day — that's the worst day of my life," said Tower, 34.

"We lost four guys in my platoon that day, and one of them was my best friend and to use the term hero, that's what I would use to describe them."

The other three will receive the Medal of Military Valour.

Sgt. Michael Thomas Denine of Edmonton exposed himself to enemy fire on May 17 after the main cannon and machine gun on his light armoured vehicle malfunctioned.

Steady stream of fire

Denine moved to the machine gun on top of the vehicle and laid down a steady stream of fire, forcing the enemy to withdraw.

"I was pretty scared but I wanted to get it done. I knew what I had to do," Denine recalled.

"Anybody in my platoon in that car that day, if they were in the same position they would have done the same thing."

On May 24, Master Cpl. Collin Ryan Fitzgerald of Morrisburg, Ont., and based at CFB Shilo in Manitoba, repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off a roadway, permitting remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free.

The final medal will go to Pte. Jason Lamont of Greenwood, N.S., who is also based in Edmonton.

He is being recognized for his actions July 13, when members of a reconnaissance platoon were cut off during a firefight. The medic sprinted through open terrain to administer first aid to a wounded soldier.

Harper pays tribute

Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid tribute to the four soldiers, saying Canadians should be proud.

"I know all Canadians will wish to join us in offering congratulations to the four Canadian soldiers honoured with Military Valour Decorations today," Harper said in a release.

"These awards are among the very highest recognition Canada has to offer our soldiers for bravery in the midst of armed conflict. All are being honoured for truly heroic actions, under enemy fire." 

The four soldiers shrugged off a series of rallies planned across the country on Saturday to protest the war and call for troops to be brought home.

"I believe in the mission over there and I wouldn't go there and do what I do if I didn't believe in the mission," Tower said.