431

INDEX

Note: Page numbers in bold refer to images.

A Company, 5 RAR‘Alvenia’, 125Binh Ba, 182, 227casualties, 125, 184, 279Deak, 328discovery of Birddog, 63Duc My, 701 Platoon, 181–4, 192–202Operation Canberra, 95, 100, 105Operation Hardihood, 157, 171Operation Holsworthy, 377–9Operation Queanbeyan, 124–5,

131, 133–4, 137, 140, 148, 185

Operation Robin, 105–6, 116Operation Sydney Two, 365,

367, 370Operation Yass, 386, 3903 Platoon, 196–7

AAFV see Australian Army Force Vietnam

AATTV see Australian Army Training Team Vietnam

AC-47 aircraft, 287Administration Company, 5 RAR,

50, 168–9, 328Agent Orange, 19air support, 285–300airborne direction-finding ‘fixes’, 419airstrikes, 89, 105–6, 183, 214, 266,

289, 313Aitken, Bruce ‘Jacka’ (Private), 245

Albatross call sign, 286American Red Cross, 297An Nhut, 332ANPRC 25 radio sets, 159, 193, 207Anti-Tank Platoon

becomes Reconnaissance Platoon, 85–6, 301–17

Deak, 328, 340FSB Tennis, 66Operation Canberra, 95Operation Holsworthy, 378Operation Queanbeyan, 124–5,

127, 132, 134, 136–7, 139–40, 185, 187, 290, 293

Operation Robin, 166Operation Sydney, 70, 73weapons, 47

Antonio, Bob (Private), 251Ap An Phu, 176Ap Ngai Giao, 223Ap Ong Trinh Dc, 256–7Ap Ong Trinh Dp, 94–5, 107, 227,

257–8, 265Armitage, Bob (Sergeant), 116Army Court of Enquiry, 299Army of the Republic of Vietnam

(ARVN)Binh Ba, 226casualties, 402, 407–8, 422CIA and, 230Commando Company, 382defeat at Binh Gia, 402

VIETNAM VANGUARd

432

disliked by Montagnards and Nungs, 220

draft dodgers, 211Duc Thanh outpost, 7518 Division, 404failure to defend Graham’s

minefield, 32352 Ranger Battalion, 406–7,

413, 41652 Regiment, 4045 Infantry Division, 4015 RAR advisors, 7443 Regiment, 41348 Regiment, 4224 Marine Battalion, 402‘friendly fire’, 261headquarters Ba Ria, 76Kim (Captain), 223Lo Gom, 313National Training Centre, 413,

419NCO Training School, 4131 Commando Company, 212,

220–8, 230, 398–9, 413Operation Queanbeyan, 144Operation Robin, 229, 271Popular Force companies, 343,

385, 389, 391, 397, 413Provincial Reconnaissance Unit,

413Regional Force companies, 231–7,

314, 343, 397, 400, 407, 413relations with 5 RAR, 343Route 15, 94search operations, 772nd Battalion, 422701 RF Company, 40710 Division, 404, 4133rd Battalion, 41331 RF Mechanised Platoon, 4073/43 Battalion, 411III Corps, 401, 405Viet Cong and, 17, 32, 147

Arnold, Robbie (Private), 145

ARVN see Army of the Republic of Vietnam

Askew, Bob (Second Lieutenant), 242, 244on Davies’ helicopter crash, 298161 (Independent)

Reconnaissance Flight, 5, 133, 244

Operation Queanbeyan, 290–2, 294

service history, 349Aspinall, Peter (Captain), 264–7, 349assassination, 228Assault Pioneer Platoons

casualties, 188FSB Tennis, 66McDougall, 280Operation Holsworthy, 380Operation Queanbeyan, 121,

124, 128, 132, 134, 137–40, 185, 188

Operation Sydney Two, 368, 371Australian Army Force Vietnam

(AAFV), 25, 34, 323, 327Australian Army Journal, 5, 72, 339Australian Army Training Team

Vietnam (AATTV)advisors, 232, 236–7assumes Bade’s role, 74CSG, 222earlier Vietnam experience, 17,

21, 23Jackson, 25, 323reputation, 56Seale and Taylor, 221Stewart, 192Wells, 413

Australian Commonwealth Military Force, 277

Australian Force Vietnam, Saigon headquarters, 212

Australian Logistic Support Group, 21, 37

Australian rules football game, 210–11

433

INdEx

B Company, 5 RARair support for, 289Binh Ba, 227‘Blanche’, 125casualties, 170–1Duc My, 705 Platoon, 98–9, 158, 170–2,

188–90, 1974 Platoon, 370Hamlyn, 328landing zone secured, 165national servicemen, 1Nui Dat, 159Operation Canberra, 95, 98–101,

104–5, 183, 265, 267, 289, 322, 325–6, 331

Operation Hardihood, 157, 171Operation Holsworthy, 73,

377–8, 380–1Operation Queanbeyan, 124–5,

134, 138, 140–1, 147–8, 185Operation Robin, 105–7Operation Sydney Two, 366–70Operation Yass, 386, 390reconnaissance patrols, 73support from 103 Field Battery,

264B Company (US), 57B-52 bombers, 235, 287Ba Hang, 419Ba Ria

ARVN Headquarters, 422Ba Ria Province Unit, 414‘Combined Studies Group’, 220,

222doctor, 140location, 393population, 393Province Committee, 401provincial capital, 13, 17, 158proximity to Nui Dat, 38Route 2, 76Route 15, 53, 93–4, 399, 405Sector HQ, 236

Viet Cong, 400Viet Cong supporters, 40Viet Minh activity, 395

Babbage, Dave (Corporal), 143–4‘Back Beach’, 156, 176, 205, 306Bade, Ron (Captain), 246–7

advisor to Regional Force, ARVN, 74, 231–8

Binh Ba, 231–7Operation Sydney Two, 367service history, 3502IC A Company, 8

Bailey, ‘Bondi’ (Corporal), 221, 224Balmoral Fire Support Base, 2Bang Lung, 398Base Area 303, 402Bates, John (Sergeant Major), 336Baton Rouge Victory, 411Battalion Band, 169, 277, 327, 372Battalion Band (US), 49Battalion Command Group, 58Battalion Headquarters, 248

airstrike organised, 289arrival in Vietnam, 155FSB Tennis, 66‘Heidi’, 125immersed in operations, 329message to 173 Airborne Brigade,

158Nui Dat, 157Operation Canberra, 95, 97, 106Operation Holsworthy, 73, 380Operation Queanbeyan, 124–5,

127–8, 130, 132–4, 137, 148, 185, 293

Operation Yass, 386Reconnaissance Party, 127–8, 132regimental aid post, 274staff officers, 55, 57, 78, 91Tac, 148visit from Smith, 59

Bau Lung, 417Be, Nguyen Van (Captain), 74, 77,

232, 235–6, 247

VIETNAM VANGUARd

434

Bear Cat, 83–4, 93–4, 205, 213, 420, 422–3

Ben Het, 411Ben Tau, 399Ben Tiger Exercise, 154Ben Tre, 401Benham, Glen ‘Moose’ (Private), 245Bennett, Ed (Chaplain), 157Bentley, John, 246, 314Bernotas, Alex (Private), 213–14Bien Hoa

airbase, 7, 25, 57, 63, 931 RAR, 21, 26–8, 31, 48173 Airborne Brigade (US), 155Operation Canberra, 176Province, 94rejected as 1 RAR base, 36–7Route 15, 394II Field Force Vietnam (US), 342II Vietnamese Corps, 36, 55US position, 83–4, 420, 422Viet Cong, 341, 400

Bindley, George (Captain), 5, 258, 262, 267–71, 350

Binh BaA Company, 5 RAR, 182ARVN, 232C Company support for, 212cordon and search operations, 75,

210–12, 226CSG, 223Duc My estate village, 363Guerrilla Platoon, 376intensive patrolling, 213mine clearance, 2381 Commando Company, ARVN,

223, 226Operation Holsworthy, 73–4,

188, 375–83plan to attack, 72public interest in battle, 2reconnaissance patrols, 76Regional Force base, 232–32008, 237–8Viet Cong, 363, 375, 400

Viet Minh, 397working with ARVN, 343

Binh Gia, 75, 77, 372, 376, 397, 402Binh Son, 408Binh Tuy, 36, 405Binh Xuyen, 397Birddog, 63, 101, 289Birtles, Robert (Private), 111Bishop, Doug (Private), 165, 168Blamey, Sir Thomas (General), 22,

34, 43Blanch, Peter (Lance Corporal), 251‘Bombard’, 255–6bombardier assistants, 254Borneo, 10Bourne, Don (Major), 332Box, Bob (Private), 118, 164–5Boxall, Ron (Brigadier), 246

CIA operation, 74, 218–28, 230co-editor, 4D Company, 5 RAR, 243Maizey and, 227–8Operation Canberra, 95Operation Hayman, 243Operation Holsworthy, 382Operation Sydney Two, 367Operation Yass, 3862IC D Company, 218service history, 350soccer game, 212work with Provincial

Reconnaissance Unit, 74Brand, Tom (Private), 251Brannan, Walter ‘Jock’ (Private), 245Brinnon, Charles (Lieutenant), 19,

116British Commonwealth Occupation

Force, Japan, 25Brogan, Mervyn (Major General), 33Brooke, Alan (Field Marshal) (British

Army), 25Brown, Ayb (Staff Sergeant), 274Browning machine guns, 65, 226Bryan, David ‘Stretch’ (Lance

Corporal), 111

435

INdEx

Buckley (CIA), 222, 224Budden, Brian (Lance Corporal), 251Buhagiar, John (Private), 251Bui The Kham, 395Bung Lung, 401Bunting, Bob (Corporal), 144–5Burge, Brian (Corporal), 137Burns, Warren (Lance Corporal), 251Bushranger call sign, 286Buttriss, Gordon (Sergeant), 136, 178

C Company, 5 RAR, 240Binh Ba, 76, 161, 227casualties, 106, 137, 164–5, 177,

207–8, 213‘Christine’, 125commanders, 153departure for Vietnam, 48Duc My, 70, 728 Platoon, 98, 111, 116, 118,

135–6, 152–3, 155–7, 163, 178, 206, 211, 213

under Neesham, 203–169 Platoon, 176, 206, 241, 251Nui Dat, 157–9Operation Canberra, 95, 98,

100–1, 104, 115, 176, 183, 265, 289

Operation Hardihood, 157Operation Holsworthy, 73, 211,

377, 381–2Operation Queanbeyan, 124–5,

134–5, 138, 140–1, 148, 166Operation Robin, 106, 166Operation Sydney Two, 366,

368–70Operation Yass, 386–7, 389–907 Platoon, 66, 68, 165, 177

C-47 transport aircraft, 287Cahill, ‘Paddy’ (Sergeant), 168call signs, 286–7, 291, 313Calvert, Ray ‘Skinny’ (Sergeant),

129–30, 186, 245, 303Cam My, 411

Campbell, Barry (Lieutenant), 141–7, 244, 351

Campbell, David ‘Maxy’ (Private), 245

Campbell, Jim (Captain), 5, 244, 285–8, 293–4, 296, 351

Can Gio District, 394, 401Canungra Jungle Training Centre, 11,

46, 153, 194, 196, 204Caribou aircraft, 409Carroll, Max (Colonel), 246, 248–9

BHQ staff officer, 55Deak and, 302, 328Long Tan, 226Malayan Emergency, 87officer commanding Support

Company, 55Operation Canberra, 101Operation Hardihood, 58, 61,

199Operation Holsworthy, 74, 380Operation Queanbeyan, 123–7,

132–41, 147–9Operation Robin, 104Operation Sydney, 69operations officer, 4, 8, 53, 65–6,

79, 158, 321relations with US forces, 342service history, 320, 352Support Company, 320–1, 326Vietnamese casualties, 59Warr and, 66, 320–3, 339

Carruthers, J (Lieutenant), 246, 370, 389

Cassidy, AP ‘Bert’ (Major), 59, 85, 226, 365

casualties 5 RAR, 106, 125, 164, 188, 213, 215, 327, 332, 338, 341AATTV advisors, 236Bernotas, 213–14Bishop, 165Bourne, 332Box, 165D’Antoine, 137, 280

VIETNAM VANGUARd

436

Davies, 107, 250, 296–9Deane-Butcher, 170Goodman, 138Harrison, 184helicopter crash, 178–9, 279Le Dan, 128, 132–3, 279–80,

291–2Lynch, 138, 280–1McAloney, 137McCray, 207–8McQualter, 170, 328Mealing, 107, 299Noack, 158, 171, 197Orchard, 213Riik, 165Sweetnam, 160Thompson, 184Tomas, 177, 209–10Twaits, 330Warburton, 175Winkel, 184Wolk, 207Womal, 129–30, 132, 186–7,

280, 291–2, 305Cat Lo, 225Catholic clergy, 18Catholic villages, 75, 107, 397Cavanagh, Bill (Private), 116, 136,

167, 178Cavanagh, Kevin (Private), 112Cay Cay, 417Central Office for South Vietnam,

401–2, 405, 411Centre de Repos, Le, 397Centurion tanks, 64Cessna light aircraft, 365, 370, 377CGS Exercise, 36Chamberlain, Ernest (Brigadier), 17,

81–2, 228, 352Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion

(US), 410Chau Duc, 398, 408, 411–12, 414,

420–1Chau Duc History, 396, 399, 417Chau Pha, 420

Chau Thanh, 398, 400, 403Chau Tran Ngoc, 228Cheeseman, Trevor ‘Taffy’ (Corporal),

245Chi Linh Rural Development Cadre

Training Centre, 409Chief of the General Staff (CGS),

21–3, 33, 36, 39, 116–17, 412Chiefs of Staff Committee, 27–8, 33,

42–3Chieu Hoi program, 343Chu Hai, 400, 411, 421CIA, 74, 217, 219–30, 401Civil Guard, 397, 399–400Clarke, Fred (Private), 70, 370Claymore mines, 49, 159, 193, 337cluster bombs, 100, 102, 165,

287, 289Co Trach, 396Coad (Lieutenant Colonel), 57Cogswell, Colin (Private), 98–100Cole, Peter (Major), 131, 246, 385Colo-Putty training area, 154, 196,

295COMAFV see Commander, Australia

Force VietnamCombat Engineer Teams, 166‘Combined Studies Group’ (CSG),

219–20, 222–7 see also CIACommander, Australia Force Vietnam

(COMAFV), 36, 39–41, 43, 51, 53

C123 Provider transport aircraft, 48conscientious objectors, 194conscription, 1, 12–13, 171, 181,

259, 332Coral Fire Support Base, 2cordon and search operations

Binh Ba, 74–5, 210–12, 226, 234contact with villagers, 182Duc My, 69–70, 363–745 RAR, 72, 327, 331, 338–9,

361–92Nui Dat, 210

437

INdEx

Phuoc Hoa, 53, 345results, 392

‘Country Fair’ operations, 77Courtenay Hill, 42, 410Criss, Dick (Private), 116Cross, Danny (Private), 251CSG see ‘Combined Studies Group’Cubis, Richmond ‘Dick’ (Lieutenant

Colonel), 257–8, 267–71Cusack, Graham ‘Breaker’ (Second

Lieutenant), 333Cutler, Sir Roden, 100, 155

D Company, 5 RARBinh Ba, 227Boxall, Ron (Brigadier), 218casualties, 106, 175‘Doda’, 125Duc My, 70, 7211 Platoon, 95Operation Canberra, 95Operation Hardihood, 157Operation Holsworthy, 377,

379, 381Operation Queanbeyan, 124–5,

134, 141–2, 146–8, 185, 188Operation Robin, 106Operation Sydney Two, 364,

366–71Operation Toledo, 116Operation Yass, 386support from Reconnaissance

Platoon, 31410 Platoon, 141–2, 147, 188, 244Warburton, Graham (Private), 77

D Company, 6 RARattacked, 82Battle of Long Tan, 14, 52,

76, 135Long Tan, 161Operation Queanbeyan, 124, 185reconnaissance patrols, 73Route 15, 94

Da Giang, 408

Dalat, 52Daly, Tom (Major General), 27, 39,

101, 116–17, 326D’Antoine, Gordon (Private), 136–7,

280Dat (Colonel), 224Dat Do, 323, 393, 395–6, 400, 403,

410, 412–13Davies, Bill (Second Lieutenant), 250

helicopter crash, 107, 250, 279, 290, 294, 296–9

161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight, 5

Vietnam service, 295–6, 352–3Davis, RJ (Second Lieutenant), 246DC3 aircraft, 287de la Maissoneuve, Pougin

(Lieutenant Colonel), 395–6De Puy, William (Brigadier General),

29–30Deak, Michael ‘Skip’ (Second

Lieutenant) (later von Berg), 244–6A Company, 5 RAR, 328Anti-Tank Platoon, 328, 340Carroll and, 328Military Cross, 188O’Neill and, 329Operation Queanbeyan, 127–32,

185Reconnaissance Platoon, 85,

301–17, 329, 391Royal Australian Regiment

Association, 8service history, 353Support Company, 328Warr and, 328–30

Deane-Butcher, John (Second Lieutenant), 246–7national serviceman, 204OTU graduate, 153, 169, 203platoon commander, 177rugby union, 170‘Warburton mountains’, 176

VIETNAM VANGUARd

438

Defeat into Victory (Slim), 152Defence and Employment (D&E)

Platoon, 267, 269Defence Committee, 24–5, 29, 34Delaurey-Simpson, Ron ‘Frenchy’

(Private), 224, 232, 247Delsar, Barry (Private), 251Dereliction of Duty (McMaster), 230Derringer, 101Devlin, Joe (Private), 100, 171diary of Nguyen Nam Hung, 90Dien Bien Phu, 9, 335Dinh River, 423direct support, 312–13, 364Directorate of Infantry, 320Division in Battle Pamphlet No 1, The

(Australian Military Board), 322Doda, 125‘Dodo’, 418–19Dohle, Cliff (Flight Lieutenant), 135‘Domino Theory’, 10Don Dien de Gallia, 223Dong Khoi movement, 398Doyle, Laurie (Major), 296, 298Drennan, Bill ‘Sharpe’ (Corporal),

128–9drills, 162Duc My, 69–71, 73, 160, 343,

363–74, 376, 378–9, 381–2Duc Thanh, 74–7, 84, 147, 224, 232,

255, 376, 393, 404Duc Trung, 73, 363, 376–81Dunstan, Sir Donald (Lieutenant

General), 39, 41Dustoff evacuations, 46, 59, 98, 107,

133, 136, 160, 164, 171, 179, 184, 207–9, 213–14, 274, 276, 279, 286–9, 291–2, 296, 313

Dwyer, John (Second Lieutenant), 204Eastern Command, 27Eastern Region Inter-Provincial

Committee, 398Edwards, John ‘Blue’ (Private), 245Egan (Brandt), Robert ‘Bobby’

(Private), 245

8 RAR, 33–411 Armored Cavalry Regiment (US),

420Engineer Field Squadron, 327equipment, 47–8, 51, 64–5Exercise Sky High, 40

F-100 Super Sabre aircraft, 289Fall, Bernard, 192Fardel (French commander), 396Ferrier, Raymond ‘Ferret’ (Private),

245field telephones, 50Fifth Battalion, the Royal Australian

Regiment, see 5 RARFilipino forces, 3411st Australian Logistic Support

Group, 47, 51, 102, 1041st Australian Task Force see 1 ATF1st Brigade, 46First Battle of Britain, The (Fredette),

90Fitzgerald, John (Private), 2515 RAR see also member Companies

arrival in Vietnam, 48, 154–6, 194–5, 204

Battalion Advance Party, 55Battalion Headquarters, 55casualties, 276–7, 280–1under 173 Airborne Brigade (US),

58raised for Vietnam service, 9, 29,

33, 154, 321, 324relations with South Vietnamese

forces, 343–4relations with US forces, 342second Vietnam tour, 298structure, 3supported by 103 Field Battery,

253–71tactics, 335–46training for Vietnam deployment,

11, 46–8, 153–4, 194, 196, 202–4, 336

weapons, 253

439

INdEx

5 RAR Association, 8503 Airborne Infantry Regiment

(US), 56–9fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft,

287Florence, Brian (Major), 323FO Parties, 254Foale, Les (Warrant Officer), 132F100 Super Sabre fighter-bombers,

101–2food aid for villagers, 119–20food distribution rules, 383foot problems, 181–2, 213Foran, Ian (Private), 111, 162Forbes, Jim, 27Forward Air Controller Detachment,

377, 381forward observer officers, 254, 257,

264–5, 2674 Infantry Division (US), 166, 213,

290, 4204 RAR, 29, 33France

defeat in Indo-China, 9, 335, 395–7

occupation of Ba Ria, 395Fraser, John (Second Lieutenant), 170Fraser, Malcolm, 35, 42, 155Fraser, Peter ‘Doc’ (Private), 130,

132, 186, 188, 245, 280‘Fred’, 419Fredette, Raymond, 90–1Fridolf, Merv (Sergeant), 56‘friendly fire’, 261FSB Tennis see Tennis

Gair, Neville (Major), 95, 146, 249, 258

Gallia rubber plantation, 232, 234–5, 376, 378

Gambold, Barney (Private), 245Geneva Accords, 397, 420George Medals, 136, 167, 178German Army and the Nazi Party,

The (O’Neill, R), 90

Gia Dinh, 394Giap, Vo Nguyen (General), 6Gilbert, George (Corporal), 171Godfrey, Robert ‘Bobby’ (Sergeant),

245Goodman, David (Private), 138Gospers Mountain training area, 11,

46, 154Gower, Steve (Major General), 8Graham, Stuart (Brigadier), 323,

326–7, 331Granter, Noel (Major), 155, 368Greenhalgh, Paul (Major), 111, 116,

246Commander D Company, 76,

141, 175Hartley and, 191–2Operation Holsworthy, 377Operation Queanbeyan, 146Operation Sydney Two, 367

Greville, Philip (Brigadier), 39‘grey funnel line’, 19Griggs, John (Lieutenant), 255–9,

262, 271, 353‘grunts’, 104gun aiming points, 261gun platforms, 260–1gun positions, 255–9Gunning, RR (Second Lieutenant),

246gunships, 286–7, 289–90, 313Guymer, Ross (Lieutenant), 233

H hour, 259Hai Phung commander, 406Hall, Jim (Corporal), 99Ham Tan, 397Hamlyn, RD (Major), 246, 249, 328Hannigan, Richard (Major), 116, 271harassing and interdiction missions,

256–7, 259, 261, 271Harris, Terry ‘Harry’ (Private),

163–4Harrison, Ted (Lance Corporal)

A Company, 181–4, 353–4

VIETNAM VANGUARd

440

Operation Canberra, 183–4wounded, 184

Hartley, John (Lieutenant), 246A Company, 5 RAR, 192–202Operation Canberra, 181, 183–4service history, 191–2, 353

Harvey, William ‘Suave Harve’ (Corporal), 245, 306

Hasluck, Paul, 33Hassall, Sam (Sergeant), 170–1Hassett, Frank (Major General), 26–7Hat Dich, 16, 383, 396, 398–9,

401–3, 421Hay, Bob (Brigadier), 35, 41HE 70 mm Mighty Mouse rockets,

101–2Healy, John (Sergeant), 192Heazlewood, Doug, 259–63, 354Heffernan, Ted (Captain), 263Helio Courier, 224Henry, Mick (Sergeant), 232, 235–6Henrys, Mick (Sergeant), 47, 168Heroic 445 Battalion: Its History and

Tradition, The, 17Hicks, Sir Edwin, 24, 30–1, 33–4Hill Jan, 102, 118Hill Julie, 102, 118, 125Hillier, Doug (Private), 98–9Hindmarsh, Ralph ‘Rowdy’

(Sergeant), 116, 154, 163, 204–5HMAS Jeparit, 51HMAS Sydney, 19, 48, 155, 204, 316Ho Chi Minh, 6, 361Ho Chi Minh City, 423Ho Chi Minh Trail, 14, 16Ho Tram, 401Hoa Long, 219–24, 226, 410,

412–13, 419Hodgkinson, Ivor ‘Blue’ (Major),

246, 249, 326Hoi Bai, 400Hoi Chanh (defectors), 228, 362, 373Holsworthy, 9, 46, 153–5, 193, 196,

298, 320, 324, 336

Holt, Harold, 35Hopper, Colin (Sapper), 136Horner, David (Colonel), 354–5Horseshoe Hill, 42, 215–16, 228,

314, 327‘Huey’ helicopters, 19, 189, 195,

285–6Hughson, Bruce ‘Hughie’ (Warrant

Officer), 128, 132, 389Hulme, Alan, 30, 33Hung Loc, 422Hung Nghia, 422Hunter, Alan, 116

Illman, Colin (Private), 175Indo-China War (first), 395–7Indonesian confrontation with

Malaysia, 10, 23, 301inter-allied relations, 341interpreters, 73, 232–3, 295, 315–16,

364, 369, 371, 382, 386, 390–1ARVN, 278Bailey, 221Henry, 2351 Australian Task Force Linguist

Section, 377interrogation, 373–4Iron Lady Exercise, 154Irwin Barracks, 202Isaacs, Peter (Captain), 246, 249

adjutant, 8, 56–7, 78, 87, 306, 322, 325

appreciation of 5 RAR, 80Bade and, 231BHQ staff officer, 55O’Hanlon and, 170Operation Canberra, 98–101Operation Holsworthy, 73, 381service history, 324, 355Warr and, 324–8, 339work with US forces, 56, 59

Jackson, David (Brigadier), 113, 117AAFV, 323

441

INdEx

AATTV, 323Commander AAFV, 25Commander AATTV, 25Commander 1 ATF, 38, 61Cubis and, 269–71on Davies’ helicopter crash, 298leadership style, 88–9Lockhart on, 40McFarlane and, 269–70medal recommendation for

Privates, 167Operation Holsworthy, 226Operation Queanbeyan, 89Operation Yass, 385permission to return to Nui Thi

Vai, 109, 123on Phuoc Tuy, 416relations with US command, 34selection of Nui Dat, 38, 41Warr and, 61, 109, 323, 326Westmorland and, 27, 31, 84Wilton and, 27–8, 31, 34–5,

37, 40jet fighters, 287Johnston, Lyndon, 29–30Joint Chiefs of Staff, 25Joseph (Pere), 223, 235J2 division, MACV, 91J3 (Operations) division, MACV, 91

Kapooka, 169Kearney, Bob ‘Dogs’ (Corporal),

176–8, 245, 251, 306, 355Kellor, Kerry (Lieutenant), 258Kim Dai Uy (Captain), 221, 223Kim Hai, 399–400, 406–7Koblitz, Holger ‘Curly’ (Corporal),

154, 163–4Korean War

Australian experience, 417Australian and US cooperation,

342Bell Sioux helicopters, 286–7, 2955 RAR, 217Hassett, 26

manpower, 345Mealing, 279radio sets, 193Warr, 88, 320Wilton, 22–3, 26

Kubrick, Stanley, 271Ky, Nguyen Cao (Air Marshal), 33,

121

Landing Zone Hudson, 57–8, 157, 176, 195–6, 206–7

Landing Zone Michael, 105, 166Landing Zone Snakepit, 157Lang Cat, 397, 400Lang Phuoc Hoa, 258–9, 267, 313Langley, Mike (Lieutenant), 258, 268Larteguy, Jean, 192Le Dan, Brian (Captain), 117, 242,

246helicopter operations, 56Operation Queanbeyan, 127–8signals officer, 57, 78wounded, 127–8, 132–3, 242,

279–80, 291–2Le Duan, 6Le Duc Dat (Lieutenant Colonel), 413Le Duc Tho, 6Le Minh Thinh, 398Le Xuan Chuyen (Lieutenant

Colonel), 418Leaman, John (Sergeant), 57Lea-Smith, John (Sergeant), 214,

245, 306Leslie, Gary (Corporal), 143Lestrange, Robin (Private), 116Light Fire Team, 377Lo Gom, 313Loc An, 401–2Lockhart, Greg, 40, 42Long Binh, 83–4, 93, 176, 420Long Cat, 107, 278–9, 399Long, Charles, (Major General), 33Long Dat, 40, 396, 414Long Dien, 393, 410, 413

VIETNAM VANGUARd

442

Long Green, The, 314Long Hai, 77, 400, 413Long Hai hills, 16, 40–1, 61, 170,

313, 341, 395, 408Long Huong, 383, 385, 397, 399, 413Long Khanh, 400, 405, 410, 422Long Le district, 219, 224, 393, 413Long, Phil (Private), 116Long Phuoc, 59, 64, 395, 400,

411–12, 414, 416Long Son Island

clearance, 53, 258, 385location, 394map, 146Operation Hayman, 189, 240,

267, 271, 345, 385, 387Viet Cong escaping from, 391Viet Cong haven, 189, 384

Long Tanclearing, 411–12D Company, 6 RAR, 14, 52, 76,

212, 333Nguyen Thoi Bung, 406Operation Abilene, 410Operation Smithfield, 264public interest in battle, 2reclearing, 416role of artillery, 259–60significance of Nui Dat location,

41, 1616 RAR, 16survivors, 226tunnels, 400village levelled, 59villagers resettled, 414

Long Tau River, 394, 397, 411Long Thanh, 395, 398, 400, 406, 408Lovell, DG (Second Lieutenant), 246Luscombe Field, 210Lynch, Trevor (Private), 138, 280–1

M16 rifles, 48, 99, 118, 137, 145, 165, 168, 193, 206, 221, 308

M2A2 105 mm howitzers, 271

M18 Claymore mines, 159, 193M26 grenades, 99, 220, 308, 375–6,

390, 403M40 recoilless rifles, 302M60 machine guns, 48–9, 51, 64M72 light anti-armour weapon, 302M79 grenades, 137, 193, 308Mackay, Ken (Major General), 112,

117Commander, Australia Force

Vietnam, 35, 40, 51Director of Military Operations

and Plans, 24, 35Nui Dat, 40–1Phuoc Tuy, 30, 36service history, 24–5visits to Vietnam, 25, 29, 32, 51Westmorland and, 32Wilton and, 25–6

Madden, Ernie (Sergeant), 88Maizey, Stan (Major), 118

artillery support, 267Bindley and, 269Boxall and, 227–8Cubis and, 271Deak and, 303Operation Holsworthy, 377Operation Sydney Two, 370Reconnaissance Platoon, 303, 309service history, 45, 3562IC 5 RAR, 46, 53–4, 56, 65,

321–2, 326Malaya, 10, 12, 22, 29, 107, 177,

306, 417Malayan Emergency, 10, 22, 87, 192,

301, 326Mallinson, KG (Captain), 246Mansford, George (Captain), 314Mason, Bruce (Private), 116Matheson, Reg (Sergeant), 260Mathews (CIA), 222Mavin, Keith ‘Shorty’ (Sergeant),

154, 201Mavromatis, Jim (Corporal), 181May Tao Mountains, 76, 405, 410

443

INdEx

May Tao Secret Zone, 16‘Mayfair, The’, 52, 250McAloney, John (Second Lieutenant),

121, 134, 136–8, 246, 389McCombe, Daryl (Private), 116, 164McCray, Graham (Corporal), 207–8McDermott, Arthur (Major), 271McDougall, Ian (Corporal), 114,

138, 280–2, 356McFarlane, Brian (Major), 267,

269–70, 377, 386McGregor, Don (Warrant Officer

Class 2), 111McLaren, John ‘Macca’ (Private), 245McLean, Allan (Corporal), 128–9,

131McMaster, HR (Lieutenant General),

230McNamara, Robert, 30, 408McNeill, Ian, 41McNeill, Robert, 2, 58McNulty, Alan (Corporal), 214McQualter, Bruce (Major), 246

B Company, 331, 367, 377, 386Operation Canberra, 100, 264–6,

322Operation Holsworthy, 377wounded, 170, 328

McShane, John (Private), 203–4Mealing, ‘Sailor’ (Staff Sergeant), 107,

279, 296, 299MEDCAP, 263, 276, 278–9Medical Civic Action Program, 263,

276, 278Medical Platoon, 168–9, 274–83, 382Mekong Delta, 31–2, 53Mentioned in Dispatches, 132, 136,

167, 178, 188, 348Menzies, Robert, 25–6, 202Meredith, Gordon (Lance Corporal),

241, 251Middleton, Peter (Flight Lieutenant),

136Military Crosses, 85, 121, 188, 347

Military Medals, 99–100, 132, 188, 347

Military Region 1, 405, 414–15Military Region 7, 405, 415Military Working Arrangement, 25,

42, 412Miller, John (Major), 246

advance party, 155C Company, 5 RAR, 164–5, 177,

179, 258, 377, 386, 390Operation Canberra, 98

Milligan, RB (Captain), 246, 367Mills, Denis ‘Millsey’ (Private), 245Minh Dam, 16, 395–6, 408–9Minh Hoand, 419Mission Vietnam, Royal Australian

Air Force Operations 1964–1972 (Odgers), 135

Moles, Douglas ‘Douggy’ (Private), 181–2

Molloy, WJ (Captain), 246Monash, Sir John (General), 34monsoons, 50, 63, 83, 143, 181–2,

196, 310Montagnards, 69, 74, 220moratoriums, 12Moreau (Monsieur), 223–4Moroney, Darryl ‘Butch’ (Private), 245Morse code, 140, 405, 415, 418Mortar Platoon, 95, 254–5, 289Mortimer, Brian ‘Doc’ (Lance

Corporal), 263–4, 356Mulby, John ‘Blue’ (Sergeant), 245,

306Murphy, John (Major), 304My Xuan, 400

Nam Bo Region, 402napalm, 102, 180, 289National Liberation Front see

Viet Congnational servicemen

B Company, 5 RAR, 1Deane-Butcher, 177, 204

VIETNAM VANGUARd

444

5 RAR, 11, 332Foran, 162Holsworthy training, 46Moles, 181Neesham, 177, 202–3Noack, 59, 61, 158, 171officer training, 203O’Hanlon, 1691 Platoon, 192–3Roe, 204Sharp, 162Tomas, 209

NATO, 230naval gunfire, 313Neesham, Harry (Second Lieutenant),

246C Company, 5 RAR, 153,

203–16national service, 202Operation Canberra, 213Operation Hardihood, 204–7Operation Holsworthy, 211Operation Queanbeyan, 215Operation Sydney, 209OTU graduate, 169, 203service history, 3577 Platoon, 177, 203–16Warr and, 215–16

Negus, GN (Lieutenant), 246New Zealand forces, 33, 267, 313,

341, 377Ngai Giao, 77Ngo Din Diem, 397, 400Nguyen Nam Hung (Colonel), 90,

140, 421Nguyen Quoc Thanh, 398Nguyen Thoi Bung, 406Nguyen Van Buu, 398Nguyen Van Phuoc (Major), 403Nguyen Van Thieu, 401night operations, 78–99 Infantry Division (US), 4209 RAR, 439 Squadron RAAF, 21, 286

Noack, Errol (Private), 59, 61, 158, 171, 197

non-commissioned officers (NCOs), 153–4, 346

North Vietnamese Army, 198, 418Nottage, Gary ‘BG’ (Private), 245Nui Dat

Battalion Headquarters, 157chosen for Australian base, 21,

38–43construction of base, 39, 159, 173cordon and search operations, 210defences, 14, 160–1‘Dust Bowl’, 274gun position 2, 256inhabitants removed, 58Luscombe Field, 210‘Mayfair, The’, 52mortared by Viet Cong, 196, 256Operation Hardihood, 19, 49, 58,

60–3, 65, 82, 170–2Task Force holdings, 102Viet Cong presence, 16

Nui Dinh hillscapture of radio operator, 420D445 Provincial Mobile

Battalion, 4055 RAR stationed, 13mortar attacks, 417103 Field Battery, Royal

Australian Artillery, 390Operation Queanbeyan, 89Operation Vaucluse, 77Reconnaissance Platoon, 311‘resistance bases’, 423Route 15, 94, 3946 RAR, 84274 Regiment, 421Viet Cong, 401–2‘Warburton mountains’, 175White, Tony, 7

Nui May Tao, 16Nui Nghe, 63, 65–6, 68, 77, 177, 209Nui Ong Cau, 417Nui Ong Trinh, 94–5, 183, 394,

401, 419

445

INdEx

Nui Thi Vai, 121D445 Provincial Mobile

Battalion, 405equipment flown to, 52Landing Zone Michael, 105Operation Canberra, 98, 183,

213, 289Operation Hardihood, 200Operation Queanbeyan, 85,

89–90, 123–49, 184–8, 290, 293–4

Operation Robin, 106, 109‘resistance bases’, 423Route 15, 94, 394Viet Cong, 401Viet Cong route through, 53‘Warburton mountains’, 175

Nui Toc Tien, 94, 141, 147–8, 394, 402, 421

Nungs, 74, 205, 220

O’Callaghan, John (Private), 188–90, 357

O’Dea, L (Second Lieutenant), 246Odgers, George, 135Officer Cadet School Portsea, 153Officer Training Unit, Scheyville, 46,

153, 169, 203O’Hanlon, Terry (Second Lieutenant)

B Company, 5 RAR, 1705 Platoon, 170injury, 1731 RAR, 170Operation Hardihood, 171–2Operation Holsworthy, 189–90OTU graduate, 203service history, 169, 357

1 ALSG see 1st Australian Logistic Support Group

1 Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, 364, 377, 386

1 ATFC Company location, 107CIA activities, 219–30

Civil Affairs Unit, 232, 382Dental Unit, 107547 Signals Detachment, 418–19Headquarters, 45, 53, 84, 89,

232, 234–6, 256, 267, 412leaflets, 380Linguistic Section, 377manpower, 345–6mortared by Viet Cong, 196, 256Nui Dat base, 21, 38–43, 48–9,

68, 81–2, 154, 196, 217–18103 Field Battery, 254Operation Hayman, 389Operation Yass, 389operational control, 35Phuoc Tuy Province, 24, 42role of 5 RAR, 153, 412, 417roles, 36–7Tactical Area of Responsibility, 77two battalions, 84, 882/35 Artillery Regiment, 94

1 Commando Company, ARVN, 212, 220–8, 230, 398–9

1 Field Engineer Squadron, 377, 3861 Field Hospital, 2861 Field Regiment, 95, 98, 271

Tactical HQ, 267–8, 2711 Field Squadron, 1661 Infantry Division (US), 4101 RAR

AATTV, 17arrive in Vietnam, 23Battalion Group, 405Bien Hoa, 21, 26deployment, 24–8, 33–4deployment with US forces, 56173 Airborne Brigade (US), 16,

55, 161, 321, 410Operation Denver, 410Operation Silver City, 42replaced by 5 RAR, 46–8

1 Transport Platoon, 377101 Field Battery, Royal Australian

Artillery, 5

VIETNAM VANGUARd

446

103 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, 5, 94, 227, 253–71, 386–7, 390–1

105 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, 66, 363–5, 368–9, 377, 380

161 Field Battery, RNZA, 267, 377161 (Independent) Reconnaissance

Flight, 133, 244, 286–8, 296, 299–300, 377, 386

173 Airborne Brigade (US)assessment of Viet Cong, 16Bien Hoa, 31, 55, 1705 RAR, 56–9, 61, 63, 82, 158Landing Zone Hudson, 157, 195,

2061 RAR, 25, 27, 55, 57, 155, 161Operation Abilene, 410Operation Hardihood, 49,

411–12Operation Hollandia, 61Operation Robin, 94Route 15, 423War Zone D, 42

196 Light Infantry Brigade (US), 420199 Light Infantry Brigade (US), 420O’Neill, Robert (Captain), 246,

249–50Bade and, 231civil affairs officer, 340Deak and, 302, 314, 329intelligence officer, 78, 84–91,

105, 177, 322, 326, 340Operation Queanbeyan, 291Operation Sydney Two, 367service and academic history,

357–82IC B Company, 5 RAR, 1,

12–13, 84, 170, 264Warr and, 338–9

Ong Trinh, 397, 399–400, 413Operation Abilene, 410Operation Brisbane, 368, 421Operation Caloundra, 383

Operation Canary, 423Operation Canberra, 118

A Company, 5 RAR, 95, 100, 105air support, 287–8airstrikes, 183B Company, 5 RAR, 95, 98–105,

183, 265, 267, 289, 322, 325–6, 331

Battalion Headquarters, 106C Company, 5 RAR, 95, 98–101,

104, 115, 161, 176, 183, 265, 289

casualties, 277–8dates, 1798 Platoon, 1785 RAR, 385follow up actions, 123, 134gun positions, 255, 260–1Harrison, 183–4Hartley, 181map, 96, 103Neesham, 213Nui Thi Vai hills, 109, 227103 Field Battery, 264–7Route 15, 94Vietnam Task (O’Neill, R), 177‘Warburton mountains’, 175

Operation Crow’s Nest, 77, 94, 179Operation Darlinghurst, 76–7, 231Operation Denver, 410–11Operation Duck, 423Operation Enoggera, 64–5Operation Hardihood

A Company, 5 RAR, 157, 171, 196–7

B Company, 5 RAR, 157, 171, 197

C Company, 5 RAR, 157D Company, 5 RAR, 157duration, 196intelligence summary, 416multi-unit sweep, 198Neesham, 204–7Nui Dat, 19, 58, 60–3, 65, 82,

154

447

INdEx

Nui Thi Vai, 200O’Hanlon, 171–2173 Airborne Brigade (US), 49,

411–1268 Assault Helicopter Company,

156Sweetnam, 160

Operation Hayman, 189, 240, 243, 267–71, 345, 385, 387, 389

Operation Hobart, 72Operation Hollandia, 61Operation Holsworthy, 73–5, 188–9,

211, 226–7, 363, 375–83Operation Mallet, 408Operation Queanbeyan, 122, 242

A Company, 5 RAR, 124–5, 131, 133–4, 137, 140, 148, 185

air support, 287, 290Anti-Tank Platoon, 124–5, 127,

132, 134, 136–7, 139–40, 185, 187, 290–1, 293

ARVN, 144Askew, 290–2, 294Assault Pioneer Platoons, 121,

124, 128, 132, 134, 137–40, 185, 188

B Company, 5 RAR, 124–5, 134, 138, 140–1, 147–8, 185

Battalion Headquarters, 124–5, 127–8, 130, 132–4, 137, 148, 185, 293

C Company, 5 RAR, 124–5, 134–5, 138, 140–1, 148, 166

Carroll, 123–7, 132–41, 147–9D Company, 5 RAR, 124–5, 134,

141–2, 146–8, 185, 188D Company, 6 RAR, 124, 185dates, 179Deak, 127–32, 1855 RAR, 385Greenhalgh, 146Jackson, 89Le Dan, 127–8Medical Platoon, 279

Neesham, 215Nui Dinh hills, 89Nui Thi Vai, 52, 85, 89–90, 109,

123–49, 184–8, 290, 293–4Owen machine carbine, 168Route 15, 125Wainwright, 135–6Wormald, 178

Operation Ranch Hand, 407Operation Renmark, 288Operation Robin

A Company, 5 RAR, 105–6, 116, 385

air support, 287–8, 296Anti-Tank Platoon, 166ARVN, 229, 271B Company, 5 RAR, 105–7C Company, 5 RAR, 106, 166Carroll, 104D Company, 5 RAR, 106dates, 1795 RAR, 385helicopter crash, 181map, 108MEDCAP, 278‘no fire zone’, 78Nui Thi Vai, 106, 1091 ATF, 423Route 15, 94, 166, 215, 290II Field Force Vietnam, 422–3White, 107

Operation Silver City, 42Operation Smithfield, 264Operation Sydney, 65–7, 69, 72,

209, 363Operation Sydney Two, 69, 71–2,

160, 363–74, –374Operation Toledo, 76–7, 116, 231Operation Vaucluse, 77, 94Operation Woolloomooloo, 226–7Operation Yass, 345, 363, 383–91operational capability, 53Operations Order Number 4, 157optical sights, 260

VIETNAM VANGUARd

448

Orchard, Ray (Corporal), 206, 213–14

Orders Group, 109, 183, 315, 322OTO Melara L5 105 mm pack

howitzers, 253–4Owen machine gun, 118, 133, 168,

193, 206, 280Oxley, Peter (Lieutenant Colonel),

153, 324

Pacific Islands Regiment, 191Page, Wayne ‘Pagey’ (Private), 245‘Palace Guard’, 95Paltridge, Shane, 28, 30Panthère noire, la, 396Parker, Ken, 90Parkes, Bill (Private), 209Paths of Glory [film], 271Pernes, Jean-Jacques, 223–4Phan Rang, 32‘Phoenix Program’, 228Phu Hai, 414Phu My

ARVN, 261, 271, 413B Company, 5 RAR, 124Ba Ria Province Unit, 414D Company, 5 RAR, 124‘no fire zone’, 257–8Operation Robin, 106population, 423Post-Geneva, 397Route 15, 93–4, 395, 400, 421–2Special Sector, 399taken by French forces, 396Viet Cong, 384Viet Cong attack, 422

Phu/Chu Hai, 399Phung Hoang, 228Phuoc Bien Special Zone, 400Phuoc Hai, 401Phuoc Hoa

ARVN, 413–14cordon and search operations, 53,

383–91

1962, 399–400Post-Geneva, 397Route 15, 402Viet Cong, 411, 421

Phuoc Loc, 400Phuoc Tinh, 397Phuoc Tuy Province

ARVN, 401, 404defoliation, 407economy, 13government control, 405, 413location, 393main Australian base, 21map, xxiiimap Viet Cong locations, 15Operation Albinene, 410population, 393, 413Provincial Intelligence Operations

Centre, 228selection as field of operation, 5Viet Cong, 1, 31, 81–3, 332,

340–1, 344, 401, 405, 409–10, 414–15

Viet Minh, 397Piper, Alex (Major), 89, 100Pix magazine, 205platoon commanders, 151–2, 173Plimsoll, Sir James, 24‘pogos’, 104police relations, 340, 372Politburo (North Vietnam), 398Political Action Unit, 398Possum call sign, 287, 294Possum 5 call sign, 291post-traumatic stress disorder, 19, 281Pott, Ted (Second Lieutenant), 169,

203, 246Prescott, Bill (Major), 75–7, 232,

234–5Presidential Citation, 407Provincial Intelligence Operations

Centre, 228Provincial Reconnaissance Unit, 74,

220

449

INdEx

Psychological Warfare detachment, 377

Public Affairs Office (US), 407public opinion

after the war, 336American, 335, 341opposing conscription, 12, 332opposing the war, 1–2, 6, 12supporting the war, 12

Puckapunyal, 202–3‘Puff the Magic Dragon’, 287, 313punishment cages, 237punji stakes, 143, 180, 192

QM Platoon, 49Quan Xuyen, 394Quang Giao, 372Quang Trung force, 395Quinn, Russell (Corporal), 118, 154,

160, 163–5RAAF

army relations with, 200–1base Richmond, 48Bell Sioux helicopters, 180,

215–16, 279, 286, 288, 290, 295–6, 298, 377

Caribou Flight, 409C130 transport aircraft, 51helicopter crash, 166–7, 178, 180,

279, 290, 294, 296–9Iroquois helicopters, 21, 28–9,

34–5, 52–3, 122, 134–5, 166–7, 195, 285–8, 290, 364, 377

9 Squadron, 135, 286, 377Rach Tre river channel, 387radios, 50Rainer, Dennis (Second Lieutenant),

141, 143–6, 175, 244, 246, 302‘Rat Pack, The’, 251rations, 46, 51–2, 64, 168, 200–1,

311–12Reconnaissance Platoon, 85, 188,

245, 279, 301–17, 329, 391

Red Cross, 59Republic of Vietnam Air Force, 418,

420‘resistance bases’, 423Returned and Services League (RSL),

214, 333Revolutionary Development Cadre

Program, 344Reynolds, John (Private), 251Riik, David (Private), 111, 118, 165Riley, Daniel ‘Bluey’ (Private), 184–8,

245, 358‘Road Runner’ operations, 77, 421Roby, Peter (Warrant Officer), 236Roe, Melford (Second Lieutenant),

169, 203–4, 246Rogers, ‘Midge’ (Gunner), 144–6Rose, Dave (Bombadier), 258Route 1, 395Route 2

Ap Ngai Giao, 223Binh Ba, 223defence of, 412Dong Khoi attack, 398Duc My, 70, 363French forces, 395Long Le district, 219map, 68opened to civilian traffic, 74–5Viet Cong, 421

Route 15ambushes of ARVN convoy,

402–3, 406, 416ambushes of South Korean forces,

408‘American Killing Belts’, 411Ap Ong Trinh Dp, 227ARVN, 413ARVN posts, 384Ba Ria, 405, 411closure, 408defence of, 93–5, 412, 420–3defoliation, 407gun positions, 257

VIETNAM VANGUARd

450

location, 94Operation Canberra, 176, 183,

213, 215, 266Operation Mallet, 408Operation Queanbeyan, 89–90,

125, 166Operation Robin, 109, 166, 290Phuoc Hoa, 53population, 400Route 51, 423Saigon to Vung Tau, 13secured, 345Security Task Force, 398surface, 13, 394traffic, 264US presence, 83–4Viet Cong, 107, 341, 399, 402–4,

416villages, 399White, Tony, 7

Route 23, 396, 410Route 44, 77, 408Route 51, 423Rowe, DJF (Lieutenant), 246Royal Australian Air Force see RAAFRoyal Australian Army Medical

Corps, 278–9Royal Australian Artillery, 253–71Royal Australian Engineers, 39Royal Australian Regiment

Association, 8Royal Military College (RMC) , 22,

24, 152, 153, 191, 194Rung Sac, 397–8, 403Rung Sat, 258, 345, 383, 394,

398–9, 401, 407, 411, 423Ruxton, Bruce, 333

Salvation Army, 246, 314SAS, 23, 34, 304, 308, 317, 344,

377, 387, 390–1, 419–20‘Save our Sons’, 12, 194Scales, John ‘Scalsey’ (Sergeant), 245Scaysbrook, Ken ‘Scaisey’ (Lance

Corporal), 245

Scherger, Sir Frederick (Air Chief Marshal), 27, 29, 33–5

School of Army Health, 275School of Military Engineering, 48,

204School of Music, 277Schubert, Dennis (Sapper), 136‘Scrounging Platoon’, 50, 65‘sea channel’, 14, 16Seale, Alan (Warrant Officer), 221Seaman, JO (Lieutenant General),

412Seamen’s Union, 332Searl, Robert ‘Bob’ (Corporal), 245Seats, Mick (Staff Sergeant), 2742nd Battalion, 503 Airborne Infantry

Regiment (US), 55Self-Defence Corps, 397Selleck, Neil (Private), 251Senate Appropriation Hearings (US),

4087 RAR, 29, 33, 65, 34117 Radio Research Group (US), 419Shambrook, RT (Captain), 246Sharp, David (Private), 162–3, 165Sheehan, TJ (Lieutenant), 246Shoebridge, Ron (Lance Corporal),

111, 207Shore, Syd (Private), 136, 167, 178,

211Sinclair, Roger (Private), 2516 RAR

A Company, 94, 264air support for, 287B Company, 420C Company, 377, 386D Company, 377, 380history, 58Long Tan, 52Nui Dinh hills, 84Operation Brisbane, 368, 421Operation Enoggera, 64–5Operation Hobart, 72Operation Holsworthy, 73, 211Operation Vaucluse, 77, 94

451

INdEx

Phuoc Tuy, 63reconnaissance, 76selection for Vietnam, 29, 33Vung Tau, 61

16 Regiment (US), 41068 Assault Helicopter Company

(US), 19, 49, 5664 Vietnamese Infantry Battalion,

3966994 Security Squadron (US), 419skin complaints, 53, 181–2, 273,

275, 310, 338‘slicks’, 286Slim, Sir William, Viscount (Field

Marshal), 152Smith, Bernie (Sergeant), 245, 306Smith, Bev (Captain), 295Smith, Paul (Brigadier General), 59,

61Smith, ‘Sooty’ (Warrant Officer),

232, 234–5Soai Rap River, 394, 397soccer game, 212Song Be, 410Song Cau River, 196, 206Song Ray, 406South Korean forces, 341, 408South Vietnamese Army, 217South Vietnamese government, 229South-East Asia Treaty Organization,

22Sovereign’s Company, 191Special Air Service see SASSpooky call sign, 287, 313‘Sports Cars’, 47, 50Staff College, 321‘Starlight’, 276Starlight: An Australian Army Doctor

in Vietnam (White), 7, 332Stavritis, James (Admiral), 230Stewart, Jock (Warrant Officer), 192Street Without Joy (Fall), 192stretcher bearers, 129–30, 132, 169,

207, 274–5, 277–8, 280, 371

Stretton, Alan (Lieutenant Colonel), 35, 38

Stringer, Max (Private), 111Suacot, Joseph (Captain) (France),

396Suckling, Alan (Private), 116, 118Supple, Bob (Captain), 242, 246,

248on air support activities, 288–91guiding Dustoff helicopter, 133,

291service history, 3592IC Support Company, 98

Support Company, 106, 128, 134, 184–8, 328

Sutherland, Graeme (Bombadier), 259

Sweetnam, John (Private), 160

Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR), 77, 159, 162–3, 168, 234–5, 416

Tactical Command Group, 148Tam Bo, 410–11Tan Thanh, 399, 423TAOR see Tactical Area of

ResponsibilityTask Force Civil Affairs Unit, 232Task Force Dental Unit, 107Task Force HQ, 232, 234–6, 267,

269, 303Taske, JE (Captain), 246, 263Taylor, Bob (Warrant Officer), 277Taylor, ‘Squizzy’ (Warrant Officer),

221Tedder, P (Major), 365Tennis (FSB), 66, 70, 95, 98, 363–5,

368–9Tet Offensive, 335–6, 341Thai forces, 341Thanh Dia, 402Thanh Doan Saigon-Gia Dinh, 401Thi Vai Mounain, 418Thi Vai River, 401

VIETNAM VANGUARd

452

Thi Vai-Cai Mep, 4233rd Field Hospital (US), 29933 Tactical Zone, 40436 Evacuation Hospital (US), 165,

184, 207, 286, 330Thompson, Neville ‘Nifty’ (Corporal),

184Thompson, RG (Captain), 246Thompson, Ralph (Lieutenant), 56,

1563 Brigade, 4 Infantry Division (US),

94, 422–33 RAR, 23, 29, 33, 1073 Squadron, SAS, 304, 317, 344,

377, 387, 390–1, 419III Corps Tactical Zone, 27, 36, 393Throckmorton, John (Lieutenant

General), 29Tiger Battalion, 152, 156, 168Time magazine, 230To Long Tan: The Australian Army

and the Vietnam War 1950–1966 (O’Neill, I), 58, 106

To Thi Nau, 419Tomas, Marinko ‘Titch’ (Lance

Corporal), 68, 177, 209–10Tong Viet Duong, 409Tonna, E (Sergeant), 419torture, 228Townsend, Colin (Lieutenant

Colonel), 323Tran Ngoc Buu, 399Tran Tan Phat (Lieutenant), 413Transport Platoon, 155, 169Treloar, Don ‘Tubby’ (Private), 208Truong (Second Lieutenant), 232–7Tueno, Terry (Corporal), 251tunnels, 64, 105, 131, 137–8, 187,

200, 400, 411Twaits, Anthony ‘Bluey’ (Private),

245, 3302 Armoured Personnel Carrier

Squadron, 3772 Brigade (US), 420

2 Camp Hospital, Ingleburn, 482 RAR, 332/35 Artillery Regiment (US), 94–5,

257, 377, 380, 386–7II Corps Tactical Zone, 27, 36II Field Force Vietnam (US), 35,

84–5, 327, 342, 412, 421–3II Vietnamese Corps, 36

Ueshiba, Morihei, 273Urquhart, AG (Sergeant), 419Urquhart, Leslie ‘Doc’ (Corporal),

154, 163–4, 205US forces

B Company, 57Battalion Band, 49casualties, 58, 402, 408–11Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion,

41011 Armoured Cavalry Regiment,

420503 Airborne Infantry Regiment,

56–94 Infantry Division, 166, 213,

290, 420Iroquois helicopters, 19, 101,

135–6, 164, 189, 204, 240, 285–8, 293

killed in action, 589 Infantry Division, 4201 Infantry Division, 408, 410173 Airborne Brigade, 16, 25, 27,

31, 55–9, 61, 63, 82, 155, 157–8, 161, 170, 195, 206

196 Light Infantry Brigade, 420199 Light Infantry Brigade, 420Operation Abilene, 410Operation Hardihood, 49,

411–12Operation Hollandia, 61Operation Robin, 94Pentomic structure, 301Public Affairs Office, 407Route 15, 423

453

INdEx

2nd Battalion, 503 Airborne Infantry Regiment, 55

17 Radio Research Group, 419SIGINT, 40516 Regiment, 41068 Assault Helicopter Company,

19, 49, 566994 Security Squadron, 4193rd Field Hospital, 29936 Evacuation Hospital, 165,

184, 207, 286, 3303 Brigade, 4 Infantry Division,

94, 422–32 Brigade, 1 Infantry Division,

4082/35 Artillery Regiment, 94–5,

257, 377, 380, 386–7II Field Force Vietnam, 35, 84–5,

327, 342, 412, 421–3US Air Force, 254, 266, 287War Zone D, 42working with, 342wounded in action, 58

US MACV see US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (US MACV), 25, 29, 90–1, 394, 401–2, 405, 408, 411–14, 418, 420

Van Kiep, 413, 419Vien, Cao Van (General), 35Viet Cong

assessment of Australians, 417–18Ba Ria Province Committee, 401Ba Ria Province Unit, 414Baria Special Action Unit, 416base areas near Saigon, 13bases in Phuoc Tuy, 16Bien Hoa, 341C-20 Company, 385, 400, 416C-40 Company, 398, 400C-45 Company, 399–400C-70 Company, 416

C-300 Company, 416C-440 Company, 402C-445 Company, 402C-610 Company, 416casualties, 57, 72, 77, 82–3, 138,

145, 147, 172, 188–9, 197–8, 338, 370, 392, 407, 411, 419, 422

Chau Duc District Company, 147conscripts, 13control of Phuoc Tuy, 13defectors, 228, 362, 373defences, 16D445 Local Force Battalion,

408–9, 412, 416D445 Provincial Mobile

Battalion, 16–17, 59, 82–3, 405

District Forces, 376Dong Nai Regiment, 416800 Battalion, 410equipment, 14, 16–17female, 380, 419–20Fifth Infantry Division, 14, 165th Battalion, 4071st Battalion, 4065 Infantry Division, 405–6, 409,

415–16, 4185 Regiment, 4164 Regiment, 416Group 45, 416Group 54, 416Group 94, 416Group 445B unit, 401Guerrilla Platoon, 376Hoi Chanh, 362Infrastructure, 415local support, 17–18, 40–1, 69,

81, 84, 86, 327, 332, 361–2, 392

Long Dat History, 396‘Loval Forces’, 59Main Force, 14, 16, 38, 63, 76–7,

82, 84, 89, 198, 375, 396, 405, 415–16

VIETNAM VANGUARd

454

Military Region 1, 405Military Region 7, 40594 Regiment, 416Phuoc Tuy, 81–3, 341, 344prevalence, 401prisoners, 59, 72, 77, 148, 172,

228, 256, 383, 391–2Provincial Force, 375–6Q4, 416Q5, 416Q764, 416Q765, 416reconnaissance patrols, 82relations with ARVN, 17Route 15, 3997th Military Region, 42Tet Offensive, 63rd Battalion, 406–7threats to Binh Ba, 76threats to Nui Dat, 7621 Company, 412240C Company, 409275 Regiment, 16, 65, 82–3, 375,

405–7, 410, 415–16274 Regiment, 49, 63, 65, 77,

82–3, 89, 100, 140, 326, 375, 402, 404–5, 409–10, 415, 417, 421–2

Victories in November 1965, 407Vietnam’s National Day, 302weapons, 375, 385, 402

Viet Minh, 9, 81, 335, 361, 395–7Vietnam Task: The 5th Battalion, Royal

Australian Regiment (O’Neill, R), 2, 58, 66, 172, 177, 227, 331

Vietnam veterans, 333Vietnam War background, 9–10,

335, 361, 393, 395–412Vietnam War, The [TV series], 228Vietnamese Joint Chiefs of Staff, 35Vietnamese, learning, 18Vietnam’s National Day, 302Vo Van Lot, 403Vung Tau

airfield shelled, 409Australian Logistic Support

Group, 37Centre de Repos, Le, 397considered for 1 ATF base, 38–9,

41initial camp, 19, 25, 48–52, 55Landing Zone Snakepit, 157logistical support area, 13No 9 Squadron RAAF, 21Pacific Hotel, 49, 156population, 399proximity to Nui dat, 3836 Evacuation Hospital (US),

165, 184, 207, 286US Supply Depot, 50Viet Cong, 409–10

Wainwright, Roger (Colonel), 116, 2465 RAR Association, 8C Company, 5 RAR, 153–69,

1778 Platoon, 152–4football game, 210–11Operation Queanbeyan, 135–6service history, 152, 359Warr and, 155wounded, 165

Wales, Tony (Captain), 267–9, 271War Zone D, 42, 55, 345, 402Warburton, Graham ‘Nugget’

(Private), 77, 175‘Warburton mountains’, 175–7,

180, 190Warner, Denis, 12Warr, John (Lieutenant Colonel),

113, 116, 246, 251appoints O’Neill intelligence

officer, 84arranges ocean swimming days,

213arrival in Vietnam, 155artillery support, 267

455

INdEx

Australian Army Journal article, 339, 361

Bade and, 231, 233Bindley and, 269Carroll and, 66, 320–3, 326, 339Commanding Officer, 5 RAR,

5–7, 153, 319–33, 339–40commends 161 (Indep) Reece

Flight, 298–9cordon and search operations, 69,

72, 361–92Daly and, 101Davies and, 296Deak and, 302, 328–30Distinguished Service Order, 333,

3395 RAR, 80historical perspective on conflict,

12, 88Hodgkinson and, 326Holsworthy, 46Isaacs and, 324–8, 339Jackson and, 109, 323McQualter and, 266medal recommendation for

Privates, 167Neesham and, 215–16O’Hanlon on, 170O’Neill and, 88, 338–9Operation Canberra, 95, 100–1Reconnaissance Platoon, 85service history, 320, 324, 359–60son Mark on, 330–3‘Sunray’, 2322IC 5 RAR, 153Vietnamese casualties, 59Wainwright and, 155‘Wingy’, 314, 329

Warr, Mark, 330–3, 360Warren, Ken (Private), 215We Band of Brothers – A True

Australian Adventure Story (McFarlane), 268

weapons, 47–8, 50–1, 53, 64–5, 193, 205–6

Welcome Home march, 214Wells, Mike (Captain), 413West, Ted (Corporal), 208Western, Dave (Corporal), 245, 248Westmorland, William (General),

25–7, 31–3, 35–6, 42, 83–4, 112, 418, 420, 423

Whillas, Bob (Corporal), 111White, HAD (Captain), 246White, Tony (Captain), 114, 332

Bade and, 231Operation Renmark, 288Operation Robin, 107regimental medical officer, 7, 87,

273–82, 338–9service history, 360treated Davies, 299treating Le Dan, 128, 133treating villagers, 107, 122, 212,

276, 278–9, 295treating wounded, 184, 273–81

Wiangaree State Forest, 194, 196Willcox, Don (Captain), 13, 84,

89, 371Williams, John ‘Blah’ (Private), 245Williams, John (Chaplain), 111, 157,

209, 246, 382Wilton, Sir John (General)

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, 43

changes to army structures, 23chief of the general staff, 21–3expanding the Vietnam force,

28–31military service, 22–3selection of Nui Dat, 38–42selection of Phuc Tuy as field of

operation, 5, 21, 23–43‘Sir Jovial’, 23‘Smiling Jack’, 23two-battalion task force, 21, 30,

33–4, 36Winkel, Bill (Private), 181, 184Witheridge, T (Sergeant), 389

VIETNAM VANGUARd

456

Wolk, Uri (Private), 207–8Wollner, David ‘Blue’ (Private), 245Womal, Norman (Corporal)

section leader, 128wounded, 129–30, 132, 186–8,

280, 291–2, 305Wormald, Ross (Warrant Officer),

160, 178

Xuan Loc, 395, 404Xuyen Moc, 393, 397, 404, 414

Yellow Fever (Larteguy), 192

Ziemski, Bob (Corporal), 144, 146Zone 33, 401Zone Cherry, 416

This text is taken from Vietnam Vanguard: The 5th Battalion’s Approach to Counter-Insurgency, 1966, edited by Ron Boxall and Robert O’Neill, published 2020 by ANU Press, The Australian

National University, Canberra, Australia.