Australia Day 1968
On this day the CO tells everyone what good soldiers they are, with a few beers and a barbie, but for 9 Pl C Coy it holds a special place. On this day late in the afternoon in 1968, they faced the reaper.
On this day boys became ‘MEN’. Men like Jock Cassidy bravely manning his gun in the most vulnerable position on the perimeter, never flinching in his determination to stop the enemy from breaching the perimeter.
Cpl Graham Norley commanding his section under the most severe conditions known to man, controlling his section with a maturity far beyond his years until being killed while commanding his section. Section commanders Roy and Robbo bravely defending their section of the perimeter. Holding a determined enemy at bay by sheer GUTS. Their soldiers fighting for their lives.
Our platoon commander Barry Corse realized he had bitten off more than the platoon could handle. HE CRIED ‘HELP’. CHQ and half of 8 platoon sprang to the rescue. Lt George filled in the gaps and an O-group co-ordinated what to do.
8 Section got a new section commander, L/Cpl Dobson who soon showed he knew his job. A recce around the perimeter was ordered (clearing patrol) but fresh assaults canned that idea. Gunships came in but the enemy were too close for them to be of any help, then.
As it became dark the CSM moved around the company reassuring the now MEN with lighted hearted banter. All night the enemy were removing their casualties from the battlefield. By early morning all was quiet and our clearing patrols moved out. Then, more enemy fire from the flank, a rear guard had been posted to stop any follow-up.
The medic was killed going to the aid of a wounded soldier. The CSM yelled for covering fire and hurled himself to recover our dead and wounded. After the chopper evacuated our casualties, we returned to FSB Andersen, bruised, battered but unbroken. The platoon resumed its duties.
Some 40 years later members of the platoon met the chopper pilot. He informed Lt Corse that he had reported the Pl all dead (overrun). Further investigation has found that 9 Pl had engaged two battalions of 274 Regiment in their rest area prior to the start of Tet. Approximately 1200 against 30, but the men were from 2 RAR.
At the conclusion of Operation Coburg, the CSM was awarded a DCM for bravery. If you see Jock on ANZAC Day or on 18 August, go and shake his hand, ‘HE EARNED THOSE MEDALS THE HARD WAY’.
I was present as well.