173 AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE) US ARMY 1 RAR BATTLE GROUP BIEN HOA 1965-1966 On May 5, 1965, the Brigade deployed to South Viet Nam as the first US Army ground combat unit in that war. Upon arrival, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) and a battery from New Zealand (161Royal NZ Artillery) were attached to the Brigade -- making the 173d Airborne the only multi-national combat unit in the war. Initially headquartered in Bien Hoa, the Brigade operated in the four provinces around Saigon. (Xuan Loc, Long Khanh, Phuoc Long & Phuoc Tuy), but (in its roll as a "Fire Brigade") also went to the Central Highlands (Pleiku / Kontum) to fight Viet Cong. The 173d also conducted constant operations against the southern stronghold of the VC Main Force in the legendary Iron Triangle in War Zone D. The brigade was organized as a balanced airborne combat force consisting of two infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, a support battalion, an engineer company, a cavalry troop, an armour company, and a headquarters company. Upon activation, it became the first and only separate airborne brigade in the United States Army. This was the beginning of a long series of "Firsts" for the Brigade. On 5 May 1965, it became the first US Army ground combat unit committed to the war in South Vietnam, where further organizational changes were to take place. Australians attached to the Brigade were: 1st Battalion, of the Royal Australian Regiment (I RAR) and support troops of the 4/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment (1Troop), 105 Field Battery Royal Australian Artillery, 161 Field Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery, 3 Field Troop Royal Australian Engineers, 161 Reconnaissance Flight, Royal Australian Army Air Corps, 1st Australian Logistical Support Company. The Brigade's two infantry battalions, the First Battalion of the 503' Infantry (1/503`d) and the Second Battalion, of the 503`d Infantry (2/503`) and the attached Australians of 1 RAR constituted the infantrymen available to the Brigade. Their mission was to protect the Bien Hoa Air Base and to close with and destroy or capture the enemy. This was in fact the first operational ground force formed under the ANZUS Defence Treaty. ANZUS was a mutual defence treaty signed in 1951 between Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. In 1965 the spirit of this treaty appeared as 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep) a tri-national brigade. The only such tri-national fighting force formed during the Vietnam War. On deployment to South Vietnam in 1965, 1 Troop A Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment was part of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade combat group. Flag, two colours divided vertically, hoist half mid blue, fly half red. Badge of 173rd Airborne Brigade (730 x 490 mm) in centreflag, 173rd airborne, south vietnam

An Poster, Information Board of 5 RAR 1966 to 1967 (tst Tour). The 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment ("Battalion") were the leading element of the First Australian Task Force (1 ATF) and stationed in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. The Battalion's task was to break Viet Cong control over the central region of Phuoc Tuy Province - an area that communists had freely operated in since 1945. Commencing of the 24th May 1966, the Battalion conducted its first operation codenamed "Hardihood". Their objective was to sweep and clear areas to the north and east of Nui Dat to a distance of 5000 meters, then create a defensive position to enable 1 ATF to establish an operation base. The Battalion conducted eighteen full-lenght operations as well as numerous day and night cordon and search, search and destroy, ambush and clearing patrols conducted at company, platoon and section levels. the Battalion achieved considerable success during Operations Canberra and Queanbeyan in October 1966 when it swept and cleared the Nui Thi Vai mountain. A Viet Cong base consisting of training facilities, a hospital, booby trap factory and several tonnes of rice was located and destroyed. during phase two (Operation Queanbeyan) the battalion discovered complex cave and tunnel systems along with other fixed installations that were vigorously fought for and destroyed by the battalion. Not only di the caves contain large quantities of weapons, equipment and documents but the 274 VC Regiments deputy commanders radio complex. For bravery and leadership, three Military Crosses, one Military Medal and one Mentioned in Dispatches were awarded. The last was awarded posthumously. However, at the completion of the battalion's first tour, the 274 and 275 Viet Cong Regiments remained functional. While the enemy retained the capacity to inflict serious casualities on smaller allied forces, the Battalion and other elements of the 1 AFt were successful in denying the enemy their previous gains. This enabled the South Vietnamese Government to re-establish control of over 96 per cent of the Phuoc Tuy Province during Australia's involvement. Source O'Neill, RJ Vietnam Task, the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1966/67, Melbourne. Cassell Australia Ltd, 19685 rar, 1st tour 1966 - 1967, operation hardihood, 1st atf base, poster, information board, nui dat, nui thai vai mountains, operation canberra, operation queanbeyan, viet cong, 274 vc regiments

Interview conducted at the NVVM. Package also contains a photo of Keith & Doug McLennanpayne, keith vc