Physical description
Three piece Poster, Information Board. Left on dark green background with yellow Corps Emblem with white text on the history of Vietnam during their 1st and 2nd tour. Centre section there is a coloured photograph of four soldiers standing in a field and four black and white Photograph to the right of the board of soldiers patrolling and resupplying with helicopter. On the right on a dark green background is a Roll of Honour to the many soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Inscriptions & markings
2 RAR: This photo was taken by Elvon King of Delta Company in September of 1967. This photo was chosen without the knowledge of the historical significance of the shot, which proved to be very momentous.
For within a very short time (about 30 seconds) of the photo being taken a wayward rocket from a U.S. gunship landed amongst this group of men in the photo, resulting in three of them being killed and forteen being wounded. Elvon King was one of the wounded.
The three men in the photo are left to right Dennis (Dave) Enright who lost a and foot in the incident. Harry Leggett who received shrapnel wounds, and Stan Radomi who was killed outright. A very poignant moment in time.
these thoughts about the incident from Wally Musgrave was one of those severly wounded at the time.
What could have been a sunny afternoon at a Newcastle or Bondi Hotel or beer Garden.....
After what could have been a week of patrolling, it was back inside the wire to scrub up and top up on fluids. Next morning, at 9.00, we went out side of the wire for a fire power, demonstration to satisfy a visiting General. The sun was shining, no seating, grass wasn't cut but we were young and so we thought bullet proof. then someone asked for the old Iroguois gun ship which had been firing rockets at a dead tree to be swung around to fire rockets over our heads. Why??
I haven't given "why" that much thought, but the 1 metre long port side rocket tumbled down amongst us and I'm sure everyone who was there can close their eyes and still see it today. This tumbling rocket landed where these three mates were standing amongst 11 and 12 platoon's young soldiers, chatting in the sun, then we were sailing through the air. I didn't see the devastation myself. I was under bodies. As first Dustoff priority we were off to 36 Evacuation Hospital at Vung Tau. There were two doos, one to the Morgue and one at the Hospital. Lucky me. I went through the Hospital door. eight major operations at once. three dead, forteen wounded and nothing on record!!
Yeah it was a lovely Sunny Day at Nui Dat., we'll leave it at that! We can't change yesterday.
I'm just another Nazho.
