Presentation shield : Australian Civilian Medical Team, Bien Hoa, South Vietnam

A varnished wooden shield to which a metal plate has been attached with jewellers pins. Engraved on the plate is a geometric border pattern and the words, 'AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL TEAM January 1966 TO December 1972 IN APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE PACIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIETNAM WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK IN FUTURE ENDEAVORS. BIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM 21 December 1971'. Above the plate is a painted blue shield with a white border. Written in black on the upper border is 'CORDS MR3'. The body of the painted shield features a depiction in white of a map of South Vietnam, a section of which is painted yellow (III Corps Tactical Zone). Adjacent to this, is the red and gold insignia of MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam) featuring a red shield with a gold sword, battlements and border.

This plaque was presented to Doctor Paul Large, representing the Australian Civilian Medical Team, in appreciation for the work of the Team at Bien Hoa Hospital. The Australian Civilian Medical Teams that served in South Vietnam did so under a South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) aid program that was administered by the then Department of External Affairs. They operated at hospitals at Bien Hoa, Long Xuyen, Phuoc Le (Baria) and Le Loi Hospital at Vung Tau. Part of the US 'Hearts and Minds' strategy, CORDS (Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support) was formed to amalgamate all civilian and military advisory efforts under MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam). MR3 refers to Military Region 3.