South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star : Warrant Officer Class 2 K Payne, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam

South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. Unnamed as issued.

Keith Payne was born at Ingham, Queensland, on 30 August 1933. He joined the Australian Regular Army in 1951 and was posted to Korea the following year. In the next decade he served in Malaya and Papua New Guinea, and was appointed to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in February 1969.

In May of that year in Kontum Province, Payne’s company came under heavy attack. As the local troops fell back, Payne, wounded and under constant fire, valiantly fought to hold off the enemy. Having rallied his own men, he then set about bringing in the wounded, including an American advisor. For his actions he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the United States Distinguished Service Cross, the United States Silver Star and this South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star.

After his retirement Payne settled in Queensland and in 2006 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia 'for service to the community, particularly through support for youth programs and veterans groups.' In June 2015 he was further recognised when he was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for 'significant service to veterans and their families as an ambassador, patron and as an advocate for veterans' health and welfare.'

Payne’s South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star is preceded by the Victoria Cross, the Medal of the Order of Australia, the Australian Active Service Medal, service medals for Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee medals, the Centenary Medal and Long Service Medals, the US Distinguished Service Cross and the US Silver Star and is accompanied by Malaysian and South Vietnamese service medals and campaign medals for private foreign military service.