Vietnamese show appreciation DPR/TV/640

An Australian and two New Zealanders were among 21 people to receive awards of appreciation for their services while in Viet Nam from the South Vietnamses deputy prime Minister Cao Van Vien. The presentations were made outside the Saigon botanical gardens last week (June 22). Major John Donohue, of Mosman, NSW, was presented with a Certificate of Satisfaction for his work as head of the Australian Civil Affairs unit in Viet Nam for the past 12 months. He will return to Australia next month (July). In a short and moving ceremony, the flags of 39 nations which have given either military or non-military assistance to South Viet Nam were slowly raised. The flag raising was followed by one minut's silence in memory of allied servicemen who had lost their lives during the Viet Nam war. The Free World assistance given to South Viet Nam during the past few years was outlined by the country's political leaders to a large crowd and allied representatives who included the Commander of the Australian Army Force in Viet Nam Major General D. Vincent. Cameramen crowded round the official dais as the South Viet Nam deputy Prime Minister presented Orders of Merit to New Zealanders Mr Gerald Skillington, of Wellington - a member of the New Zealand medical team in Viet Nam and Lieutenant Colonel R. Smith - Commander in Chief of New Zealand Forces in Viet Nam. Major Donohue's Certificate of Satisfaction stated that during his tour in Phuoc Tuy Province, he had performed his task in difficult conditions, had attained fruitful results and gained the entire confidence of the Vietnamese population.