Commander sees wounded DPR/TV/958

This week in Vietnam the Commander of the Australian Task Force, Brigadier Sandy Pearson, left the battlefield for a few hours to visit sick and wounded soldiers in hospital. From his field command post in tall grass and scrub in the Thua Tich area he flew to the coastal town of Vung Tau where the 1st Australian Field Hospital is established. The clean sand and sea breezes of Vung Tau is in direct contrast to the steamy heat of the operational area even though its only 20 minutes away by helicopter. The bulk of Australian battle casualties take this ride and the skilled attention they receive at the hands of Australian doctors and nursing sisters is largely responsible for the high recovery rate. Brigadier Pearson has been in command of the Task Force for only two weeks and was making his first visit to the hospital. He was met by the Comd 1 ALSG, Lt Col John Stevenson of Canberra, ACT, and the CO of the Hospital, Lt Col Bill Watson of Brisbane, Qld. He toured all the wards and spoke to every soldier whether he was a battle casualty or suffering from an illness. The hospital can hold more than 100 bed patients and its operating theatre contains equipment as modern as the best hospitals in Australia. (Also identified; Pte Kevin Robinson of Flinders Island, Tas, of 4 RAR; Pte Wayne Lindsay of Auckland, NZ, of 4 RAR; Maj Brian Howard of Miranda, NSW; Lt John Thornton of Ashgrove, Qld; Task Force Medical Officer, Major Digger James of Canberra, ACT; Pte John Hector of Jamestown, SA; Sister Marie Findlay of Rockhampton, Qld).