QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM. 1965. WARRANT OFFICER 2 K.A. "DASHER" WHEATLEY (LEFT) AND WO2 L.J. ...

QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM. 1965. WARRANT OFFICER 2 K.A. "DASHER" WHEATLEY (LEFT) AND WO2 L.J. DOWSETT WITH MONTAGNARD TRIBESMEN. WO2 R. J. SWANTON AND CAPTAIN ALLAN (A. S.) HINDS, VISITING AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, ARE IN THE BACKGROUND. ON 1965-11-13 WHEATLEY AND SWANTON WERE ON PATROL WITH VIETNAMESE IRREGULARS OPERATING FROM THE TRA BONG SPECIAL FORCES OUTPOST WHEN SWANTON WAS WOUNDED IN THE CHEST, AND ALTHOUGH THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT TOLD WHEATLEY THAT SWANTON WAS DYING HE REFUSED TO LEAVE HIM. INSTEAD WHEATLEY HALF DRAGGED, HALF CARRIED SWANTON, UNDER HEAVY ENEMY FIRE FROM THE PADDY FIELD TO A WOODED AREA ABOUT 200 METRES AWAY. WHEATLEY WAS AGAIN URGED TO LEAVE SWANTON, HE REFUSED. HE WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE WITH A GRENADE IN EACH HAND AWAITING THE ENCIRCLING VIET CONG. FOR HIS ACTION WHEATLEY WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS. THIS WAS THE FIRST VICTORIA CROSS TO BE AWARDED IN THE VIETNAM WAR. (DONOR: AUSTRALIAN ARMY TRAINING TEAM VIETNAM (AATTV) ASSOCIATION)