South Vietnamese Armed Forces Honour Medal : Warrant Officer Class I G E Chinn

South Vietnamese Armed Forces Honour Medal, Second Class. Unnamed as issued.

This decoration was originally known as 'La Medaille du Merite Vietnamien', and was intended for French or foreign advisors to the Vietnamese forces. George Ernest Chinn was born in 1927. During the Second World War he was unsuccessful in his attempts to join the AIF, and served for 12 months with 18 Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps, before being found to be under age and discharged. He eventually became a member of the Air Training Corps, but enlisted in the Australian Army as soon as he was permitted. During the Korean War, he served with 3 RAR, becoming Regimental Sergeant Major of the battalion at the age of 23. Chinn was an original member of the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam, (1964-5) and served as RSM of 6 RAR at their formation, and throughout their first tour of South Vietnam (1966-7). At the Battle of Long Tan, 17-18 August 1966, he distinguished himself in the perilous helicopter resupply of D Company, who were low on ammunition and in danger of being overrun. During his service with the AATTV, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the South Vietnamese Armed Forces Honour Medal. Commissioned in 1969, Chinn became a Major in 1979. He died in 1981.