Operation Denver Lang Ba rubber plantation DPR/TV/372

Fifty one years after the name Anzac first rang around the world in April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers were fighting side-by-side once more in April this year. This time the scene was the Phouc Long Province of South Vietnam, where Australian infantrymen of the First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, and Kiwi gunners of 161st Field Battery were fighting together against the Communist Viet Cong. The mission, code-named Operation Denver, involved American and South Vietnamese troops also, but the Australians were given the specific task of securing a fire base for New Zealand gunners. Transported into the area of the Lang Ba rubber plantation, 20 miles from South Vietnam's mountainous, jungle-clad border with Cambodia, the Australians fanned out into the rubber and bush around the plantation airstrip and ensured no lurking Viet Cong were around to attack the Kiwis as they set up their 105 mm howitzers. The guns set up, the New Zealanders quiclky set up supplies of ready ammunition and were soon in business, hurling explosive projectiles at the Viet Cong as Australian patrols relayed targets to them by radio. In all, the gunners fired more than 480 shells into enemy territory before being withdrawn. The Australian guarding the Anzac effort killed two Communists and wounded one in two skirmishes. Identified personnel are: Cpl "Jock" McCullough of Enogerra shot gun on APC, Pte Fred McClarkin of Footscray Melbourne with M60, WO2 Ron Pincott of Holsworthy giving instructions.