Joint Operation in Vietnam DPR/TV/1088

Armoured Personnel Carriers from the 1st Aust Task Force in Vietnam thundered into the village of Xuyen Moc recently for a joint operation with Vietnamese forces. After the Commander of the APCs (A Sqn 3rd Cav) Capt D. Lawrence of Lakes Entrance, Vic, conferred with an American adviser to the Vietnamese force, the carriers travelled to their rendezvous where the Regional District Chief of Xuyen Moc, who, after a reconnaissance of the area in a helicopter of 161 Independent Recce Flight, conferred with Captain Lawrence. Following up fresh trails the APC's took the RF men to an enemy base camp where the enemy had fled, leaving a meal cooking on the fire. Here, Australian engineers of 1st Field Sqn, RAE, placed explosives to blow the small bunker system. This was the first of several minor successes for the operation which was the first in which Australian forces have supported a force commanded by a Vietnamese District Chief (Major Nguyen Van Que). (Also identified: US officer Capt Bob Boohar of Pennsylvania; Sapper Ray White of Oak Park, Vic; Trooper Norman J (Normie) Rowe; Sapper Rod Crane of Bindi Bindi, WA).