3rd Battalion
Royal Australian Regiment

A DAY AND A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
by Major Bert Irwin
(OC B Coy Sth Vietnam 67/68

Well do I remember the 12th May 1968!  That was the day our company (B/3RAR) was to secure “K” Pad at Fire Support Base (FSPB) Coral in South Vietnam.  Task Force units would then fly in, deploy and secure the immediate area.  On approaching the landing zone (LZ), the first Huey lift of the leading platoon and company tactical headquarters was ordered to circle the area.  The reason for the delay was not known to me at this time.

While completing one circle, I observed a rather large battle taking place between US forces and what appeared to be a substantial enemy dug-in position.  The location caused me some concern as we were due to operate in the same area later in the day.

After circling for some minutes we touched down at an alternate LZ.  The time was 0754 hours.  The area was secured by a platoon of US infantry.  Geoff Cohen, our battalion second-in-command was with them and briefed me on the situation while the remainder of the company arrived.

“K” Pad, our original destination, had been previously selected by high-level aerial reconnaissance but on that morning was found to be covered with saplings and scrub up to three metres tall.  Our job was to move some 7-800 metres and cut the LZ.  Both these tasks were to be completed in minimum time because even at this early stage the fly-in of Task Force units was behind schedule.

During the time taken for the rest of the company to arrive, one of the American grunts was intrigued by the large packs we carried.  Unable to contain his curiosity he asked my bodyguard, Don Goodliffe, “Say guy, what you got in them packs, ammunition?”  Always the diplomat and not to disappoint his fellow comrade-in-arms Don’s reply was, “Yeah, man, when we get into a stoush, we like to go big and really pour it on.”

Further discussion was spared by the arrival of Blue Chopping, our big, strong company medic.  Thrown over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift was a digger.  “Hey Boss,” says Blue, “this stupid drongo has twisted his ankle jumping out of the chopper.  Will we leave him here or take him with us?”  Fearful of losing a soldier in the American medical evacuation system I replied, “It’s only about 700 metres, we’ll take him with us.”  “O.K.,” Blue replies and promptly stomps off into the scrub still carrying the soldier.  The same American who asked about our packs witnessed this scene and was last seen scratching his head with a wistful look on his face and exclaiming, “Goddam, you Aussies are something else!”

The move to and cutting the LZ went smoothly and no enemy were seen.  Our security duties were finished by late morning and the intention had been to move to the west into our area of operations.  Jim Shelton, our Commanding Officer, called me on the radio and told me to sit tight because “our friends” were still heavily engaged in our area of operations.  So began a long, boring wait in a company harbour position close to “K” Pad.

During this time I observed the fly-in and spoke with several officers from other Task Force units.  The general situation pertaining throughout the day was one of “confusion reigns supreme.”  As the afternoon passed, a feeling of disquiet came onto me and I resolved to move the company out of the area as soon as possible.

Just before last light, Jim Shelton called again and said we were clear to go or we could stay for the night.  The choice was to be mine.  I remember my reply, “We’re off – out.”  We immediately set out to the west, travelled some 700 metres through Rome-ploughed rubber and occupied a company harbour position in the dark.  At this stage I judged we were far enough away from other units to control our own destiny if any artillery and/or air support was required during the night.

Soon after 0400 hours, all hell let loose to the east of our position.  We could hear mortars and rockets exploding and see a large amount of tracer lighting up the sky.  Obviously, FSPB Coral was under a sizeable attack and I tuned the Admin/Air Radio to the Artillery Regimental Net.  As I sat and listened to the battle, the severity of the attack became obvious to me.

My final memory of that fateful day and night was sitting quietly among fallen rubber trees, having a nervous chuckle and saying to myself, “You smart bastard.”

Major Bert Irwin(OC B Coy 3 RAR) “tale twisting” Mr Phillip Lynch (Minister for Army);  Lt-Col Jim Shelton(CO 3 RAR) is having a quiet chuckle and Mr Bruce White (Secretary for Army) listens carefully.  The photograph was taken on 11 April 1968 at an LZ on the Long Hai Hills during Operation Pinnaroo.