The aftermath of a contact between Victor 4 Company and VC forces, circa 1969.
Corporal T.G. Gordon treats a critically wounded VC, while radio operater Private R.H. Martin (rear left) requests a 'dustoff' extraction. The wounded man had been one of three VC found hiding in a stream following the skirmish. He had suffered a serious leg wound to his femoral artery and required urgent hospital treatment. After calling in a 'dustoff' the New Zealanders carried the wounded man to a jungle clearing where he was evacuated by helicopter. Unfortunately, the wound proved fatal and the wounded VC died en route to hospital.
Reference
Images courtesy Noel Bell
How to cite this page: '
Treating a wounded VC
', URL: https://vietnamwar.govt.nz/photo/treating-wounded-vc, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 03-Dec-2024
Comments
I never knew that this photo
I never knew that this photo existed. I'm the Radio Operator.
Thanks for posting this Noel.
The Vietnamese interpreter
The Vietnamese interpreter is Sergeant Hung. We didn't know a lot about him, however, I recall that he was a North Vietnamese Catholic who came south in the 1950's. He was virulently anti-communist. He would sell items of American uniform that he picked up while visiting his family in Saigon - I've still got a hammock. I didn't worry about the price, I liked the guy and the money was going to his family. It would be nice to know what happened to him and his family - I think that a lot of vets from V3 would be happy to meet him again and welcome him and his family into our family.