A Tauranga veteran soldier has been honoured for gallantry in Vietnam.
Corporal Erik Kristensen received the Australian unit citation for gallantry in Vietnam from Colonel Tenby Powell, of the New Zealand Army, at the 6th Hauraki Battalion's 121st birthday in Tauranga, last night.
The 88-year-old was a solder with the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and was attached to 161 Battery during the period of their deployment to Vietnam.
Powell said the award was a fitting tribute to a Unit with a long history of operational performance.
"It was a huge honour to present Corporal Kristensen with a pin to the Unit Citation awarded to the soldiers of 161 Battery, Royal NZ Artillery, for their gallantry in Vietnam. It was made even more special because we are both Tauranga locals who have served our country on military operations offshore."