Vietnam vets talk old times

More than 50 veterans from Victor 3 (V3) Company which deployed to Nui Dat in the Phuoc Tuy Province of South Vietnam in 1968 are expected to meet up again in Hawke's Bay this weekend.

Outside of national Vietnam War reunions, it will be just the third stand-alone reunion of the company.

One of the veterans, Hardie Martin of Napier, said the reunion had created plenty of interest, with several veterans heading over from Australia to attend. Of the number, about half-a-dozen will be from the Bay, and they were a group which got together socially on a regular basis, Mr Martin said.

Victor 3 Company was made up of soldiers who were members of the 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment who were garrisoned at the time in Terendak Military Camp, about 15km north of Malacca on the Malay peninsula.

It was a combat-ready unit, primed to take on combat operations in South Vietnam.

Many of the 145 strong company were experienced soldiers having already served in Malaysia and Borneo while others were regular force soldiers who trained for up to a year in New Zealand and six months in Malaysia.

The company along with another company of NZ riflemen (W Company) became part of 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

On 22 June 1968 a patrol from 1 Platoon V3 took on an enemy force 20 times its size - a heroic slice of military history which inspired a television documentary titled 'Baptism by Fire' which screened on ANZAC Day 2011.

During its year-long tour, the company spent an estimated 300 days in the jungle on search and destroy operations.

Most operations lasted about 30 days followed by a short recuperation period in base at Nui Dat.

The company suffered two killed in action, Private Michael Wickman and Lance Corporal Don Bensemann, and was the most highly decorated New Zealand Infantry Company since WW2.

The veterans will gather at the Napier RSA tomorrow for a greet-and-meet which will also be attended by Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott and Napier MP Chris Tremain, and will be holding a commemorative service at the Taradale RSA on Sunday morning from 11am.