Ronnie Ransfield, Terri Sorenson, and the late Len "Shifty" Ropeta Ransfield from the band The Sheratons were presented with Vietnam medals from the New Zealand Defence Force at the Rotorua Citizen's Club by New Zealand First Deputy Leader Ron Mark on Saturday. Leonard Ransfield accepted the medal on behalf of his late father Len "Shifty" Ropeta Ransfield.
Being presented with war medals in front of his family, friends and dignitaries was an emotional occasion for Maori entertainer Ronnie Ransfield.
The member of former hit vocal band The Sheratons was officially awarded Vietnam medals from the New Zealand Defence Force at a special presentation on Saturday in frontof a packed crowd at the Rotorua Citizens Club.
"It was a very emotional occasion. It was beautiful," Mr Ransfield said.
Despite living in Australia since the 1960s, the Te Arawa descendant chose to come home to Rotorua to receive the medals.
Ronnie Ransfield, right, Terri Sorenson, centre, and the late Len 'Shifty' Ropeta Ransfield from the band The Sheratons were presented with Vietnam medals from the New Zealand Defence Force. Photo/Ben Fraser
They were awarded for the band's risky role of entertaining soldiers in Vietnam in the 1960s at army bases in the middle of gunfire and bombings.
Mr Ransfield, Terri Sorenson and the late Len "Shifty" Ropeta Ransfield (represented at the ceremony by his son Leonard Ropeta Ransfield) were awarded the medals by fellow military man and now New Zealand First deputy leader Ron Mark.
The Sheratons were a Maori showband that left New Zealand in the 1960s and made it big in Australia.
Ronnie Ransfield (right) from the band The Sheratons presented with Vietnam medals from the New Zealand Defence Force by New Zealand First Deputy Leader Ron Mark. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
The Defence Force has acknowledged Kiwis such as humanitarian workers, support staff and entertainers who played crucial roles, by giving them medals if they served during the Vietnam War for more than 30 days between 1965 and 1972.
The Sheratons performed for the American forces and on bases spread across East Asia including Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Malaya and Hong Kong.
Mr Ransfield said he brought his wife, Jennifer, and daughters Elle, 17, and Tania, 22, back to Rotorua to be part of the ceremony and learn more about their culture.
"We had a traditional Maori welcome for us as visitors with speeches and waiata. We had returned servicemen kaumatua there all wearing their medals and guests who travelled from all over the country.
"It was very overwhelming for Terri and I to be receiving these taonga. I was very proud to have my immediate family there. It was emotional for them and of course tears flowed from them."
Mr Ransfield, who is the only surviving child of seven girls and six boys, said he took his family to urupa at Pikirangi and Ruamata marae to visit the graves of their aunts and uncles.
"I have been gone so long but this is always home."
