173rd Airborne Brigade National Memorial Foundation
From the Memorial:
The memorial commemorates the 173d Airborne Brigade which includes Australians and New Zealanders who were killed while under operational control of the 173d, 1965 - 1966.
The US Army 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) was activated on 26 March 1963 on the island of Okinawa. On 5 May 1965, after undergoing extensive jungle training, the Brigade deployed to South Vietnam as the first US Army ground combat unit in that war. Upon arrival, the First Battalion from the Royal Australian Regiment and a battery from New Zealand were attached to the Brigade, making the 173d Airborne the only multi-national combat unit in the war.
"The Australian and New Zealanders who were killed while under operational control of the
173rd Airborne Brigade, US Army during 1965 - 66 will be listed on their National Memorial.
This will be the only memorial on US soil to list the names of Aussies and Kiwis, quite possibly the
world ... no greater honour of acknowledgement could be given to our mates."
Ray Payne OAM
173rd Airborne Brigade Association
Secretary - Chapter 23 f
Click on the image to view the Powerpoint Presentation in PDF format
5 RAR Association's President's Comment:
"We thank the 173rd Airborne Brigade for their wonderful gesture in inscribing the names of 30 Australians KIA in Vietnam on their most impressive recently dedicated memorial. In the case of 5RAR it was the intent of 173rd Abn Bde to include the names of the four 5RAR men who fell during Operation Hardihood. The operational phase of Operation Hardihood. commenced on 24 May 1966 and:
- Pte Noack (B Company) was KIA that day.
- Pte Sweetnam (C Company) was KIA on 9 June
- Cpl Coupe and Pte Farren (both D Company) were KIA on 10 June.
5RAR remained under operational command of 173rd Abn Bde until 1800 hours
5 June when we came under operational command of HQ 1ATF, who had just deployed to Nui Dat. Operation Hardihood concluded on 15 June. the 173rd Abn Bde left the Nui Dat area on 8 June to conduct Operation Hollandia in the Long Hai for a period of 10 days."