KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

Private. Nickola J. Cassano, 22
Bari, Italy.

Nick Cassano was born in Italy in 1947 before migrating to Australia. He was conscripted to serve in the Australian Army and posted to 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, arriving in Vietnam on 20 August 1969. He joined 6 Platoon as a reinforcement on 3 September 1969 but was then transferred to 5 Platoon where he excelled as a forward scout.
On 7 December 1969 during Operation Kings Cross in the thick jungle of the Hat Dich Secret Zone he was killed in action during a bunker battle. Pte Cassano had killed the enemy sentries to the bunker system as 5 Platoon assaulted and penetrated the enemy defences. A ferocious fire fight followed, causing the platoon to become pinned down in the middle of the bunker system until relieved by a force led by Company Commander Major Ray Harring with a troop of tanks that literally crushed the system. Unfortunately it was too late for Nick.

Private Paul C. Sullivan, 21
Lane Cove, NSW.

Pte Sullivan was killed in an enemy contact on December 27, 1966. He had five months of his service to complete. He was cremated in Singapore and his ashes are buried in Springvale Victoria.