An Australian soldier has been posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the Commonwealth’s highest military honour – for bravery during the Vietnam War.
The then 19-year-old Private Richard Norden ran into enemy fire to reach a wounded comrade and retrieve the body of another during a battle north-east of the capital, then known as Saigon, in 1968.
He survived the battle but died at the age of 24 in a traffic accident while on duty as a police officer in Canberra
More than 60,000 Australians – about a quarter of them conscripted – served in controversial Vietnam War from 1962 to 1973, as part of an allied force led by the US.
“Private Richard Norden is a true Australian hero… [He] demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness by putting his own life at risk to save and protect his fellow comrades,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the announcement, on Remembrance Day.
Pte Norden’s company was ambushed by North Vietnamese Army soldiers on 14 May, 1968, with a scout immediately killed and the section Commander gravely injured.
Described as having a “complete disregard for his own personal safety”, he ran forward under heavy enemy fire to reach the two soldiers and carried the severely wounded section Commander back to his group.
Himself seriously wounded by that point, Pte Norden then went back for the scout. Finding him dead, he then returned to the group to collect grenades before pushing into the battlefield for a third time, to clear the area so the scout’s body could be recovered.
Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn said it was a “historic” day for the country and a “significant” moment for Pte Norden’s family.
“We are honoured that His Majesty has approved the Victoria Cross for Australia for Richard, recognising his gallantry actions whilst serving in Vietnam,” his widow, Robynn Freeman said in a statement.
A formal ceremony to present the medal to Pte Norden’s family will take place at a later date, yet to be announced.
Like in many other allied countries, the war was very divisive in Australia and thousands of Australians protested against it.
By the time the conflict ended in 1975, an estimated three million Vietnamese people had died, with the US losing over 58,000 people and Australia 521.
