Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 3734    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 4TH APRIL)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $700
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $900

TRIO: Vietnam Medal 1964-73; South Vietnam Campaign Medal 1964-72, - clasp - 1960-; Republic of South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. 1410781 A.W.Larsen on first two medals, last medal unnamed as issued. First medal impressed, second medal engraved. Court mounted, ribbons with some marks, contact marks on first two medals, fine - very fine, last medal extremely fine.

Together with swing mounted set of matching miniatures but without Silver Star emblem on last medal; United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (see citation below); Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation (entitled to this citation as a member of 1RAR, see below); Infantry Combat badge; General Service cloth badge for Australians in S-E Asia; Marksman's embroidered badge; Royal Australian Infantry Corps buttons in anodised gilt (2), by Stokes & Sons, Melb; photo from Vietnam War showing Alan Larsen.

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star: There is no record of entitlement for this award. There is a letter (translation of which is by a graduate of the RAAF School of Languages at Point Cook) from the Republic of Viet Nam Veteran's League of Queensland stating 'that Mr Alan Larsen has a medal of the Armed Forces of The Republic of Vietnam, namely a Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, which is awarded for meritorious combat service by a divisional Commander. This letter is given by way of explanation of the medal in his possession.' The letter in no way confirms any entitlement to the award.

United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation: By the direction of the Secretary of the Army, the Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Group for exceptionally meritorious achievement in the performance of outstanding service.

The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, distinguished itself in the conduct of military operations in the Republic of Vietnam from 5 May 1965 to 16 May 1966 while attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) of the United States Army. As the first ground combat unit in-country, the 173rd Airborne Brigade and its assigned and attached units conducted extensive combat manoeuvres in the Bien Hoa area and in the Viet Cong strongholds of War Zone D and the Iron Triangle during the period 5 May 1965 to 4 May 1967. In every confrontation with the stubborn insurgents, the 173rd Airborne Brigade displayed marked aggressiveness which enabled them to neutralize enemy strongholds and capture thousands of logistical items. In addition to remarkable skill and tenacity in combat, the sky soldiers of the brigade carried on an extensive civic action program characterised by sincere compassion for the suppressed local populace. During each of the brigade's combat operations, the sky soldiers immeasurably aided the allied counterinsurgency effort by winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people. The remarkable proficiency and devotion to duty displayed by the members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon themselves, the Armed Forces of the United States, and the Armed Forces of Australian and New Zealand.

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation: The above medal recipient, Mr Alan Larsen, a former serving member of 1RAR who served in Vietnam lodged an application in 2011 with the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) putting in a claim to have the Citation awarded to 1RAR and its attached units, for service in Vietnam between 5 May 1965 and 31 May 1966. The Tribunal ruled that in awarding the Citation to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and its attached and assigned units, there was intent for the Citation to be awarded to 1RAR and thus it subsequently recommended to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence that the award be accepted. The guidelines established in 1997 governing the acceptance and wearing of foreign awards allows the Governor-General to grant permission for the formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards by Australians in extraordinary or unusual circumstances and since the Government of the Republic of Vietnam no longer exists, the Parliamentary Secretary considered these circumstances fell within these guidelines. Accordingly he wrote to the Governor-General recommending that he exercise his authority to accept the Citation which he did on 17 April 2015.

Cpl Alan William Larsen, RAInfy Corps, born 23Feb1944 at Mount Morgan, Qld; Enl.28Nov1962 at Brisbane, Qld; served in Vietnam with 1 Bn RAR 27May1965-11Jun1966 and 27Mar-09Sep1968; Disch.27Nov1968 as Rifleman and type of employment during his period of service was Recruit and Corps training 8 months; Regimental, Assault Pioneer and Rifleman duties with Infantry units 5 years 4 months.

With research.