6 RAR in Vietnam action DPR/TV/571

6 Battalion RAR troops were transported from the Australian Task Force base airstrip by American 'Iroquois' helicopters to an area on a search and destroy operation. It took several round trips to fly all of the troops into the landing zones throughout the area. Nearing the landing zone helicopter machine gunners straffed the landing area before disembarking the troops. After landing the troops spread out across the paddy-fields. Movement was seen in a clump of bamboo which was attacked with a grenade launcher; the VC were called out to surrender. When no answer was received a smoke grenade was thrown into the bamboo clump. The smoke grenade forced out four VC; after searching the prisoners they were offered a drink of water but refused. They were then blind folded and embarked in a helicopter and returned to base. A tunnel was searched and then destroyed. Identified personnel: Gunner John Achilles of Chinchilla, QLD, Lieutenant Jurgen Raasch of Goroka Papua, Private Murray Hogan of Korumburra VIC, Private Colin Mooney of Brisbane, Sapper Akel Krawtschak of Perth WA, Captain Karl Jackson of Brisbane, Sergeant Alan West of Sydney, Lance Corporal Don Campbell of Penrith NSW. Cameraman Sergeant Mike Coleridge.