PHUOC TUY PROVINCE, SOUTH VIETNAM. 18 FEBRUARY 1970. PRIVATE LES COOGINS, 26, OF TOOWOOMBA, QLD, ...

PHUOC TUY PROVINCE, SOUTH VIETNAM. 18 FEBRUARY 1970. PRIVATE LES COOGINS, 26, OF TOOWOOMBA, QLD, MOVES WARILY THROUGH THE JUNGLE NEAR A VIET CONG (VC) BUNKER SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN PHUOC TUY PROVINCE DURING OPERATION HAMERSLEY. LES WAS CARRYING OUT A RECONNAISSANCE BEFORE HIS UNIT, B COMPANY OF 8TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT (8RAR), MOVED IN TO CHECK OUT AND DESTROY THE BUNKERS SITUATED IN THE LONG HAI MOUNTAINS. THE AREA WAS THE SCENE OF A BITTER FIGHT BETWEEN TROOPS OF THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN TASK FORCE (1ATF) AND AN ESTIMATED HARD-CORE COMPANY OF VC ON 15 FEBRUARY 1970. FOR DAYS THE MOUNTAINS WERE POUNDED BY AIR-STRIKES, INCLUDING A RAID BY GIANT B-52 BOMBER AIRCRAFT, NAVAL BOMBARDMENT BY HMAS VENDETTA AND ARTILLERY FIRE. TO DATE, TWENTY NINE DEAD ENEMY BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND.