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Treating a wounded VC

Submitted by Editorial team on 23 June 2009 - 4:22am.
Corporal TG Gordon treats a wounded VC after a contact, circa 1969

The aftermath of a contact between Victor 4 Company and VC forces, circa 1969.

Corporal TG Gordon treats a critically wounded VC, while radio operater Private RH Martin (rear left) requests a 'dustoff' extraction. The wounded man had been one of three VC found hiding in a stream following the skirmish. He had suffered a serious leg wound to his femoral artery and required urgent hospital treatment. After calling in a 'dustoff' the New Zealanders carried the wounded man to a jungle clearing where he was evacuated by helicopter. Unfortunately, the wound proved fatal and the wounded VC died en route to hospital.

A South Vietnamese interpreter attached to Victor 4 Company examines documents taken from the captured VC.

See more Noel Bell photographs here.

Images courtesy Noel Bell

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Comments

THERE ARE 2 COMMENTS
Hardie Martin commented:
Tue, 23 June 2009 - 08:03am
I never knew that this photo existed. I'm the Radio Operator. Thanks for posting this Noel
Hardie Martin commented:
Thu, 27 August 2009 - 11:56am
The Vietnamese interpreter is Sergeant Hung. We didn't know a lot about him, however, I recall that he was a North Vietnamese Catholic who came south in the 1950's. He was virulently anti-communist. He would sell items of American uniform that he picked up while visiting his family in Saigon - I've still got a hammock. I didn't worry about the price, I liked the guy and the money was going to his family. It would be nice to know what happened to him and his family - I think that a lot of vets from V3 would be happy to meet him again and welcome him and his family into our family.