War and Peace - the Battle for Vietnam

Social Studies Online

CITATION Sapper Wiki Kahika MID was a member of the assault pioneer. On 22 June 1968 Spr Kahika was a member of a nine-man patrol from One Platoon, V Company, which was engaged by an enemy company of about 70 to 80 strong. The enemy opened fire on the patrol at about 10 metres range, wounding five men. During the initial exchange of fire one of the riflemen was badly wounded and lay unconscious only five metres from the nearest entrenchments. While armed helicopters were engaging the enemy, the 2IC of the patrol told Spr Kahika to move forward and recover the wounded rifleman under covering fire. Spr Kahika unhesitantingly ran forward over 10 metres of exposed ground, lifted the wounded man and carried him to cover. He then continued to participate in the action, which lasted for one hour and 40 minutes. Later, when a relief force arrived, he asked to be allowed to remain to help search the area. He took part in the search of the enemy company defensive positions and personally investigated tunnel systems. His competence, quickness and, above all, bravery was an example and inspiration to the remainder of the patrol. In remaining after the action to give his specialised knowledge to the search, he showed commendable endurance, toughness of character and devotion to duty.

These medals were awarded to all service personnel who served in Vietnam for more than six months. Right: The Vietnam Medal Left: The Republic of Vietnam Star THE SOLDIER I was that which others did not want to be, I went where others feared to go, And did What others failed to do. I have asked nothing from those who gave nothing And reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness... should I fail. I have seen the face of terror, Felt the stinging cold of fear, And enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love. I have cried, pained, and hoped. But most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least some day I will be able to say I was proud of what I was. ... A Soldier. George C. Skypeck

Diary Entry
Diary Entry We left NZ for Vietnam in July 1965 by RNZAF Hercules and landed at Bien Hoa airfield, where the Battery was stationed as part of the 173 Airborne Brigade (Sep) US Army.

The accommodation at that stage was fairly raw, we were accommodated in WWII 180lb tents that drew a few comments from the Americans. At this point there were no shower points at all. We showered by waiting for the rains to commence at about 4.00pm and then soaping down and letting the rain wash the soap off. Later we collected water in a large tarp and used canvas shower buckets.

During September and October the Brigade did operations around Ben Cat and the Iron Triangle area. During the second operation on 11 October 1965 the Coy that we were attached to (A Coy) went into the Triangle to clear an area. We walked past a South Vietnamese fort and Coy Commander was informed that the area all around was completely cleared. We had gone about 400-800 metres past when the first explosion happened. It was the forward platoon of A Coy that had been hit. I later found out that they had one man hit. At this point all of A Coy walked faster, and prepared for contact. The area was a combination of overgrown plantation and secondary growth about ten - twenty feet high with tracks and semi formed roads. A combination of semi close country with cleared patches. We were looking for anything, from enemy, to mines, to tripwires - anything out of place. I went through this gap in the trees, looking for wires. I didn't see anything and went forward. I remember an explosion and that I seem to be surrounded by noise and flame and a burning pain, I also remember that I cried out "Oh God No" and then I was thrown on to my back, there was an Aussie behind me and a Vietnamese interpreter behind him. Apparently there had been a high and a low wire connected to either a grenade or a 60mm mortar bomb. It went off approximately ankle height about 12 - 18 inches to my right front.

GUARD DUTY Huddled 'neath his hooded poncho Eyes stung by flying sand, He searches jungle shadow In this wet and windy land. Light from a clouded moon Aids him in his task, He hums a well-known tune And hopes daylight will come fast. Hand resting on his rifle The night slowly passes by, Alert and always watchful A perimeter guard, Chu-Lai By Cpl James Lott

The two behind me were also hit, but because I was so close I received most of my injuries in the legs (both), right hand and a cut above the eye. The Aussie behind me caught it in the upper legs and the groin, while the Vietnamese copped it in the chest and head.

While I was lying there I could hear this screaming. I still don't know who it was, whether it was myself or those behind me. It seemed ages before anyone came, but it could only have been seconds. I remember that it was difficult to see properly out of one eye. I looked at the back of my right hand and I could see that it had been blown open and that I could see the bones in the hand. I knew that my legs were bad because of the pain.

Even the morphine it didn't seem to make much difference to the pain. A chopper came in and the 3 of us from my incident were taken away to hospital.

(This serviceman returned to his unit within 1 year.)

Civilian Involvement In The Vietnam War
From 1963 until 1975 a civilian New Zealand Surgical Team worked in the provincial hospital in the city of Qui Nhon. The male and female doctors and nurses who worked there were all volunteers from New Zealand hospitals.

Many New Zealanders responded to the Vietnam War by providing money or support for aid organisations working in Vietnam. Donations from New Zealanders helped to run a children’s home and hospital in Qui Nhon which was staffed by British, Australian and New Zealand staff. Red Cross, CORSO and the National Council of Churches sent New Zealand volunteers to Vietnam.

Diary Entries from a Doctor with the New Zealand Civilian Surgical Team.

Wednesday March 8, 1967
Lots of work. On Monday we got nine girls from thirteen to fifteen years old, all with terrible compound fractures of both legs. Some will lose at least one leg, and one will probably die. They were injured by a land mine. Also had a six-year-old with the back of his knee blown out. I am trying to save the leg but it looks as though he will have to lose it. Then a tiny baby with a huge chunk of grenade in the leg, but it looks better today.

Friday March 31, 1967
Had a three-year-old die on me today. She came in with her guts torn apart by a grenade. Her mother, just a girl really, was with the child all the time, helping us to try and save her, and it was not until the child had died that we realised that the mother too had several wounds herself.

Monday May 22, 1967
This endless flow of battered civilians is depressing, and one wonders where it will end. As this has been going on in Vietnam for years, it does explain the apparent indifference of the people to some of the suffering.

Saturday September 2, 1967
It must have been a beautiful country at one time ... Saigon, the Paris of the East, and look at it now. What will become of Vietnam if the war goes on and on? I wish some means of ending the war could be found. I suppose I am a bit depressed and critical today, but one of yesterday's casualties was a nine-year-old boy with a wound of the head, with brains leaking out. Tried hard to save him and thought I had, but he died today, with the parents sitting there beside the stretcher, stunned by their loss.