We had an amazing commanding officer, Peter Badman. There’s not one guy who wouldn’t crawl over hot stones for him. His theory was that his troops had to have one hot meal a day, no matter what happened. Most of the meals were flown in each day. They came in hot boxes, like little tin eskies. So I did a lot of flying in choppers; I loved them. The Huey was the Australian soldier’s best friend.

I don’t think anyone has a friendship like the C Squadron people; we have this incredible bond. My wife says it’s nothing like she’s seen before between people.