I was posted to 9 platoon 9RAR, the ‘naughty Ninth’. It was something of an initiation to jungle warfare and extremely nerve-racking as it was their last operation. They were all on edge and super-cautious. It was a whole new experience for me. I vividly remember sleepwalking at the beginning of that operation. I found myself away from my ‘hutchie’ and it was a pitch black night. I managed to crawl back without making too much noise. Any further out or in front of the machine gun and I would have been in lots of strife. I will never forget the throbbing sound of an approaching ‘slick’ of Hueys, a welcome sound to all the diggers. Bush hats off to the RAAF and their American flying mates, a job well done.
Service No. 3795839