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Cenotaph record

Ronald Edward McNaughton

  • Service number
    • Vietnam 645604 AWMM
    • Vietnam T645604 AWMM
  • Also known as
    R. E. McNaughton AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Air Force AWMM
  • Last rank
  • War
    Vietnam War, 1961-1975 AWMM
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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Ronald Edward AWMM
  • Surname
    McNaughton AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    R. E. McNaughton AWMM
  • Service number
    • Vietnam 645604 AWMM
    • Vietnam T645604 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    Vietnam War, 1961-1975 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Air Force AWMM
  • Service number
    • Vietnam 645604 AWMM
    • Vietnam T645604 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • British Empire Medal (BEM) (Gallantry) AWMM
      NZ Gazette Number 1 dated 16 January 1969 CITATION Sergeant McNaughton enlisted in the RNZAF in September 1953 and has since served at Wigram, Ohakea and Whenuapai. He volunteered for service with the 1st New Zealand Services Medical Team in Vietnam, arriving in May 1967. In Vietnam Sergeant McNaughton was employed as a Medical Corpsman at the hospital in Bong Son and at various times in dispensaries at Hoai An and Phu My. He worked at Phu My for a continuous period from December 1967 until May 1968. Since early February 1968 Phu My sub sector (where the New Zealand Services Medical team members are stationed) has been a constant target for North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces, this has necessitated constant twenty-four hour vigilance and – as far as 1 New Zealand Services Medical Team members are concerned – defensive patrols and command duty during their ‘off duty’ hours. About 0300 hours on 3rd April 1968 an estimated two companies of North Vietnamese Army sappers attacked the sub-sector compound. Under cover of heavy mortar fire an estimated twenty to thirty of these commando troops forced their way into the inner compound. Early in the attack two Americans (one officer and one senior non commissioned officer), were hit by small arms fire. Sergeant McNaughton left his bunker in an attempt to reach the two casualties, but, after receiving well directed small arms fire which he returned, he was forced to withdraw. At 0430 hours Sergeant McNaughton again attempted to reach the casualties, but, again after returning heavy small arms fire he was forced to return to his bunker. At first light Sergeant McNaughton succeeded in reaching the casualties only to find that they were both deceased. Three North Vietnamese sappers were found in the vicinity, all presumed killed by Sergeant McNaughton during the earlier engagements. By his actions whilst trying to save the lives of the two American casualties, Sergeant McNaughton inflicted losses to the enemy, pinned the enemy down in that area with his accurate fire, and undoubtedly played a major part in preventing the compound from being completely over-run, with a further loss of life. Sergeant McNaughton impressed all troops in the compound with his coolness during the action and with his bravery during his two attempts to assist the casualties, with no thought to his personal safety. Notes to Citation: Born Wellington 19 Sep 1934. Served with the RNZAF from 11 Sep 1953 to 12 Dec 1976. Retired as a Warrant Officer. AWMM
    • New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
    • Vietnam Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Read citation for BEM awarded new Years Honour List, January 1969 and gazetted 16 Jan 1969. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    2006 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM
    • Hall, C. (2014). No front line : inside stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War. Auckland, New Zealand : Penguin Books. AWMM
    • This record was created from data kindly provided by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. AWMM
    • Manning - Adjustments to Strengths - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Bases and Units - 41 Squadron [Malayan Emergency 41 Squadron Repatriation and Misc List], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ABFK 7281 W4266/211 (R20220125) AWMM

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