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Cenotaph record

David Maihi Douglas

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    David Maihi AWMM
  • Surname
    Douglas AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    D. M. Douglas AWMM
  • Service number
    Vietnam 530325 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    19 October 1944 AWMM
  • 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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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
      NZ Gazette Number 20 dated 2 April 1970 Citation Corporal Douglas joined the Regular Force in May 1965. In 1966 – 67 he saw service in Malaysia, Borneo and then South Vietnam with Victor One Company. He returned to Vietnam as a section commander with Whisky Two Company for his second tour of duty in November 1968. On 23rd February 19691 , Corporal Douglas was commanding a section as part of W Company defended position. During the evening stand-to his section came under heavy small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Corporal Douglas was an early casualty, receiving a shrapnel wound to his right side. He refused treatment for his wound and, throughout the two hour engagement, he constantly forsook the safety of his own bunker to move amongst his section, encourage them, direct their fire and distribute ammunition. When the enemy withdrew he left behind six dead and evidence that he had suffered more casualties. On 22nd June 19692 , Corporal Douglas was leading his section along a track when they were engaged by a well-entrenched enemy using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Finding his observation restricted, Corporal Douglas crawled forward alone to within 20 metres of the enemy bunkers and from this exposed position directed the fire of his section. An attempt by the enemy, estimated to be in company strength, to outflank the section was observed by Corporal Douglas and by redirecting his section’s fire the enemy attack was defeated. Corporal Douglas remained in his exposed position to adjust artillery fire on to the enemy bunkers nearest him so that his section, and the rest of the platoon which had come up in support, could be safely extracted. Under the cover of this artillery fire, and although hampered by painful burns to his shoulder and abdomen, Corporal Douglas withdrew his section in good order. On two occasions when painfully wounded Corporal Douglas continued to command his section with great skill and confidence. His bravery was an example to his men; his willingness to expose himself to danger ensured that casualties were kept to a minimum. As a result of the wounds he received on 22nd June 1969, Corporal Douglas was evacuated from Vietnam and hospitalised for six weeks. His bravery, outstanding leadership and his skill as an infantry section leader are worthy of recognition AWMM
    • General Service Medal 1962 (Borneo clasp) 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
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, Vietnam AWMM
    Wounded in action, 23 February 1969 – shrapnel wound to stomach; and 22 June 1969 – white phosphorous burns to back and left shoulder AWMM

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Wounded in action, 23 February 1969 – shrapnel wound to stomach; and 22 June 1969 – white phosphorous burns to back and left shoulder. Read citation for MID. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    12 December 2000 NZMVA
    Tauranga, Bay of Plenty NZMVA
  • 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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  • David was born on 19 October 1944 and died in 2000. He was awarded "Mentioned in Despatches" during the Vietnam War. LEST WE FORGET
    Report 

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
    • Last Post - New Zealand Malaya Veterans Association AWMM
    • Medals and Stars - General Service Medals Borneo - Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R12456000) AWMM

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