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Cenotaph record

Te Wa Moana Paenga

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Gisborne Roll of Honour, World War II, Malaya, Korea, and Vietnam. P. Tureia to W. H. Brown. Image kindly provided by John Halpin, CC BY John Halpin 2009.

Gisborne Roll of Honour, World War II, Malaya, Korea, and Vietnam. P. Tureia to W. H. Brown. Image k …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Te Wa Moana AWMM
  • Surname
    Paenga AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Mo AWMM
  • Service number
    Vietnam 43651 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    17 March 1949 Ministry for Culture and Heritage Whangara, Gisborne AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
    Son of Mr Ahipene Rangi Paenga Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182140547/te_wa_moana-balbani-paenga
  • Address before enlistment
    Whangara, Gisborne Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182140547/te_wa_moana-balbani-paenga
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status
    single Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182140547/te_wa_moana-balbani-paenga

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    Vietnam War, 1961-1975 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    Vietnam 43651 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
      27 November 2003 AWMM
      Private Paenga's father, Mr Ahipene Rangi Paenga of Gisborne, received the New Zealand Operational Service Medal on his behalf from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence at a presentation at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. 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
    19 March 1970 AWMMKilled in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
    Shrapnel and gunshot wounds to the head during a major ambush in the bunker system at Nui Dinh Hills. This action took place in a major engagement during Operation Waiponamu. It was less than two months before the end of his tour of duty. AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Memorial Flag - Presented to family

    Killed in action, 19 March 1970 – shrapnel and gunshot wound to head during ambush in bunker system, Nui Dinh Hills. Mo was one of nine children who grew up Whangara, 30km north-east of Gisborne. From a farming background, he went to a farming college in Te Urewera where he met Nehe Karauria, the head shepherd from Paparatu Station. Nehe had served with W1 Company in Vietnam. It was perhaps no surprise then when Mo followed in Nehe's footsteps and went to Vietnam as a rifleman with V4 Company. On 19 March 1970, less than two months before the end of his Tour of Duty, Mo was killed in a major contact during Operation Waiponamu in the Nui Dinh Hills. Four other New Zealanders – Bill Keatch, Olly Taukamo, Beau Heke, and Tom Tuhiwai were wounded in the same action. AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    19 March 1970 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
    Age 21 AWMM
    Vietnam, Southeast Asia AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Taruheru Cemetery, Nelson Road, Gisborne District, New Zealand AWMM
  • Cemetery name
    He is now buried in the Pouawa Urupa in Whangara Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 8 October 2022 - https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/125557/New-Zealand-War-Grave-Tolaga-Bay-Public-Cemetery.htm
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Originally buried in Gisborne, his remains were moved to lie with his mother in this small Urupa. (Pouawa)
    Mo was one of nine children who grew up Whangara, 30km north-east of Gisborne. From a farming background, he went to a farming college in Te Urewera where he met Nehe Karauria, the head shepherd from Paparatu Station. Nehe had served with W1 Company in Vietnam. It was perhaps no surprise then when Mo followed in Nehe's footsteps and went to Vietnam as a rifleman with V4 Company.

    On 19 March 1970, less than two months before the end of his Tour of Duty, Mo was killed in a major contact during Operation Waiponamu in the Nui Dinh Hills. Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 19 June 2023 - https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/te-wa-moana-paenga
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, Hall of Memories. Vietnam. AWMM
    • Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Australia's Vietnam War
    https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/
    Further Reference
  • References
    Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
17 August 2023Lorraine Mona Gisborne Researcher

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