Te Wa Moana Paenga
Born 17 Mar 1949 - Died 19 Mar 1970
- Service number
- Vietnam 43651 AWMM
- Also known as
- Mo AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Vietnam Private AWMM 6th Royal Australian Regiment / New Zealand (ANZAC) Battalion, Victor 4 Company (1RNZIR) AWMM
- War
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 17 Mar 1949 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- Son of Mr Ahipene Rangi PaengaPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182140547/te_wa_moana-balbani-paenga
- Address before enlistment
- Whangara, GisbornePublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182140547/te_wa_moana-balbani-paenga
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- —
- Relationship status
- singlePublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182140547/te_wa_moana-balbani-paenga
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- Vietnam 43651 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
27 Nov 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
- New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- —
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- Vietnam Private Ministry for Culture and Heritage 6th Royal Australian Regiment / New Zealand (ANZAC) Battalion, Victor 4 Company (1RNZIR) Ministry for Culture and Heritage 1st Australian Task Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- 19 Mar 1970 AWMM Killed 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
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Vietnam Private AWMM
6th Royal Australian Regiment / New Zealand (ANZAC) Battalion, Victor 4 Company (1RNZIR) AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- 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
About death
- Death
- 19 Mar 1970 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Age 21 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- Pouawa Urupa contains the grave of Private Balbani Te Wa Moana "Mo" Paenga, who gave his live in the Vietnam War on 19 March 1970, aged 21.
He was was originally buried at Taruheru Cemetery in Gisborne and was disinterred on 28 December 2006.Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 8 October 2022 - https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/125557/New-Zealand-War-Grave-Tolaga-Bay-Public-Cemetery.htm - Cemetery
- Taruheru Cemetery, Nelson Road, Gisborne District, New Zealand AWMM
- Cemetery name
- He is now buried in the Pouawa Urupa in WhangaraPublic - 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
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, Hall of Memories. Vietnam. AWMM
- Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne AWMM
Sources
- External links
- Australia's Vietnam War
https://web.archive.org/web/20241003003021/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.
- McGibbon, I.C. (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: a history of combat, commitment and controversy. Auckland, N.Z.: Exisle
The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.
Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.