| This
book was carried by 436440 Second Lieutenant Graham David Spinkston when
he was commanding 12 Platoon, 4 Royal Australian/New Zealand (ANZAC)
Battalion (4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion) on 21 September 1971 on a patrol
approximately three kilometres south of the southeast corner of the
Courtney rubber plantation on the border of Phuoc Tuy and Long Khanh
Provinces.
At 9 am, according to the incident
report, as his platoon was patrolling a well used enemy track running
east, 'the forward scout discovered another foot track leading off to
the north and Spinkston, after halting his platoon, moved forward with
his platoon signalman, 56165 Private Trevor B Gorringe, to reconnoitre.
They had proceeded approximately five metres along the side track when
they came under automatic weapon fire from an enemy bunker located
approximately ten metres further on. Spinkston and Gorringe quickly
withdrew to the platoon position which, by this time, was receiving
heavy small arms (AK47) and RPG fire.
The forward section, led by 217395
Corporal Charles R McKenzie was completely pinned down while the two
rear sections initiated a contact drill to the north of the main track.
Spinkston had realised he had a soldier killed in action (3799449
Private James Duff) and another six wounded, and was informed by his
company headquarters that bushranger gunship support aircraft were
already proceeding to the contact area. He withdrew his platoon to the
south while the support aircraft fired on the bunker area. Spinkston
later discovered that he had contacted six bunkers, part of a larger
complex occupied by an element of 3 Battalion, 33 NVA Regiment.
The book, 'The Taste of Courage', was
in Spinkston's left hand basic pouch (just behind his hip) during the
engagement and was pierced by an AK47 round which almost carried through
into his leg. Spinkston was actually wounded by a shrapnel fragment in
his right leg, but remained in command until he was air evacuated to
Vung Tau.
AWM image and text. |
