- SURNAME
Penman
- FORENAME
Robert John
- UNIT
AATTV
- RANK
Warrant Officer Second Class
- NUMBER
29893
- AWARD
Military Medal
- PLACE
South Vietnam
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Royal Australian Infantry Corps
born 20.07.1930, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia
mother Lilian Margaret Penman, 62 Murnin Street, Wallsend, New South Wales
enlisted 23.06.1958
AATTV 15.08.1964 - 04.01.1966
London Gazette 43926, 15th March 1966, Page 3056
CITATION:
Military Medal : Temporary Warrant Officer Penman enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on the 23rd of June 1958. Prior to his posting to the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam he served with the First Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment, the Third Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment and the Infantry Centre.
Upon his arrival in South Vietnam on the 18th of August 1964, Warrant Officer Penman was assigned as a Battalion Advisor to the First Battalion of the First Regiment of the Army of The Republic of Vietnam.
During his assignment with this Battalion Warrant Officer Penman took part in many operations against the Viet Cong and earned himself the respect and admiration of both Vietnamese and American allies for his bravery and unselfish actions in the face of heavy hostile fire. He was twice cited by the Vietnamese Government for bravery and service as an advisor to the Army of The Republic of Vietnam.
On the 15th February 1965 Warrant Officer Penman was accompanying the Command Group of a rifle company of the Second Battalion First Regiment at Nhat Ap, Quang Tri province South Vietnam. The company was in close pursuit of a Viet Cong platoon that was attempting to withdraw across an open rice field. The company was not completely re-organised after a previous contact and the Command Group was well behind the three rifle platoons. Suddenly the Command Group came under flanking fire from a group of three Viet Cong at a range of one hundred metres. The Command Group took cover behind a small embankment in the rice field but the Vietnamese personnel were unable to return fire because the Company Commander's carbine jammed and the remaining personnel were armed with pistols. Warrant Officer Penman and an American Advisor rose to a crouch from behind the embankment and placed continuous and accurate carbine fire on the enemy position,
killing two of the Viet Cong and forcing the third to retreat.
As a result of Warrant Officer Penman's and the American Advisor's calm and courageous actions the Command Group was able to proceed and regain control of the pursuit which resulted in the virtual destruction of the Viet Cong platoon with thirty Viet Cong killed and four captured. Had the flank threat not been eliminated the Command group would have become ineffective and the pursuit delayed or disrupted, which would have allowed the Viet Cong to escape.
Warrant Officer Penman's heroic action in leaving his covered position to place effective fire on the three Viet Cong prevented neutralisation of the Command Group and also avoided probable casualties to the Command Group personnel. His conduct reflected great credit upon himself and the
Australian Army.
Upon his arrival in South Vietnam on the 18th of August 1964, Warrant Officer Penman was assigned as a Battalion Advisor to the First Battalion of the First Regiment of the Army of The Republic of Vietnam.
During his assignment with this Battalion Warrant Officer Penman took part in many operations against the Viet Cong and earned himself the respect and admiration of both Vietnamese and American allies for his bravery and unselfish actions in the face of heavy hostile fire. He was twice cited by the Vietnamese Government for bravery and service as an advisor to the Army of The Republic of Vietnam.
On the 15th February 1965 Warrant Officer Penman was accompanying the Command Group of a rifle company of the Second Battalion First Regiment at Nhat Ap, Quang Tri province South Vietnam. The company was in close pursuit of a Viet Cong platoon that was attempting to withdraw across an open rice field. The company was not completely re-organised after a previous contact and the Command Group was well behind the three rifle platoons. Suddenly the Command Group came under flanking fire from a group of three Viet Cong at a range of one hundred metres. The Command Group took cover behind a small embankment in the rice field but the Vietnamese personnel were unable to return fire because the Company Commander's carbine jammed and the remaining personnel were armed with pistols. Warrant Officer Penman and an American Advisor rose to a crouch from behind the embankment and placed continuous and accurate carbine fire on the enemy position,
killing two of the Viet Cong and forcing the third to retreat.
As a result of Warrant Officer Penman's and the American Advisor's calm and courageous actions the Command Group was able to proceed and regain control of the pursuit which resulted in the virtual destruction of the Viet Cong platoon with thirty Viet Cong killed and four captured. Had the flank threat not been eliminated the Command group would have become ineffective and the pursuit delayed or disrupted, which would have allowed the Viet Cong to escape.
Warrant Officer Penman's heroic action in leaving his covered position to place effective fire on the three Viet Cong prevented neutralisation of the Command Group and also avoided probable casualties to the Command Group personnel. His conduct reflected great credit upon himself and the
Australian Army.
WEB LINKS:
• https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43926/supplement/3055• https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/870535
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7623646
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