VICTOR FOUR COMPANY

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

V4 was deployed by Helo onto the Nui Dinh Hills for an independent Coy Operation on the 18^th March.

1 Platoon landed on the feature Nui Ong Cau which was occupied by a US Radio Relay Team.

The remainder of the Coy landed on the Western side and within a few hours contact with the enemy occurred.

Next day 2 and 3 Platoons began checking out fresh tracks when 2 Platoon were ambushed.

3 Platoon also encountered a well concealed and strongly defended VC camp. Because of the steep terrain with
3 platoon below the enemy, they became trapped and the skill and leadership of the acting platoon commander,
Tom Tuhiwai prevented the platoon from being wiped out. There was a major firefight of enemy machine guns,
mortars and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) lasting 15 to 20 minutes.

Tom’s direction of 3 Platoon’s two machine guns neutralised the enemy fire although they were running low on ammunition.

After the enemy had withdrawn, 1 Platoon did a sweep of the area and they revealed fighting pits for one VC Coy
and sleeping areas and bunkers for a second.

Mo Paenga was Killed in Action, Paul Thomas, Fiti White, Tom Tuhiwai, Olly Taukamo, Beau Heke and Bill Keatch
were Wounded in Action.

The Coy travelled by APC to Nui Dat on the 20^th March.

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Note;

Because of the high number of enemy in major fortified positions in that region,
the Nui Dinhs were referred to by previous NZ Infantry Companys as ‘The Wolvertons’.

The name derives from a song by Merle Kilgour and Claude King in 1962 with the first seven words;
“They say don’t go, on Wolverton Mountain”……….

Operation WAIPOUNAMU