Last night, at the 6th Hauraki Battalion’s 121st Birthday, I had the honour of presenting Cpl Erik Kristensen of #Tauranga with a pin to the Unit Citation awarded to the soldiers of 161 Battery, Royal NZ Artillery, for their gallantry in Vietnam.
Erik, a solder with the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME), was attached to 161 Battery during the period of their deployment to Vietnam.
The award affects 120 members of 161 Battery who participated in the Battles of Coral and Balmoral in Vietnam between 12 May and 6 June
1968, together with other New Zealand Armed Forces personnel directly involved in one or both battles.
The Battles of Coral and Balmoral were among the largest and most protracted fought by the Australian Task Force in the Vietnam War. The 161 Battery Gunners received high praise for the accuracy and volume of fire support they provided at critical stages of attacks on the Australian battalion positions.
On behalf of us all, thank you for your service, Eric.
ONWARD & UBIQUE
KIA KAHA
