THOMPSON, Mark Bernard
| Service Number: | 4721741 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Australian Force Vietnam Provost Unit |
| Born: | Salisbury, South Australia, 2 April 1949 |
| Home Town: | Salisbury, Salisbury, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Blackfriars Priory School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Retired Financial Planner |
| Memorials: | Thebarton S.A. Police Force Vietnam National Service Roll of Honour |
Vietnam War Service
| 14 Jan 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 4721741 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 4721741, Australian Force Vietnam Provost Unit |
Time in Vietnam
I had permanent postings in Vung Tau and Saigon from January 1971 to November 1971. I missed out on Nui Dat because we were 'pulling out'. I was driving the lead vehicle for the first convoy of equipment and materiel to leave Nui Dat.
I was lucky to have enjoyed a relative outbreak of peace in my time in Vietnam. My claim to fame was to have removed an Aussie from a Pan Am jet that was bringing him back from R&R in Australia. He had hijacked the jet and threatened to blow it up if it did not return to Australia. American MPs were considering 'taking him out' until I arrived at Tan Sanut airfield. Armed with a yank baton and my side arm holstered I ascended the stairs to the plane where he admitted to me that his bomb was box full of socks and jocks. I was not sure that it was all bluff as I ascended the stairs, but I had a gut feel there was no bomb. Anyway, I believe that I saved his life.
For various reasons that I will not go into I did not receive an MID (Mention in Dispatches) for this action.
Submitted 13 September 2018 by mark thompson
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