HERON, Bruce David
| Service Number: | 18353 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 8 April 1946 |
| Home Town: | Forth, Devonport, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Cancer, Forth, Tasmania, Australia, 29 January 2022, aged 75 years |
| Cemetery: |
Anzac Park, Ulverstone, Tasmania |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 10 May 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 18353, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 18353, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) |
One Day in 1969
Bruce Heron was a loving and dedicated nephew to my parents, his Uncle Bill and Auntie Iris, of Paddington in Brisbane. I remember like it was yesterday that on that other famous day in history, 24th July 1969, as we sat around the tv in our lounge room watching Neil Armstrong, take his first steps on the moon, that there was a knock at our front door, and in came a seriously wounded Bruce. A bed was set up for him in our dining room to rest and recuperate. His injuries were horrific. I can’t recall how long he stayed with us but he was forever grateful to my parents, for taking him in, and providing care, and in later years when his Uncle Bill ever needed him, we only had to make a phone call and Bruce would have Laureen his wife organise a flight from Tasmania.
Rest in everlasting peace Bruce, your loving cousins, Carol, Gale and Cheryl.
Submitted 20 May 2022 by Carol Turner
Biography contributed by Gary Townsend
Bruce, a foundation member of 5 RAR, deployed to South Vietnam (SVN) with SPT Coy, Signal Pl, on 10 May 1966. As a radio operator he was attached to various companies throughout the tour and returned to Australia on 8 May 1967.
He returned to SVN on 28 January 1969 with D Company, 12 Pl, and was made section commander of 8 Section. Bruce was WIA in two incidents, the first on 4 April and the second on 15 June 1969. Due to the second wound he was repatriated to Australia on 1 July 1969.
Bruce had also served in 1 RAR and 6 RAR.
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