NITARSKI, Henry Kevin
Service Number: | 1736631 |
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Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
Last Rank: | Private |
Last Unit: | 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) |
Born: | 23 May 1949, place not yet discovered |
Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
Schooling: | Salisbury High School, Queensland, Australia |
Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
Died: | 26 March 2025, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
Cemetery: |
Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane, Queensland |
Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
18 Mar 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 1736631, 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, Vietnam | |
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13 Jun 1971: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 1736631, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) |
Help us honour Henry Kevin Nitarski's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wood
Service Details:
Henry was conscripted through the National Service Scheme and trained as an infantry soldier. He deployed to Vietnam on 17 March 1971, first posted to the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit (1ARU) and subsequently to 3RAR on 13 June 1971. He served in Support Company during Australia’s final months of combat operations in Vietnam, returning home in October 1971.
Post-Service Life:
After his service, Henry returned to Brisbane where he had grown up and attended Salisbury High School. He later worked in the Australian Merchant Navy, and for two decades served as a crewman on the Brisbane Tugs.
Health and Passing:
Henry battled multiple illnesses over 12 years, including Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and cancer of the prostate and bladder. Despite serious complications—including a split aorta—he fought bravely with the dedicated support of his wife Pam, and their children Dan and Kat.
Henry passed away peacefully on 26 March 2025. He was laid to rest at Hemmant Cemetery, Brisbane. Fellow veteran David Quade attended his funeral on behalf of his 3RAR brothers.
Legacy:
Henry is remembered as a quiet, loyal man who remained proud of his military service. Though not one to attend reunions, he stayed interested in 3RAR activities and his comrades' stories. He is honoured for his service and strength in the face of adversity.
Information provided by his wife Pam