Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Chief Petty Officer Thomas Gordon, a 23 year old Ambulance driver in Brisbane in 1959 when he signed up to the Royal Australian Navy. After training at Cerberus and Nowra. Gordo was posted on Australia’s air craft carrier HMAS Melbourne as an aircraft mechanic. They sailed to Sri Lanka for exercises with 42 ships from 6 nations. After 6 months they returned and Australia was moving away from Air craft carriers, so Gordo changed rating to a stoker. Gordo was posted to the newly commissioned guided missile destroyer HMAS Hoe-bart. The ship spent the next year sailing around North and South America passing a series of sea trials. It returned to its home port briefly before being deployed to the Vietnam War. Gordo and HMAS Hoe-bart was part of the US 7th fleet and in that deployment steamed over 52 thousand miles and fired 9,204 rounds of 5 inch shells and came under direct fire 9 times. Fair to say they had a busy time. The US command was so impressed by their service they awarded Gordo and the crew the US Navy unit commendation for exceptionally meritorious service. Gordo returned to Australia, then in 1968 deployed again to Vietnam. They got stuck straight in bombarding off the coast and taking out NVA supply boats. Near Tiger Island one day the ship was attacked by an aircraft, the first missile hitting and killing Gordo’s mate Ray Butterworth and injuring two others. The plane returned firing two more missiles, killing his good mate and fellow petty officer, Ray Hunt and injuring many others. No doubt Gordo’s ambulance skills came into play. The bosuns got stuck in and got 5 rounds off scaring the plane off. Sadly they later they found it was friendly fire from an F4 phantom. After funerals and ship repairs they were back into it at Da Nang with more fire support missions. Gordo returned home in October 1968. The Naval board issued Gordo a commendation for his outstanding conduct on the tour. Now a chief petty officer, Gordo remained with Hoe-bart until he discharged in early 1970. Gordo married Robyn, settled in Murwillumbah, had a family and lived to 88. Lest we forget the legendary Chief of old D39, R55624 Chief Petty Officer Thomas Gordon.

Source; AWM, Sea Power pages, RAN history