Ngadlu tampinthi ngadlu Kaurna Miyurna yartangka. Munaintya puru purruna ngadlu-itya. Munaintyanangku yalaka tarrkarriana tuntarri.

We acknowledge we are on Kaurna Miyurna land. The Dreaming is still living. From the past, in the present, into the future, forever.

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Aerogramme dated 25 February 1967 and transcription

Archive Collections / Major Peter John Badcoe / Series SAMA 1129/1 / Aerogramme dated 25 February 1967 and transcription

7.15 SAT MORNING

25 FEB

My Darling Girls

I got back late last night. We've been in a heavy action out in PHU THU for the last 3 days. Ran into 2 VC Main Force comps of 804 BN and we had a slugging match we killed a lot of them and captured 4 M6s but we lost 7 dead and 13 wounded we also lost Greg Clements the adviser for PHU THU who was one of my closest friends up here. He's a West Point Capt about 28 and a really good lad. We were on opposite sides attacking the village. I had my Reaction Force and he had 2 RF coys this first attack was halted about 50 yds short of the treeline and they had to pull back leaving 2 wounded. Greg went out with his Sgt and his interpreter to try and get them. The VC let them get into 50 metres and then opened up from a M6 launcher in the treeline. Greg was badly wounded in the chest his Sgt and interpreter were hit in the legs. They then shot him up as he was lying there and he was killed. The Sgt and the interpreter made it back to the radio and called me. I went around and got the body out. I've put him in for a posthumous DIST SERVICE CROSS and its been recommended by Col Graeser and by division.

I've been burnt black by the sun we were stuck in the sandhills for 48 hours and it was absolutely scorching heat. Milne and Tripp came while I was out there so I missed seeing them. They were listening on the radio at one stage apparently when my Armalite jammed, so I grabbed Clements carbine and was fighting with that then it jammed with the sand so I got a VC submachine gun from one of the VC dead around us and then that jammed so I finished up with my rusty trusty old .45. Col Milner's only comment apparently was "I'll send up an AUSTRALIAN rifle by the first plane after I get back to SAIGOIN!".

On to money. The post office returned my $70 I sent in JAN apparently I can't use that system any more. I've saved up $100 in FEB so I've now got $170. I won't draw any pay and I'll send it home through the paybook Darling. I hope to save $100 min a month now that Christmas and TET are over. I'll do my very best anyway. Must close now and go to work but I waited to get a letter off as I've been out so long. I love you more than you'll ever know my lovely wife.

Petie

Creator: Major Peter John Badcoe
Control: SAMA 1129/1/20/1-2
Date Range:  25 February, 1967  -  25 February, 1967
Quantity:    2   1 aerogramme, 1 transcription
Series:  SAMA 1129/1
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