Private Richard Norden, a 19-year-old Australian soldier who rescued his wounded commander while seriously injured and under enemy gunfire in the Vietnam war, has been posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the nation’s highest military honour.
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, praised Norden’s courage and selflessness in battle in announcing the citation on Monday, to mark Remembrance Day.
Mostyn said she shared news of King Charles’ approval of the Victoria Cross with Norden’s widow, Robynn Freeman, last week.
“When I spoke with Mrs Freeman, I conveyed the appreciation of all Australians for Private Norden’s service, our admiration for his courage and our hope that this recognition – our nation’s highest – brings a further sense of pride and affirmation that he will never be forgotten,” Mostyn said.
Norden, from Gundagai in New South Wales, is the 102nd Australian to be awarded the honour.
Norden’s actions to rescue his injured section commander, in an ambush by a group of North Vietnamese soldiers during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral, were recognised more than 56 years later.
In 1968 his platoon came under heavy fire from up to 10 North Vietnamese solders during Operation Toan Thang.
“Private Norden, a member of the leading section, ran forward under heavy enemy fire to the Section Commander and forward scout who were wounded during the initial contact,” a statement from the governor general’s office read.
Norden killed one North Vietnamese Army soldier while he was moving forward. He ran out of ammunition and “recovered an enemy’s automatic weapon” which he used against North Vietnamese Army soldiers.
“He then half-carried, half-dragged the severely wounded Section Commander back to the section,” the statement said.
Norden, himself seriously wounded, pressed forward again and killed a North Vietnamese soldier who had been using the Australian scout “as a shield”. Norden found his comrade was dead, and cleared the area to allow his body to be recovered.
“Private Norden showed a complete disregard for his own personal safety, and his courage and selfless acts resulted in the enemy position being secured and likely saved the lives of other members of the platoon,” Mostyn said.
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“The Victoria Cross for Australia is Australia’s highest military honour. The awarding of it speaks to Private Norden’s courage and selflessness in the heat of battle, his ongoing legacy and the bravery of generations of our service personnel.”
Norden served as a police officer in the Australian Capital Territory after returning from Vietnam. He died on active service in 1972.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in a statement praised Norden as “a true Australian hero”, citing his “exceptional bravery” and “extraordinary courage and selflessness”.
In a speech at the Australian War Memorial following Remembrance Day commemorations, Albanese noted that fighting at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral – Australia’s longest and deadliest battle of the Vietnam war – took the lives of 25 Australians and more than 100 were wounded.
“The terrible toll would have been higher but for the courage of a 19-year-old private from Gundagai by the name of Richard Norden,” Albanese said.
The defence minister, Richard Marles, also hailed Norden and said his actions deserved the highest military honour.
“Private Richard Norden’s bravery during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral exemplifies the values we hold as Australians – those of tremendous courage and mateship,” he said.
“Under fire from the enemy, Private Norden did not hesitate as he moved forward to help his fellow wounded soldiers.”
Norden’s honour sits alongside four other Victoria Cross recipients from the Vietnam war.
