‘In 1963, Australian Army Captain Barry Petersen was sent to Vietnam. It was one of the mos

‘In 1963, Australian Army Captain Barry Petersen was sent to Vietnam. It was one of the most tightly held secrets of the Vietnam War: long before combat troops set foot there and under the command of the C.I.A., Petersen was ordered to train and lead guerilla squads of Montagnard tribesmen against the Viet Cong in the remote Central Highlands. Petersen successfully formed a fearsome militia, named the ‘Tiger Men’. A canny leader, he was courageous in battle, and his bravery saw him awarded the coveted Military Cross and worshipped by the hill tribes. But his success created enemies, not just within the Viet Cong. Like Marlon Brando’s character in Apocalypse Now, some in the C.I.A. saw Petersen as having gone native. His refusal, when asked, to turn his Tiger Men into assassins as part of the notorious C.I.A. Phoenix Program only strengthened that belief. The C.I.A. strongly resented anyone who stood in their way. Some in U.S. Intelligence were determined Petersen had to go. He was lucky to make it out of the mountains alive.’ The Tiger Man of Vietnam, by Frank Walker (Hachette, Australia, 2009), refers. The highly important and incredible Vietnam M.C. group of thirteen awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. “Barry” Petersen, a guerilla warfare expert and member of the Australian Special Forces “Army Training Team Vietnam”, who was dubbed by the media as “Lawrence of the Highlands” following his extraordinary leadership of a highly motivated force of Montagnard tribesmen - respectfully known by the Viet Cong as “Tiger Men” - in numerous hit and run missions in Darlac Province, a role originally sponsored by the C.I.A. but subsequently abandoned amidst claims of him having developed a ‘personality cult’ in a scenario reminiscent of the fictional character Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now: but as recounted by Petersen in his compelling memoir, Tiger Men, An Australian Soldier’s Secret War in Vietnam, the Montagnard remained loyal to him to the end, bestowing on him the title Dam San, after a legendary warrior, and making him a Paramount Tribal Chief Military Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1965’; Australian Active Service Medal, 3 clasps, Vietnam, Malaysia, Malaya (13668 A. B. Petersen); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (1/3668 A. B. Petersen); Campaign Service 1962, 2 clasps, South Vietnam, Borneo (13668 A. B. Petersen); Vietnam Medal 1964-73, with M.I.D. oak leaf (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Service Medal 1945-75, 1 clasp, Thai-Malay (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Defence Force Service Medal, clasp, E.II.R. (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian National Medal, with Bar (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Defence Medal (13668 A. B. Petersen); Australian Anniversary of National Service 1951-72 (1708727 A. B. Petersen); South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, with two Silver Stars; South Vietnam Medal 1964, with ‘1960’ clasp (13668 A. B. Petersen); Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal (13668 A. B. Petersen), mounted as worn, together with unit commendation riband bar, Infantry Combat Badge and “Tiger Men” beret badge, generally good very fine (16) £60000-80000 M.C. London Gazette 29 October 1965: ‘Captain Petersen graduated from the Officer Cadet School at Portsea on 17 December 1954. Since his graduation, Captain Petersen has served as a Platoon Commander with National Service Trainees and as a Platoon Commander with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Captain Petersen’s service with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment included three years service in Malaya from 1959 to 1961. Captain Petersen was a Company Second-in-Command with the First Recruit Training Battalion at Kapooka until his assignment to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in August 1963. Captain Petersen’s assignment as a member of the Australian Training Team Vietnam involves advice on the administration, training and operational employment of Montagnard personnel in Darlac Province. He was so occupied when the Montagnard Revolt of September 1964 broke out. During this revolt, in which several thousand heavily armed Montagnard soldiers were deployed against the provincial capital of Ban Me Thuot, Captain Petersen was required to prepare for the initial contact with the rebel tribesmen. On the afternoon of 20 September 1964, the first day of the revolt, he conducted a small party of intermediaries to the hamlet of Boun Enao. This involved passing through a prepared ambush. Having detected this, he dismounted from his vehicle, located the ambush commander, and persuaded him to permit the party’s onward movement. He was then required to approach the rebel stronghold and obtain admittance for the party. This he did, in gathering darkness and under conditions of extreme sensitivity involving a high degree of personal risk. Having gained admittance, by his own powers of persuasion he brought together the local leaders for talks with the intermediaries. The talks were successful, and paved the way for the eventual peaceful return of the Montagnard personnel to their proper duties. This most fortunate outcome is substantially attributable to the personnel influence of Captain Petersen, and to the high degree of courage displayed by him in effecting the necessary contacts.’ Citation for the South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star: ‘Captain Petersen served as Senior Advisor to the Darlac Sector Truong Son Force in the period August 1963 to August 1965. During this period Captain Petersen rendered an outstanding service to the Government of Vietnam by giving sound advice on the organisation, training and operations of the Truong Son Force. The outstanding success which the Truong Son Force has attained in combat actions against the Viet Cong is attributed to his vast knowledge of military operations and his wealth of military experience. Captain Petersen has on numerous occasions accompanied the Truong Son Force on combat operations and, without exception, the influence of his presence, advice and leadership, ensured complete and total success of these operations. The Truong Son Force has attained one of the best combat records in Vietnam by inflicting heavy casualties and equipment losses on the Viet Cong while sustaining minimum of friendly losses. Captain Petersen’s great contribution has been and will continue to be an inspiration to the people of Vietnam in their struggle to remain a free nation. In view of his outstanding service to the Republic of South Vietnam, Captain Petersen is awarded the Cross of Gallantry, with Silver Star.’ Citation for the Second Silver Star to the South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry: ‘Major Petersen arrived in Vietnam on 29 April 1970 as Officer Commanding, ‘C’ Company, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. Since his arrival in this country, Major Petersen has commanded ‘C’ Company continuously on operations. During its service so far in Phuoc Tuy Province, ‘C’ Company has killed 21 Viet Cong and captured four prisoners. In October 1970, ‘C’ Company located the tracks of 120 men of the Viet Cong Chau Duc District Headquarters and the Chi (Local Force) Company which were followed for 15,000 metres through difficult secondary jungle until contact was made. In the ensuing actions, the enemy were scattered and prevented from re-organising. Major Petersen’s aggressive leadership and skilful handling of his Company were largely responsible for the disruption and withdrawal of the enemy force for re-organisation and re-training from the area normally used by it. His knowledge of the enemy’s methods, and his own tactical knowledge, have contributed greatly to the success of his Company in operations.’ Arthur Barry Petersen joined the Australian Army in July 1954, gr