Ronald Nash

National Serviceman. Trained at 2RTB Puckapunyal from September 1969 to December 1969. Trained at SME Casula (Basic Field Engineer course, then Plant Operator Course), January 1970 to July 1970.

Arrived in SVN September 3rd 1970, served with 17 Construction Squadron (Plant Troop) as Plant Operator. Worked at NDP Helen (later FSB Helen) with the Cat D8H’s of the Land Clearing Team, worked in the Nui Dat quarry, running crushers and extracting and loading road base, worked on the reconstruction of Route 2, driving Euclid S-7 scrapers, IH TD-15 dozer, Cat D7E dozer and various rollers. I worked at NDP Garth (later FSB Garth) as a plant operator. I contracted a serious case of gastro-enteritis from rats in the field kitchen at NDP Garth and spent 4 days in hospital, crook as a dog. I operated Case 310 dozer/backhoe on civil works improvements in Ba Ria village.

Extracted sand from the beach at Long Hai with Cat 966B loader, for concreting works in Nui Dat. Operated forklifts (Cat 966 and Case W7) around Nui Dat and Vung Tau, loading bricks for ARVN housing in Ba Ria. Assisted in unloading store from the Jeparit in Vung Tau. Operated numerous other items of plant and equipment on various jobs around Nui Dat, and Ba Ria.

Left SVN on 12th August 1971, as Australian military activities were commencing to wind down, and much equipment was being prepared for RTA (Return to Australia).