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Sergeant Garry John Chad served in the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1975. (ABC News: Emily Dobson)
Sergeant Garry Chad pictured second from left in the back row in this photograph from February 17, 1967, in Vietnam’s Phuoc Tuy Province. (Supplied: Australian War Memorial archive)
Episode 3254 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Aussie Vietnam Vet who received an award for Gallantry. The featured story is titled: Vietnam War veteran Garry Chad joins exclusive list of Medal for Gallantry recipients. It appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Company website and was submitted by Heloise Vyas.
Vyas reported that in a moving ceremony at Currumbin RSL on the Gold Coast, Vietnam War veteran Garry Chad was awarded the Medal for Gallantry—one of Australia’s highest honors for bravery. The award recognizes his extraordinary actions on July 29, 1971, in Long Khánh Province, where then-Sergeant Chad displayed remarkable courage under intense enemy fire. When his platoon encountered a heavily fortified bunker system, Chad advanced to the front, taking decisive control in a moment of chaos. Despite sustaining wounds, he pressed the attack, throwing grenades and delivering precise, relentless fire that suppressed the enemy and allowed his fellow soldiers to withdraw with minimal casualties. He was the last to leave the battlefield, embodying the selflessness and resolve that define the finest traditions of military service.
Chad’s recognition places him among a select group of just over 70 Australian Defence Force personnel to receive the Medal for Gallantry since its introduction in 1991. Yet his heroism is not his alone—it reflects the shared spirit of all Australian Vietnam veterans. Roughly 60,000 Australians served in that conflict, with more than 500 making the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy is one of courage, endurance, and unwavering mateship.
Sergeant Chad himself humbly credited the bond between soldiers as the source of his strength, describing it as the closest connection he has ever known. His story stands as a powerful reminder that the greatness of Australian Vietnam veterans lies not only in acts of individual gallantry, but in their collective character, loyalty, and enduring commitment to one another and their nation.
Listen to Episode 3254 and discover more about the Aussie Vietnam Vet who received an award for Gallantry.
