Victoria Cross winner recalls harrowing day

Half a century on from his exploits in Vietnam, a military hero recalls the day as if it were yesterday

Keith Payne VC recalls his actions in Vietnam 50 years ago. Picture: Stuart Quinn

EVEN half a century on from his exploits in Vietnam, Victoria Cross recipientKeith Payne vividly recalls the day he rescued about 40 men under heavy artillery fire.

Hearing his story paints a harrowing picture of the nature of the Vietnam War. For him, it's as though it happened only yesterday.

"I turned around and 50 years had gone, and have they gone fast," Mr Payne said.

In May 1969, Mr Payne and his comrades landed in a B52 bomb crater about 2km east of the Cambodian border.

Their mission: to occupy and secure the central highlands.

Victoria Cross recipient, Warrant Officer 2 Keith Payne in 1969. Accession Number LES/69/0593/VN. Picture: Australian War Memorial

With two companies - one led by Mr Payne - forwarding a charge on the North Vietnamese enemy forces, another tailed behind to act as security should they need to withdraw if something went wrong.

It did.

"We arrived on the hill, five minutes later we got everything thrown at us. It was obvious they had set up what we know as an annihilation ambush," Mr Payne said.

"They attacked us directly from the west coming up the front of the hill. At the same time they put two spearheads around onto both flanks of the hill and pushed in a company ... between the two main features.

"We were boxed in."

Dozens of men were wounded in the assault. Many more died.

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As his troops began to fall back, Mr Payne defied the wounds in his hands and arms to cover the withdrawal and organise his men into a defensive perimeter.

He searched for and found about 40 injured soldiers and organised the rescue of several others.

Despite the obvious heroism he exhibited, Mr Payne said it was simply a case of doing what he had to do.

There was no hesitation - it was his job.

"I was the company commander, the other company commander had been mortally wounded and passed away, so that left me in command of the what was left of two companies," he said.

"It was my job as the commander to get as many of those soldiers out of that fire fight area as possible.

"It's your responsibility - you accept it or you don't."

WO2 Keith Payne receives the Victoria Cross from Queen Elizabeth II aboard the royal yacht Britannia in 1970. (Accession Number P01002.085). Picture: Australian War Memorial

Mr Payne has not rested since his military days ended. The 85-year-old continues to work for veterans suffering from PTSD, but plans to "semi-retire" next year.

The oldest surviving recipient of the Victoria Cross, he will have the 50th anniversary of his actions honoured at a private event organised by Mackay Regional Council.

While the wider community might honour his heroic action, he said it was not pride he felt, but satisfaction that he did his job.

Princess Anne speaks to WO2 Keith Payne VC and his family after the Anzac Day commemoration ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in 1970. (Accession Number 135693). Picture: Australian War Memorial

Originally published as Victoria Cross winner recalls harrowing day