Vietnam War veteran Private Richard Norden awarded with Victoria Cross 57 years after deadly battle

Nearly six decades on, a Vietnam War hero has been posthumously awarded Australia’s highest military honour.

Private Richard Norden VC (Facebook image)

Fifty-seven years after he repeatedly ran into enemy fire to rescue a wounded comrade and recover the body of another, Private Richard Leslie Norden has been posthumously awarded Australia’s highest military honour.

At an investiture ceremony in Rockhampton on Tuesday, Private Norden’s widow Robynn Freeman and two sons proudly accepted the Victoria Cross from Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

Then just a 19-year-old from Gundagai fighting in Vietnam, Private Norden and his platoon came under attack during Operation Toan Thang.

The young soldier ran towards heavy fire to reach his wounded section commander, who he “half-carried, half-dragged” to safety.

Seriously injured himself, Private Norden ran towards danger twice more to clear the area and ensure the body of a fallen forward scout could be recovered.

His actions likely saved the lives of other platoon members.

Ms Mostyn said his strength, determination, selflessness and valour were impossible to comprehend in peacetime.

“We commit ourselves again to strive to uphold the freedoms for which he fought,” she said.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn (second from left) presents a posthumous Victoria Cross to Private Richard Norden’s widow Robynn Freeman and sons Shane and Scott. (Instagram image)

Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston said Private Norden had left behind a legacy of selflessness and mateship that served as an inspiration to all current and future defence members.

“When Richard chose to run forward into heavy enemy fire, he did not do so with the desire for glory or heroism,” Admiral Johnston said.

“He did so because he saw two of his mates isolated and wounded.

“While Richard is not here with us today, we remember his courage, his dedication, his selflessness, his choice to risk his own life to save an injured man and ensure a fallen soldier could be returned home to his own loved ones.”

He becomes the 102nd Victoria Cross recipient in Australia’s history.

After he returned from the war, Private Norden served as a police officer in Canberra, where he died in a motorcycle accident while on duty in 1972 at just 24.

His eldest son, Shane Norden Freeman, said it had been a long journey to the investiture.

“It didn’t seem like this day would come,” he said.

“It’s been 10 years of his army mates and police mates fighting for this – they’ve never given up.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Private Norden and his story now belonged to the ages.

Originally published as Vietnam War veteran Private Richard Norden awarded with Victoria Cross 57 years after deadly battle