Vietnam veteran remembers Kevin Byrne for his bravery 52 years after battle of Nui Le

On September 21, 1971 Kevin Byrne fought in the final battle between Australian and North Vietnamese forces. Exactly 52 years later, he died.

The Cairns veteran community remembered former mayor Kevin Byrne as a “pillar of our community”. Picture: Brendan Radke

Former mayor Kevin Byrne has been remembered by a veteran for his bravery and intellect during a fierce and deadly battle during the Vietnam War.

Mr Byrne died on Thursday, September 21, exactly 52 years after the Battle of Nui Le in which he fought as a second lieutenant and was awarded Mention in Dispatches.

Nui Le was to be the last major battle fought between members of the Australian Army and North Vietmanese forces.

Mayor Kevin Byrne with daughter Isabel, 6, at the Cairns Anzac Day Wreath Laying service in 2004. Picture: Pasco Rogato

“On this day in 1971 the second lieutenant of 4RAR was involved in the battle of Nui Le and was recognised for his bravery,” said Fishery Falls resident Dennis Quick, who fought alongside Mr Byrne.

“He was no different (during the Vietnam conflict) than what he was later in life, he was huge physically and in personality and he had the intellect and personality to match.

“He led his platoon through a very extreme circumstance.”

Shoddy intelligence led Australian platoons into a trap, and they were fired upon at close range.

Communications lines were cut and artillery fell within a danger close radius of Australian forces; the Australians ran low on ammunition but effective artillery fire eventually forced a Vietmanese withdrawal.

A troop of M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carriers of A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, passing through a rubber plantation during Operation Ivanhoe. Picture: Australian War Memorial/P07256.014

Five Australians died in the battle and a further 30 were wounded.

Mr Quick said Mr Byrne brought leadership skills that had been honed under fire to the chambers of Cairns Regional Council.

“We have been associated with each other for 50 years from being young pups to old bastards,” he said.

“I was his executive officer when he was the mayor.

“He was responsible for the greening of Cairns. When he took over in his second term he made it his mission, it was almost an obsession to make sure all the avenues and gardens were all green and manicured.

“The southern entrance to the city used to be a bloody disgrace, and to his credit Cairns is now what you see today — a beautiful, tropical city. Wherever you look in Cairns you see his impact.”

A patrol from 10 Platoon, D Company, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment – New Zealand (ANZAC) (4RAR/NZ), follow a track through a rubber plantation during Operation Ivanhoe. Picture: Australian War Memorial/P07256.013

Cairns Chamber CEO Patricia O’Neill said Mr Byrne brought the fire within to debates about the city and its future.

“As a new CEO in the advocacy space, Kevin was the first person to text me and offer advice on detailing the ‘lay of the land’ across all three levels of government,” Ms O’Neill said.

“We didn’t always agree and often debated for hours on our take on issues, however I always managed to leave him walking away with his wee brown bag and giggling. He loved the Scottish banter.

“He was a strong supporter of many female leaders in Cairns ensuring we were respected and heard at ‘the table’.

“His knowledge and passion for this region will be missed.”

Originally published as Vietnam veteran remembers Kevin Byrne for his bravery 52 years after battle of Nui Le