THE unit of Mount Gambier’s first casualty of the Vietnam War – naval helicopter pilot Lieutenant Anthony “Tony” Casadio – has been honoured for gallantry, 49 years after he was killed in action in South Vietnam.
This follows Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove recently approving a defence force recommendation to award a unit citation for gallantry to the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam, which Lt Casadio served in during the war.
The flight served between October 1967 and June 1971 as part of the Experimental Military Unit (EMU) of the United States Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company.
In an act of bravery on November 19, 1967, a 21-year-old Lt Casadio led his fellow soldiers in a valiant ground defence after his helicopter gunship was shot down behind enemy lines.
Lt Casadio and his crew set up a defensive perimeter using the helicopter’s door-mounted M60 machine guns, successfully driving away Viet Cong soldiers before being rescued by another helicopter.
Sadly, only nine months later, he was killed in action when his gunship went down after reportedly being hit by a rocket propelled grenade.
The Casadio name has since become synonymous with Casadio Park, home of the Mount Gambier Italo Australian Club and International Soccer Club, built in 1972 and named after the fallen local hero.
Casadio family spokesperson and retired Royal Australian Navy Commander Peter Coulson told The Border Watch yesterday the citation was a “proud moment” for Lt Casadio’s sister, Virginia, who lives in Adelaide.
“Virginia is happy to see the flight as a whole acknowledged for all it has accomplished,” Mr Coulson said.
“Everyone in the integrated flight performed extremely well and took on more than was required of them in their normal roles.”
The citation states those who flew with the flight “arguably saw the most intense combat of any Australian navy personnel in the war”.
“Despite the fact none had previous operational service and none had been under fire, they were courageous in battle, exhibiting exceptional and extraordinary gallantry with great skill and heroic dedication.”
Mr Coulson said one of the remarkable things about the flight was that every member was utilised in roles which they were not trained for and still performed bravely.
“Maintenance and administrative staff assisted with base security in addition to their normal duties and almost all support personnel volunteered to act as door-gunners and crew chiefs,” he said.
