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Second Lieutenant Michael Gunther Joseph
Deak MC.
(Baron von Berg)
Citation
accompanying the award of the Military Cross
to
2/Lt. Deak. (Baron von Berg)
On 17
October 1966 during Operation Queanbeyan in
Phuoc Tuy Province South Vietnam, Battalion
Headquarters of 5th Battalion Royal
Australian Regiment was held up by Viet Cong
in a natural ambush position on a steep
mountain track. 'The Anti-Tank Platoon
commanded by Second Lieutenant Deak was
directed to clear the area. The enemy were
located in natural fire positions on both
sides of a deep re-entrant with a gradient
of one in two. One section of the platoon,
covered by the remainder, swept up the
re-entrant but the Section Commander was
mortally wounded and the remainder pinned
down by fire.
Second Lieutenant Deak redeployed the
remainder of his platoon and under fire
directed additional covering fire onto the
objective from another Company 800 metres
away. He then successfully directed the fire
of armed helicopters onto the enemy
positions and then led his platoon back into
the re-entrant and cleared the enemy
position without loss.
At all times during the three and one
quarter hours engagement, Second Lieutenant
Deak showed complete disregard for his own
safety even when it became apparent that the
enemy were concentrating their fire on
leaders. The calm and competent manner of
Second lieutenant Deak was a major factor in
steadying his platoon under fire in a
difficult situation. The success in clearing
the Viet Cong ambush position was due in the
main to the fine example of leadership and
courage set by Second Lieutenant Deak. |