example assisted considerably in the safe conduct of the operation and the successful evacuation of two wounded to friendly lines. Corporal Mene's courage and devotion to duty were an inspiration to all around him.

O'CONNELL, Patrick John, Private (Temporary Sergeant) (1/400133),
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 1951

On 6 October 1951, Temporary Sergeant O'Connell of 4 Platoon, B Company, displayed extreme heroism during a firefight preceding an assault. Sergeant O'Connell saw a member of his platoon fall badly wounded in open ground and, leaving the protection of his pit and in full view of the enemy, showing a complete disregard for his own personal safety, dashed forward through heavy machine-gun and small arms fire, over a distance of twenty yards. He brought the wounded man back over the exposed ground to cover. On 7 October 1951, during a counter-attack by an enemy group of battalion strength on his company position, his section Bren gunner was wounded. Sergeant O'Connell dashed over to the Bren gun pit and operated the gun at a critical stage. His accurate fire, backed by cool judgement and control of his section, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy during their repeated attacks. Sergeant O'Connell's aggressiveness, leadership, personal courage and devotion to duty on 6 and 7 October were an inspiration to all around him. He was highly instrumental in repulsing the enemy counter-attack on 7 October and contributed significantly to the success of the action at a very critical stage of the offensive.

PARK, John, Private (Temporary Corporal) (1/400149),
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 1951

Lance Corporal Park, Commander of 4 Section, 5 Platoon, B Company, led his section in an attack against thirty to forty enemy soldiers on feature 174224. As the diggers advanced, they came under heavy machine-gun fire and half the section fell as casualties. Taking the initiative, Lance Corporal Park personally charged forward with his machine carbine firing, with accurate and devastating results. He killed seven of the enemy soldiers and wounded several more, forcing the enemy to withdraw. The enemy then counter-attacked with twenty to twenty-five men and again Lance Corporal Park led his depleted section in an attack, dispersing the enemy. At one stage of the enemy counter-attack, Lance Corporal Park's machine carbine jammed. Dodging to avoid a grenade thrown by a Chinese soldier, Park closed with him and killed him with his bare hands. He then moved in to assist in the complete smashing of the enemy counter-attack. Throughout the action, Lance Corporal Park displayed boldness, initiative, leadership and complete disregard for his own personal safety.