Courage under fire: Garry Chad’s extraordinary service

Garry Chad was only five when the sound of celebration stopped him in his tracks and set the course for the rest of his life. 

“I have a distinct memory of hearing the sound of drums, trumpets and people singing,” he says.  

“I asked my Nana, ‘What's going on?’ and she said, ’Come and have a look. It's the end of World War II.’ 

“That’s the moment I decided I wanted to join the Army.” 

Little did young Garry, or “Chaddy” as he is now known to his mates, know that he would one day receive one of Australia’s highest military awards: the Medal of Gallantry.

Life on the frontline 

Garry’s first taste of military life came in 1959 when he enlisted as part of the National Service. After completing three months of bootcamp and live fire training, he was dispatched to his local Citizen Military Force in Chatswood near Sydney to assist with natural disasters.    

Like many of his National Service comrades, Garry enlisted in the Australian Army in 1964, destined for his first deployment to Vietnam. To prepare, he underwent training at Kapooka, Wagga Wagga and, finally, Singleton before embarking on the first of two tours with 1RAR.  

“When you first arrive in Vietnam, you're a bit scared, you're a bit worried about things, but after a while it's just the normal drill and you don't worry about things too much,” he reflects. 

“You patch up your mates, and you get on with it. 

“You get used to it after a while – even burying soldiers. I was at Long Tan when they buried 240 blokes there.”   

Just 14 days shy of his one-year stint in Vietnam, Garry was forced to return home after sustaining a serious shoulder injury.    

“When we came home and landed at Richmond Airfield, we were put in ambulances and escorted by police straight to the hospital. We zoomed through every bloody red light! It was terrific,” he says.  

"I stayed in hospital for five weeks. The bullet came right through my shoulder, and a bit of shrapnel had almost gone through my bicep too, so my arm was pretty well stuffed.”  

Determined not to be out of action for long, Garry spent the next four years in rehabilitation in order to return to the frontlines.   

“They sent all of us wounded warriors to Singleton training camp where we had trained for National Service,” he remembers. 

“For a long time, it looked like I'd never see Vietnam again, but I found a way. I wanted to go back because I knew so much about the enemy – their tactics, their defence and their attacks. I knew I’d save lives.” 

Acts of gallantry  

With a bit of luck, and some trademark “Chaddy charm”, Garry eventually returned to service, joining 4RAR for a second tour of Vietnam.  

As Forward Scout, Garry saw a lot of action on the battlefield, learning from his fellow soldiers to identify threats and disarm the enemy. When faced with danger, Garry would always think back to those waiting for them at home.   

“Before you go overseas, you have a platoon party in someone's backyard, and you meet everyone’s wives and kids. There are certain things that you couldn't do [on the battlefield] unless you had those kids or wives in the back of your mind. You could never go back and face them if you hadn't done everything you could to help your mates.”  

It’s this bravery and unbreakable spirit that led Garry to be awarded with the Medal of Gallantry by the Governor of Queensland, the Honorable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM in April.   

Garry describes the honour as “just part of the job” but was proud to be recognised for his life-saving action in 1971.    

The official citation reads:

Sergeant Chad performed acts of gallantry in the Long Khanh Province, Vietnam on 29 July 1971. While towards the rear of 7 Platoon, C Company, 4 RAR, a heavily defended bunker system by a numerically superior enemy force was encountered. Sergeant Chad advanced to take control of the forward elements which were being pinned down by heavy enemy fire. He was wounded after engaging the enemy with rifle white phosphorus grenades which eliminated their command group, machine gun group and rocket propelled grenade capacity.

Despite his wound, Sergeant Chad continued to direct his fire with an accuracy and lethality that enabled the forward elements of his platoon to withdraw with only light casualties; he was the last of the platoon to retreat.

Sergeant Chad's aggressiveness, boldness and professional skills undoubtedly saved many lives and regained the initiative. His selfless actions in the face of danger exemplified the highest tradition of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force. 

Reflecting on his award, Garry says, “I kept fighting until it was over and then I got a chopper out. They dusted me off and I went back to the hospital to get cleaned up. After three days, I was back out again.”    

“You never give up! No matter how bad it is, you keep fighting back and never stop.” 

Once a soldier, always a soldier 

Four months after he was injured in battle, Garry made the journey home to Australia to begin the next chapter of his career.  

He took up a new post in Darwin, and worked alongside the Navy, Air Force and local Indigenous people to combat illegal activity across the Kimberley region in Western Australia.  

In 1976, after 22 years of service, Garry retired from his military career before relocating to Queensland where he enjoyed a role in security at Dreamworld, and life with his wife, daughters, and now, grandchildren.   

Garry’s connection to service continues to this day. He has been a dedicated member of Currumbin/Palm Beach RSL Sub Branch for more than two decades and regularly takes part in the commemorative services with his family.   

His hope is that future generations continue to show up for their mates and protect the home we so often take for granted.