AYRES, Marvin Walter
| Service Number: | 216920 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 28 October 1944 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Killed in Action, South Vietnam, 5 February 1968, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood General Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia Area: Anglican Section: Sub section: EE Sector: Plot: Row: Grave: 576B |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Pathway of Honour - 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment , Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour, Sydney 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Vietnam Killed on Active Service Plaque |
Vietnam War Service
| 10 Mar 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 216920 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), 216920, 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, Vietnam | |
| 27 Apr 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 216920, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) | |
| 27 Apr 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 216920 | |
| 30 May 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 216920, 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) | |
| 30 May 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 216920 |
A truly Good Bloke
I went through recruit training with Mick. Although I knew him for a short time he left a lasting impression, I was only 18 and as such was a little out of my depth. Mick helped me through a difficult time and I will always remember him as a really good bloke. He was the only fellow recruit that sticks in my mind and I wish I could have known him better.
Submitted 24 April 2017 by Terrence Robinson
Biography
Birth: Oct. 28, 1944
Sydney
New South Wales, Australia
Death: Feb. 5, 1968, Vietnam
216920 Private Marvin Walter (Mick) Ayres was born in Sydney, NSW, Australia, on the 28th October 1944
He served with the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit from the 10th March 1967 to the 26th April 1967; 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment from the 27th April 1967 to 29th May 1967; 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, from 30th May 1967 to 5th February 1968.
Gunner Mike Williams described the contact in which Mick Ayres was killed in Bien Hoa Province:
We moved into the bunkers where we were all pinned down by heavy fire to our front. There was one main bunker with what sounded like the equivalent of a fifty cal firing at us but above our heads. The trees were falling on us as the heavy machine gun fire was having the same effect as a chain saw on the trees. We were lower than the bunker and the NVA could not depress the gun low enough to cause us casualties, other than Mick Ayres, who was a good fifty metres behind where we were pinned down when he was hit by a stray round in his chest.
There was a particularly ugly aftermath to Private Ayres death. In a vicious gesture, anti–Vietnam war protesters phoned his parents and said, ‘He got what he deserved'. His parents have this despicable act imprinted on their memory to this day.
Information from Find A Grave Memorial
Name: Marvin Ayres
Rank/Serial Number: Private
Served in: Vietnam
Why is this person a hero:
My brother, nicknamed Mick by his mates, joined the army after spending time in the CMF. He loved the ARMY He went to Vietnam 1967 was in the 7th battalion he was KIA 5th Feb. 1968 the C M F Victotia barracks gave a shield every year for the best soldier that shield is called The Marvin Walter Shield which we are very proud of.My brothers name from us was Junior he was my only brother.There is a memorial which is going to be erected in Washington DC and the 500 +Australians that were killed in Vietnam will have there names on this memorial I hope I will be able to travel and see this.Whether it be brother a son a husband that has served in the forces I am proud of them & I am proud to be Australian
Read more at http://www.2gb.com/gallery/album-honour-marvin-ayres#MtHrDv6gtvqFZLqc.99
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