Gino ("Medic") TERRANOVA MID

TERRANOVA, Gino

Service Number: 4411050
Enlisted: 3 May 1966, Gino was a member of the Royal "Australian" Medical Corp before joining 1RAR.
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR)
Born: Malvito Pr, Cosenza, Italy, 26 January 1949
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia, 18 August 2007, aged 58 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia
Memorials:
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Vietnam War Service

3 May 1966: Enlisted Gino was a member of the Royal "Australian" Medical Corp before joining 1RAR.
27 Mar 1968: Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 4411050
16 May 1968: Honoured Mention in Dispatches, FSB Coral / Balmoral - Vietnam, Corporal Gino Terranova enlisted in the Australian Army on 3 May 1966, and was allotted to the Royal Australian Medical Corps. He joined 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment as a medical assistant on 8 November 1967, and was allotted to A Company, arriving in South Vietnam in April 1968. At Fire Support Base Coral, in the early morning darkness of 16 May 1968, Corporal Terranova displayed outstanding courage and devotion during an enemy regimental attack. Heedless of the enemy's rockets, mortars and small arms fire, he moved resolutely from position to position, over a frontage of 600 metres, ignoring the fact that he was completely exposed and under constant enemy fire. He skilfully tended and reassured the wounded and arranged their evacuation whilst the attack raged around him. On 19 August 1968, near Baria in Phuoc Tuy Province, the two leading scouts of A Company were severely wounded by a grenade in a booby trapped area. Corporal Terranova immediately moved forward and tended the injured scouts, well aware of the danger of further booby traps in the vicinity. This single act of bravery enabled two wounded men to be quickly treated and evacuated safely through the path he had proved safe. During eight months of constant operations against the Viet Cong, Corporal Terranova has been an example of devotion and loyalty to his wounded comrades. His acts of skill, devotion to duty and personal heroism on all occasions are by-words to his comrades, and have set a high example to the officers and men of his company. (Copy of citation from book "Vietnam Veterans - Honours and Awards, Army" by Alexander M Palmer ISBN0646239783).
Date unknown: Involvement Corporal, 4411050, 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR)

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Biography contributed by Michael Bayley

Gino was the company medic for A Coy, 1 RAR in vietnam 1968-69. He was awarded an MID (Mentioned In Despatches) for his heroism in the treatment of wounded comrades, whilst under heavy enemy fire.