The Northern Territory news Thu 21 Apr 2011
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2011-04-21
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/232267
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/664628
14 NT NEWS. Thursday, April 21, 2011. www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 2 1 -A P R -2 0 1 1 P A G E : 7 1 4 C O L O R : C M Y K Ian Hoss Hosie IANHoss Hosie had the rare opportunity to go through an action replay of the the moment he fought for his life. The lieutenant was involved in a close-quarters contact with North Vietnamese soldiers in 1969. Several years later, he learnt that a RAAF helicopter gunship pilot had kept the recording of the radio conversation between the ground troops and support aircraft. The recording is chilling. Its not a movie, not a dramatised documentary its men literally fighting to the death. The most harrowing moment is the death of rifleman Jim McMillan, who rolls into Lt Hosies arms after being shot in the chest. Hold on, Jim, hold on, Lt Hosie urges. No, I cant. Im going, Im going... And he died in Lt Hosies arms. The recording of the contact can be heard on ntnews.com.au Lt Hosie, whose brother Trevor runs a tour company in Nhulunbuy, graduated from the Royal Military College at Duntroon in late 1967. He was the platoon commander of the Anti-Tank/Tracker Platoon in Support Company for the first half of his battalions tour of duty of Vietnam in 1969. After the crippling casualties to C and D Companies from landmines in Dat Do and in the Long Hai Hills, he took over command of one of the three decimated platoons, 7 Platoon, C Company. Tributes to him after his death in 1997 said he was a popular officer and highly respected by the men of his platoons. He was an intelligent and enthusiastic leader, while remaining the likeable larrikin. As a young officer he showed skill, aggression and courage of the highest order in many battles with the enemy. He was wounded in action in February 1970.