THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Friday, 29 August 2008
120/2008
ID TAGS UNCOVERED FOR AUSTRALIA’S LAST
MISSING DIGGER IN VIETNAM
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP,
today announced that an investigation team believes it has found the grave of the
last Australian soldier unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
Private David Fisher of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) was a member of a
patrol that had to be ‘hot extracted’ from an area of southern Vietnam in 1969.
During the extraction he fell from a rope suspended below a RAAF helicopter.
Private Fisher was lost in thick jungle and despite an extensive search of the area by
an SASR patrol and infantry units, no trace of him was ever found.
Detailed research work including interviews with locals and Vietnamese Veterans
earlier this year assisted the Australian investigation team in pinpointing a burial
location in the Cam My region of Vietnam and a full archaeological dig has been
underway at the location since late last week.
“Now an identification tag inscribed with Private Fisher’s details has been found at
the site,” Mr Snowdon said.
“This is an extraordinary discovery that together with the small quantity of bones
recovered in the dig, strongly suggests we have located the grave of Private Fisher
and we wait with some confidence for formal identification by Australian and
Vietnamese forensic specialists.”
The remains will now travel to Hanoi to undergo further forensic assessment and
then are likely to be released to the Australian Government for repatriation to
Australia.
Mr Snowdon paid tribute to the outstanding efforts of the Australian Investigation
Team, consisting of members from the Army History Unit.
“Their thorough research work and dedication has resulted in this breakthrough. This
is welcomed by his comrades, the Australia public and most importantly his family
who have waited so long to bring him home,” Mr Snowdon said.
“Australia is also grateful to the assistance given by the Vietnamese authorities in
helping us locate and honour our fallen.”
Media contacts:
Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon):
02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
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