EFFORTS are under way to have Sergeant (Temporary Warrant Officer Class 2) Kevin George Conway awarded a retrospective medal of gallantry by Australian Defence.
Mr Conway, who was 35, was the first Australian serviceman killed in combat in the Vietnam War.
He was the only Australian serviceman attached to the United States Special Forces.
In 2016 the remains of Mr Conway – who was from Wellington Point – were returned home to be buried at Cleveland on June 6, 52 years to the day since he had died.
Mr Conway’s niece Kathy Woodford, who was instrumental in bringing him home, was buried beside him on Thursday.
Mr Conway died on July 6, 1964, as about 800 Viet Cong attacked Camp McBride in a remote valley about 50 kilometres northwest of Da Nang.
He was a member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam that had arrived in South Vietnam in 1962 to provide training to local units.
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Association national president Kerry Gallagher was at last week’s service for Ms Woodford.
Bowman MP Andrew Laming said he was calling on the Australian Defence Tribunal to award Mr Conway a retrospective Victoria Cross or Star of Gallantry to continue Ms Woodford’s legacy in recognising her uncle’s bravery.
“We are trying to get Mr Conway recognised appropriately for his service,” Mr Laming said.
A petition in support of the recognition for Mr Conway is online at change.org/p/andrew-laming-mp-support-andrew-laming-mp-s-fight-to-recognise-the-bravery-of-warrant-officer-kevin-conway.
Ms Woodford told the Redland City Bulletin at the time of the burial at Cleveland that she had been raised by Mr Conway’s parents.
She was 13 when told that her Uncle Kevin was not coming home.
Mr Conway and United States Master Sergeant Gabriel Alamo were manning a mortar position at the camp as the attack began. Under heavy fire, they fought to the end, dying at their post.
Ms Woodford said she had sought a public interment because it was not known if there were people still alive who knew him.
“He deserves every accolade he can get,” she said.
Initially buried in South Vietnam, Mr Conway’s body was exhumed and interred in Singapore.
Ms Woodford said former prime minister Tony Abbott had offered government aid for families who sought the repatriation of remains from cemeteries in Malaysia and Singapore.
Redland City Council staff had also helped Ms Woodford in her efforts.
