9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Vietnam War
### Vietnam War

[thumb\|9 RAR soldiers remember comrades who died during the unit's deployment to South Vietnam at a parade held shortly ahead of their return to Australia in November 1969](/wiki/File:9_RAR_soldiers_during_their_farewell_parade_from_South_Vietnam_in_November_1969.jpg "9 RAR soldiers during their farewell parade from South Vietnam in November 1969.jpg")
After completing its training, an advance party of 150 men from the battalion arrived at the [1st Australian Task Force](/wiki/1st_Australian_Task_Force "1st Australian Task Force") base at Nui Dat in [Phuoc Tuy Province](/wiki/Phuoc_Tuy_Province "Phuoc Tuy Province") on 5 November 1968\. The rest of 9 RAR departed Adelaide on  on 9 November 1968 and while en route they celebrated the battalion's first birthday at sea, becoming the first battalion of the [Royal Australian Regiment](/wiki/Royal_Australian_Regiment "Royal Australian Regiment") to do so. They were also the first battalion to deploy on active service without first having been presented with their colours.

Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Albie Morrison, the main body arrived in country on 20 November 1968 and by early December, 9 RAR had commenced operations. Their first major operation, [Operation Goodwood](/wiki/Battle_of_Hat_Dich "Battle of Hat Dich"), was undertaken in [Bien Hoa Province](/wiki/Bien_Hoa_Province "Bien Hoa Province") and was a response to the increasing presence of [Vietcong](/wiki/Vietcong "Vietcong") (VC) forces in the province. Over the course of the tour, 9 RAR undertook eleven major operations that lasted roughly a month each, along with a number of other minor operations.

To a large extent these operations were focused upon pacification, which attempted to isolate the VC from the local population and to create a more secure situation in order to stabilise the South Vietnamese government. Thus the main role for 9 RAR at this time was to carry out reconnaissance\-in\-force and cordon\-and\-search missions to locate the VC base locations, clear land and to protect the civilian population. The majority of these operations were carried out in Phuoc Tuy, [Long Khanh](/wiki/Long_Kh%C3%A1nh_Province "Long Khánh Province"), Bien Hoa and [Binh Tuy](/wiki/B%C3%ACnh_Tuy_Province "Bình Tuy Province") provinces.

9 RAR remained in South Vietnam until 28 November 1969 when it was relieved by 8 RAR and returned to Australia. One [Distinguished Service Order](/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Order "Distinguished Service Order"), two [Military Crosses](/wiki/Military_Cross "Military Cross"), seven [Military Medals](/wiki/Military_Medal "Military Medal") and eleven [Mentions in Despatches](/wiki/Mention_in_Despatches "Mention in Despatches") were awarded to members of 9 RAR as result of their tour to South Vietnam. Casualties included 35 killed, and another 150 wounded.


How many people were killed during 9 RAR's deployment?