Members Profile
Welcome to our first member profile where we get to know a little more about one of our valued members. We record answers to a few standard questions. This way the same approach is applied to everyone, but the responses reflect the individual’s own story. We post name, a photo(s) (e.g. when serving and perhaps present), age and area where they live e.g. Five Dock, Concord, etc.
There is a wealth of history and a story to be told by all of our members, this section is dedicated to acknowledging the contribution they have made in protection of our country.
Michael Perrott MG
This edition, we profile Michael Perrott, or more properly, O-2478 Lieutenant Commander Michael Anthony Perrott, MG, RAN. Michael kindly sent us some pics from 1968, which he notated.
Also, the picture shown above is from the Australian War Memorial (AWM), which notes ‘an informal portrait of 2478 Sub Lieutenant Michael Anthony Perrott, Pilot, 2nd Contingent, RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV), in his cabin at Bachelor Officers' Quarters (BOQ), 135th Assault Helicopter Company (135th AHC), United States Army. RANHFV is serving with the 135th AHC. Due to its integrated nature, the unit is designated an 'experimental military unit', with the nickname EMU.
Based originally at Vung Tau Air Base, the company moved to Fire Support Base Black Horse near Xuan Loc in December 1967. In December 1968 the unit was moved to Bearcat Base, north east of Saigon. Throughout their service in Vietnam members of RANHFV provided tactical airlift and gunship support for Australian and allied ground forces.’
Award for Gallantry
In 1969, during his operational tour to South Vietnam, Michael was engaged in an action for which he was ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ (MID). The citation published in ‘The Navy Day By Day: Historical Naval in Australia and Abroad’ dated 2 Feb 1969 (p.2), states that, ‘In 1969, a helicopter crewed by Sub Lieuts M.A. Perrott, RAN and R.J. Kyle, RAN, rescued the crew of a helicopter gunship shot down within 20m of a Viet Cong bunker. The rescued crew were Sub Lieuts W.E. Symons, RAN, and T.E. Supple, RAN.’
Medal for Gallantry
On 17 July 2019, it was officially promulgated in the ‘Special Honours, Australia’ the award to Michael of the Medal for Gallantry (MG), which recognises acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances. It is ranked third in the Gallantry Decorations in the Australian Honours System, and was cited as follows: Awarded to Lieutenant Commander Michael Anthony Perrott, RAN – For acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as the aircraft captain commanding the rescue of a downed helicopter crew in the vicinity of Vinh Long, South Vietnam on 2 February 1969.
Personal
While on his 13th return visit to Vietnam to attend a wedding in Nov 2O15, Mike met Ella. They were married in June 2016 and now have a 25-month-old son, named Louis.
We’re very proud that Michael is a member of our Sub-branch, thank him for his service, and for choosing to being part of the first Members’ Profile.
2 December 2020