Story told to Bob Meehan by Noel Hains
Way back in 1968-69, Victor Company, New Zealand infantry were attached to 4 RAR. While on operations near the Courtney Rubber Plantation in the north of Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, a Forward scout saw something that didn’t look right in the thick scrub in front of him……. A section of their fineness moved forward to discover an old French Citroën car. As the photos show they dragged it clear of the undergrowth …
Please NOTE!!! The number plate…………and bullet holes. repaired and painted it…………they were instructed to get rid of it as it was not military issued………not to be out-done by the authorities, some red and white paint mixed together, they painted it PINK and then donated it to Sister Pam Terry (Nurse) of the RNZNC to be used by them to drive around Vung Tau…………This was then passed on to each of the Aussie and Kiwi nurses over that following years………..
After taking it back to Nui Dat…..a little mechanical work and a new paint job…they had it up and running………
but alas, it was not of military issue…They were told to get rid of it…not to be out-done by the authorities they came up with a plan..(Don’t we all ???) . So with a tin of red paint and a tin of white paint……..they re-painted it PINK.
