Jason
Luck
Jason was one of the many Armoured corp members
we had in Cambodia. Due to Armoured corps member having high level
of communications training they fitted in well with our RASIGs
Radio Operators in the remote detachments.
Here is Jason's email detailing his adventures
in Cambodia and since coming home:
As a LCPL Crew Commander myself and 2 others
were selected from 2/14 LHR (QMI) for the main body of the FCU
for UNTAC. We gathered in Brisbane to do the pre deployment training
which was good as I was based in Brisbane at Enoggera anyway.
A lot of time spent painting bags and trunks and doing training,
which I can’t
begin to remember what about.
We
left form the old Brisbane International Airport on a charted British
Airways jet. Officers and SNCO’s getting first and
business class with the OR’s getting cattle class. This wasn't
too bad because we ended up with a few seats each to lie down.
By the time we reached Bangkok we had drunk the plane dry. In Bangkok
we had to reorganise our baggage as some would arrive later and
I had the dubious distinction of pushing crates of F88’s
through customs, luckily they were aware of what was inside. From
there it was a bus to our Hotel and then we all ended up down Pat
Pong road. I don’t recall sleeping in the room that night.
Early morning, hung over, and on another flight to Phnom Penh
and arrived to the oppressive heat. Took a while to clear customs
though!
So in country for 2 weeks sorting out equipment then off to Sihanoukille
as part of the troop. Then a few days there and off as part of
a 3 man detachment to Krong Koh Kong. Spent a few months there
and was then traded to the troop at Kampong Thom.
Kampong Thom troop was co-located within
the grounds of the Indonesian Battalion, in tents. It was divided
into a BRS (base radio station) and a COMCEN (communication centre). The
COMCEN was in the town and the BRS was in the INDO BATT camp.
After a few weeks the troop location was moved into town in a
house rented for us.
After the move the base was attacked by the
Khmer Rouge firing 107mm katusha rockets. About 14-17 rockets
were fired from about 1km’s away. It was late at night
and I was the only Australian on duty in the BRS. The rockets
made a hell of a racket coming in and exploded within the compound
and bracketed the BRS. I called in the attack to HQ then donned
flak jacket and helmet and kept low outside the tent while the
Indonesians manned the bunkers. Memorable moment was watching
the rockets coming in and bouncing over the ground in front of
the tent and then exploding past the base. After the rocket attack
I was awaiting the ground assault which I thought was coming
and thinking of ways to do a quick escape and evasion. Luckily
there was no attack. Damage was restricted to a few of our antennas
and minor damage to buildings. Although an Indonesian armoured
vehicle took a direct hit and was destroyed.
The next day the Indonesians went out in 2 truckloads, about 30
soldiers to investigate the launch site. I watched them come back
10 mins later minus their weapons. The Khmer Rouge had ambushed
them (no shots) and took their weapons and let them go before they
disappeared into the hills. How did this happen? Well, the Indonesian
soldiers only had issued 4 live rounds each and the platoon sergeant
held these, so each soldier only had an empty rifle and a bayonet.
No match for the hard core Khmer Rouge.
After that I was traded off to Kampong Chhnang and spent about
6-7 months there. First it was a 3 man detachment with a 3 man
Sig technician detachment running a relay station on a hill not
far from the COMCEN. After a few months it was decided to make
it a troop location. Funny thing is was that it was made up to
a 12 man troop, but only 3 of us worked the COMCEN, go figure.
Towards the election date the compound was
made safer with sandbags, bunker and weapon pits dug. These turned
into swimming pools at the start of the wet season, but we were
that much safer. Soon staff (from UNAMIC) was leaving due to
rotate home and we got the newbie’s in to show then the
ropes. So old faces were slowing disappearing. Then it was my
turn and we got a Mi26 to take myself and 3 others to PNP, now
that was a score.
Spent the next 2 weeks being prodded and poked
by the RAP staff and the day came when we saw a Qantas plane overfly
Pteah Australii compound. Had a parade to get the UN gong and we
hit the airport to leave after spending 12months and 2 days in
country. It was good to get home.
After Cambodia I went back to 2/14 LHR(QMI) and went overseas
again to East Timor with the 6RAR Bn Gp. This time as my bread
and butter army role as a Crew Commander. 7 months there in country
was a short trip compared to Cambodia.
After that transferred to reserves and spent until 2005 at 2/14.
After that got a job with CIMIC at HQ 1 DIV. Still there now as
a SGT.
Married in 2000 with the girl I was with when I
was in Cambodia and have a 6 year old boy. Living in Samford, Queensland
I am working with the Project Services department within Public
Works as a Quality Management Officer.
Click to see
Jasons
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