THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

MacKENZIE Alastair Ronald Forrest

42219, Lieutenant, 'V' Company, New Zealand Infantry

CITATION

Mention in Despatches

New Zealand Gazette Number 81 dated 29 October 1971

Lieutenant MacKenzie graduated from the Officer Cadet School Portsea on 9th December 1967. He was allotted to the Royal New Zealand Infantry

Regiment and posted to V Company in Malaysia in December 1969. He arrived in South Vietnam with Victor Five Company in May 1970.  Throughout

his active service Lieutenant MacKenzie has shown outstanding leadership, aggressiveness, determination and good tactical sense, and in

consequence his platoon has been effective and successful on operations.  On 25th July 1970 Lieutenant MacKenzie showed his qualities of

leadership when, after a heavy contact with the enemy, he coolly arranged and controlled the evacuation of nine of his soldiers and a member of 4

Troop NZSAS who was acting as a scout for the platoon who had earlier been wounded in a series of mine explosions. This task was successfully

completed under difficult conditions and in close proximity to the enemy.  The success of Lieutenant MacKenzie’s platoon is directly attributable to the

bold handling of this most competent platoon leader. His professional competence, personal standards and leadership reflect great credit upon

himself, his Regiment and the New Zealand Army.

AWARDS

Queen's Vietnam Medal

Mention in Despatches

New Zealand General Service Medal (warlike)

Vietnam

Campaign Service Medal

Vietnam Star

1960

NOTES

Born

Died