THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

RANSFIELD Arohanui Len

(Enlisted as A.L Ropata - Discharged as A.L Ransfield)

40532, Lance Corporal, V Company, 1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

CITATION

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gazetted 6 March 1969

Lance Corporal Arohanui Ropata enlisted in the New Zealand Regular Force on 5 July 1967, and after training in New Zealand was posted for duty

with 1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in Malaysia.  On 13 May 1968, he arrived in South Vietnam with V Company for duty with 4 Battalion

the Royal Australian Regiment/New Zealand (ANZAC)  On 22 June 1968 Lance Corporal Ropata was second in Command of a nine man patrol

which tracked, located and killed three Viet Cong.  The Patrol immediately came under unexpected and heavy fire from fifteen automatic weapons

from a range of about ten metres.  It later transpired that some seventy or eighty enemy took part in the contact.  One of the patrol was killed and

four wounded in the early part of the contact, both the patrol Commander and Lance Corporal Ropata were among the wounded.  Lance Corporal

Ropata however, remained at his post which was closest to the enemy, firmly controlling the fire of the riflemen and encouraging them with

cheerful comments while his wounded commander was freed to control supporting fire and armed helicopters.  The contact lasted for one hour

and forty minutes and included an enemy assault to close range, an enveloping move by another platoon of the enemy and a grenade assault.

During this time Lance Corporal Ropata not only skilfully applied the firepower of the patrol but also collected all available grenades and threw

them personally from an exposed and dangerous position: he watched the arrival of enemy grenades and, by warning the riflemen, arranged for

each grenade to be kicked away before exploding; he personally treated the wounds of two of the riflemen and, later, when ammunition became

low he arranged its redistribution and ordered the fixing of bayonets.  Lance Corporal Ropata’s energetic and cheerful leadership was reassuring

to his wounded officer, who was able to concentrate on the control of supporting fire, and to and the riflemen who were also inspired by his

disregard for his injuries and by his coolness and tactical skill.  Throughout the action he showed courage and leadership of the highest order

which contributed to the patrol remaining steadfast, thereby turning what could have been a tragic loss into a clear defeat of a superior enemy

force.

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Conduct Medal

New Zealand Operational Service Medal

Campaign Service Medal 1962

Malay Peninsula

Vietnam Medal

New Zealand General Service Medal (Warlike)

Vietnam

New Zealand Defence Service Medal

Regular

Pingat Jasa Malaya Medal

Vietnam Star

1960

NOTES

Born 23 Aporil 1943, Rotorua, New Zealand

Died - David Parata Te Moutere Ransfield - 20 May 2016 Rotorua, New Zealand

According to his family Mr Ransfield enlisted in the New Zealand Army in 1967 under the name of his cousin Arohanui Len Ropeta, because he was too young to join the army.

L/Cpl Ropeta changed his surname by deed poll to Ransfield after returning to New Zealand.