An official nominal roll was never maintained of personnel who served for New Zealand Defence Force during the Vietnam war. It was by chance a military officer intercepted pay books on their way to destruction. From those books the officer created an unofficial nominal roll listing those who served and with which sub-unit. Some names on the list are repeated within various sub-units where an individual served more than one tour of duty.
A count of all names determined that just over 3200 personnel actually served, given those with two or more tours of duty.
Of significance in the early 1980's an apparent causation of death was from abnormal health diseases and disorders, especially from cancer types that were uncommon, such as soft tissue sarcoma. At that time the stastical records indicated the USA population norm for that cancer as being 4:100,000. Forty years later, in 2010, the United Kingdom had a population of 62.77 million people, of whom 3300 were reported with soft tissue sarcoma.
Another factor highlighting issues among Vietnam veterans was an apparent disparity of the abnormal health diseases and disorders within that group and those who had served only in Malaysia and Borneo and not Vietnam. Initial root cause analysis by the Korea and Southeast Asia Forces Association indicated that the abnormal health diseases and disorders were NOT evident among personnel who had served in South East Asia but not Vietnam.
The New Zealand Ministry of Health in 2013 indicated the life expectancy at birth was 73.0 years for Maori males and 77.1 years for Maori females; it was 80.3 years for non-Maori males and 83.9 years for non-Maori females.
Total served: 191. Total deceased: 75. Percentage deceased: 39.26%.
Average age: 61.83 years. [75 less (age unknown 7 + accidents 3) -10] 65. Gross age 4233 less 214. Calculations 4019/65
Served with V1 but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
W2 | 38655 | Gatenby | J R | 1969 | 32 | V1/W2 | KILLED IN ACTIOM | |
V5 | 41301 | FISK | C R | 1970 | 25 | V1/V5 | KILLED IN ACTION V5 |
Total served: 163. Total deceased: 63. Percentage deceased: 36.80%.
Average age: 63.10years. [63 deceased less (age unknown 3 + KIA/DOW 1 + accidents 3) -7] 56. Gross age 3668 less 134 Calculations 3534/56
Served with V2 but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
SAS | 40363 | Peni | L R | 1987 | 51 | V2/NZSAS | Cancer | NK |
Total served: 173. Total deceased: 49. Percentage deceased: 27.74%.
Average age: 63 years. [49 less (age unknown 4 + KIA/DOW 2 + accident 4) -10] 39. Gross age 2686 less 240 Calculations 2446/39
Updated 11 Jul 18
No. | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
001 | 43295 | Bayler | A R | 2001 | 60 | V3 | Leukemia | NK |
002 | 41383 | BENSEMANN | D I | 1968 | 21 | V3 | KILLED IN ACTION | |
003 | K30760 | Cormack | D A | 1995 | 50 | V3 | Own hand | NK |
004 | 344168 | Horn | N E | 1992 | 55 | V3 | Cancer | NK |
005 | 40314 | Hotene | M H | NK | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
006 | 803812 | Maher | P T | 2003 | 63 | V3 | NK | NK |
007 | 469697 | Manihera | J H T | 1985 | 43 | V3 | Cancer | NK |
008 | 40742 | Martin | A F | 1999 | 51 | V3 | NK | NK |
009 | 43006 | Ngawhare | L J | 1995 | 51 | V3/W3 | NK | NK |
010 | Q40356 | Paora | T H | 1995 | 54 | V3 | Heart Attack | NK |
011 | 594484 | Peterson | J S | 1994 | 59 | V3 | NK | NK |
012 | F43015 | Riley | R L | 2001 | 61 | V3 | Cancer-prostate, testicular | Stroke |
013 | 342697 | Smith | R J | 1999 | 62 | V3 | Heart Attack | NK |
014 | 41882 | Smith | J A | 2001 | 54 | V3 | Accident | NK |
015 | 901672 | Thoreau | P R | 1998 | 53 | V3 | Heart Attack | NK |
016 | 41017 | Tipa | J R | 2003 | 55 | V3 | NK | NK |
017 | 901522 | Whibley | R G | 1999 | 54 | V3 | Cancer | NK |
018 | 43032 | WICKMAN | M J | 1968 | 21 | V3 | KILLED IN ACTION | |
019 | 42562 | Wilson | D R N | 1976 | 32 | V3 | Motor vehicle accident | NK |
020 | 42985 | Horne | G | 2003 | 55 | V3 | Stomach cancer | Liver cancer |
021 | 824666 | Leatham | B C | 2004 | 66 | V3 | NK | NK |
022 | 39946 | Burberry | L | 2005 | 62 | V3; NZSAS | Accident | NK |
023 | 378455 | Preston | G J | 2005 | 59 | V3 | Suddenly | NK |
024 | 697976 | Tahere | N W | 2005 | 61 | V3 | Cancer | NK |
025 | 41088 | Williams | L J H | 2005 | 65 | V3 | Cancer | NK |
026 | 30565 | Hall | M J | 2005 | 72 | V3 | Cancer | NK |
027 | 36760 | Poutu | J R | 2006 | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
028 | 42981 | Coombe | H T | 2007 | 61 | V3/W2 | NK | NK |
029 | 843946 | Eder | J R | 2008 | 62 | V3 | Multiple myeloma | NK |
030 | 40392 | Brown | P A< | 2009 | 68 | V3 | NK | NK |
031 | 565590 | Harding | J H | 2009 | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
032 | 543332 | Riri | J C | 2009 | 64 | V3/V6 | NK | NK |
033 | 208991 | Christie | R T | 2009 | 81 | V3/NZATTV | NK | NK |
034 | 39674 | Birkett | R F | 2011 | 77 | V3 | NK | NK |
035 | Y38800 | Wates | P W | 2012 | 80 | V3 | NK | NK |
036 | 699302 | Robinson | J T | 2012 | 66 | V3 | Cancer major organs | NK |
037 | 42916 | Wiltshire | C. D. | 2012 | 65 | V3 | NK | NK |
038 | 35661 | Mortenson | M.W. | 2013 | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
039 | 355587 | Milligan | C.W. | 2013 | 71 | V3 | NK | NK |
040 | 40508 | Perry | W.L. | 2013 | 73 | V3 | Brain aneurysm | NK |
041 | 552813 | Rangiuia | M. | 2014 | 77 | V3 | NK | NK |
042 | 40532 | Ransfield | D. P. DCM | 2016 | 73 | V3 | NK | NK |
043 | 42289 | Reweti | R R | 2017 | 68 | V3/W2 | NK | NK |
044 | 42998 | Beverley | D D | 2002 | 58 | V3 | NK | NK |
045 | 572333 | Kahika MID | W | 2017 | 73 | V3 | NK | NK |
046 | 37681 | Noble | A. W. | 2017 | 78 | V3 RNZAC | NK | NK |
047 | 41877 | Keelan | C. | 2017 | 78 | V3 | NK | NK |
048 | 938856 | Tuhura | O. B. G. | 2018 | 71 | V3 | NK | NK |
049 | 344972 | Barber | J. E. | 2018 | 83 | V3 | NK | NK |
050 | 40881 | Mako | R. N. | NK | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
051 | 41938 | Benjamin | R. B. | NK | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
052 | 477712 | Te Whata | S. | NK | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
053 | 43065 | Pringle | K. | NK | NK | V3 | NK | NK |
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
161 Bty | 540140 | Waharerau | F. A. | 2018 | NK | RNZA/V3 att RNZASC | NK | NK |
W1/W2/V6 | 544644 | Kopae | J. N. | 2018 | 72 | W1/V3/W2/V6 | Suddenly | NK |
Total served: 172. Total deceased: 55. Percentage deceased: 31.98%.
Average age: 66 years. [55 deceased less (age unknown 9 + KIA/DOW 6 + accidents 8)-23 = 32] 32. Gross total 2392 less 279. Calculations 2113/32
Updated 13 Jun 18
Served with but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
161 Bty | 529469 | Wihapi | T. R. | 2018 | 75 | RNZE att./V4/W3 | NK | NK |
Total served: 167. Total deceased: 35. Percentage deceased: 20.95%.
Average age: 63 years. [35 less (age unknown 1 + KIA/DOW 4 + accidents 3) -8] 27. Gross age 1912 less 216. Calculations 1696/27
Served with V5 but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
V5 | 210353 | Lomax | M. J. | 2018 | 83 | W1 | NK | NK |
Total served: 140. Total deceased: 40. Percentage deceased: 28.57%.
Average age: 58 years. [40 less (age unknown 1 + KIA/DOW 1 * accidents 3) -5] 35. Gross age 2210 less 169. Calculations 2031/35
Updated 24 Jun 18
Total served: 162. Total deceased: 67. Percentage deceased: 41.36%.
Average age: 70 years. [67 less (age unknown 8 + KIA/DOW 4 + accidents 3) -15] 52. Gross age 3897 less 252. Calculations 3645/52
Served with < > but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
W1/V3/V6 | 544644 | Kopae | J. N. | 2018 | 72 | W1/V3/W2/V6 | Suddenly | NK |
Total served: 179. Total deceased: 54. Percentage deceased: 30.17%.
Average age: 64 years. [54 less (age unknown 8 + KIA/DOW 6 + accidents 4) -18] 36. Gross age 2532 less 227 Calculations 2305/36
No. | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
001 | 43134 | Bermingham | A V | 1969 | 21 | W2 | DIED OF WOUNDS | |
002 | 38110 | Bold | W | 1985 | 46 | W2 | Heart Attack | NK |
003 | 41708 | BROWN | R H | 1969 | 27 | W2 | KILLED IN ACTION | |
004 | 43083 | Cope | S M | 1995 | 47 | W2 | Heart Attack | NK |
005 | 43326 | Henderson | M G | NK | NK | W2 | Heart Attack | NK |
006 | 43221 | Hollows | T N | 1969 | 20 | W2 | DIED OF WOUNDS | |
007 | 896774 | Hornbrook | L D | NK | NK | W2 | Heart attack | NK |
008 | 43349 | HURMAN | K H | 1969 | 21 | W2 | KILLED IN ACTION | |
009 | 43332 | McCauley | E F | 1999 | 56 | W2 | NK | NK |
010 | 679767 | Muir | D R | 1973 | 27 | W2 | Accident | NK |
011 | 42100 | O'Sullivan | M W | NK | NK | W2 | Accident | NK |
012 | 539244 | RADFORD | J W | 1969 | 29 | W2 | KILLED IN ACTION | |
013 | 552910 | Rautao | T B | 2002 | NK | W2 | Accident | NK |
014 | 380426 | Rimington | G R | 2002 | 56 | W2/W3 | NK | NK |
015 | 628931 | Stephens | N R | 1995 | 50 | W2 | Accident | NK |
016 | B43126 | Tauranga | J | 2003 | 55 | W2/V4/V6 | NK | NK |
017 | 41515 | Barkle | J E | 2004 | 56 | W2/W3 | Heart Attack | NK |
018 | 346808 | Karipa | D D | 2005 | 66 | W2 | NK | NK |
019 | 43175 | Malaquin | P R | 2006 | 66 | W2 | NK | NK |
024 | 43193 | Neville | B C | 2007 | 64 | W2 | NK | NK |
025 | 688830 | Williams | L G MC | 2008 | 74 | W2 | NK | NK |
026 | 43328 | Lepper | D P | 2009 | NK | W2 | NK | NK |
027 | 697917 | Matoe | D T | 2009 | 65 | W2/NZSAS | NK | NK |
028 | 552286 | Hokianga | S. H. P. | 2002 | 67 | W2/2NZATTV | NK | NK |
029 | 543357 | Lawson | K. H. | 1999 | 54 | W2/V5 | NK | NK |
030 | 803812 | Maher | P. T. | 2003 | 54 | V3/W2 | NK | NK< |
031 | 42530 | Mercer | G. H. | 2006 | NK | W2 | NK | NK |
032 | 209790 | Morunga | P. B. | 2006 | NK | W1/W2/V6 | NK | NK |
033 | 42568 | Nelson | A. W. | 2005 | 63 | V6/W1/W2 | NK | NK |
034 | 43122 | Williams | J. R. | 2006 | 57 | W2 | NK | NK |
035 | 334788 | Taua | D K | 2011 | 78 | W2 | NK | NK |
036 | 480864 | Hopa | A A | 2011 | 63 | W2 | NK | NK |
037 | 42931 | Atkinson | P G | 2011 | 61 | W2/V4 | NK | NK |
038 | 43237 | Taafe | P R | 2011 | 62 | W2 | Heart failure | NK |
039 | 378284 | Wipou | R | 2011 | 65 | W2 | NK | NK |
040 | 43207 | Kingi | R W | 2011 | 63 | W2 | NK | NK |
041 | 213087 | Rangi | T. H. BEM | 2013 | 85 | W2 | NK | NK |
042 | 896008 | Hedley | J B | 2013 | 82 | W2 | NK | NK |
043 | 14995 | Ritani | M R | 2014 | 77 | W2 | Suddenly | NK |
044 | 39957 | Anderson | J H | 2014 | 67 | W2 | NK | NK |
045 | 41927 | Smith | S H | 2006 | 65 | W2 | Brain Hemorrhage | Heart |
046 | 214430 | McRAE | P.G. | 2015 | 70 | W2 | NK | NK |
047 | 553229 | Waru | W. | 2016 | 78 | W2 | NK | NK |
048 | 42719 | Rau | H. H. H. | 2016 | 69 | W2 | NK | NK |
049 | 38655 | Gatenby | J R | 1969 | 32 | V1/W2 | KILLED IN ACTIOM | |
050 | 37622 | Lindsay | R. W. | 2017 | 77 | W2 | NK | NK |
051 | 375089 | Hagen | T. H. | 2017 | 72 | W2 | NK | NK |
052 | 42875 | Chapman | B. W. | 2018 | 69 | W2 | NK | NK |
53 | 937530 | Smith | R. D. | 2019 | 73 | W2 | NK | NK |
54 | 42557 | Naylor | T. W. | 2019 | 72 | W2 | NK | NK |
Served with W2 but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
V1 | 367746 | Harrison | J. | 2016 | 72 | V1/W2 | NK | NK |
Served with W2 but listed with service elsewhere, not included in statistical count here.
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
W1/W2/V6 | 544644 | Kopae | J. N. | 2018 | 72 | W1/V3/W2/V6 | Suddenly | NK |
Total served: 145. Total deceased: 58. Percentage deceased: 40%.
Average age: 58 years. [58 deceased less (age unknown 14 + KIA/DOW 3 + accidents 5) -22] 36.Gross age 2388 less 304 Calculations 2084/36
Updated 21 Jun 18
No. | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
001 | 43072 | Briscoe | G W | 1971 | 22 | W3 | NK | NK |
002 | 43723 | Broughton | J L | 1974-76? | NK | W3 | Vehicle accident | NK |
003 | 37575 | Brown | J. W. MC | 1997 | 57 | W3 | Haemorage | NK |
004 | 539553 | Butler | V C | 2001 | 61 | W3 | Brain | NK |
005 | 482859 | Cooper | T | 1970 | 22 | W3 | DIED OF WOUNDS | |
006 | 889059 | Glendinning | P C | 1975 | 38 | W3 | Cancer | NK |
007 | 483256 | GURNICK | J L | 1970 | 22 | W3 | KILLED IN ACTION | |
008 | 652984 | Henson | K A | 1988 | 42 | W3 | NK | NK |
009 | 38481 | Heremaia | Tw H | 1993 | 81 | W3/NZSAS | Drowning | NK |
010 | 80163 | Heywood | R D | 1981 | 40 | W3 | Accident | NK |
011 | 480441 | Jane | P R | 1989 | 42 | W3 | NK | NK |
012 | 43325 | Makowharemahihi | G | 2001 | 56 | W3 161 Bty |
Heart Attack | Liver disorder |
013 | 844033 | Mason | E F | NK | NK | W3 | Cancer | NK |
014 | 41965 | Morris | J G | 2002 | 69 | W3 | NK | NK |
015 | 43371 | Naughton | I R | 1971 | NK | W3 | NK | NK |
016 | 43343 | Nesbit | D R | 1972 | 28 | W3 | NK | NK |
017 | 630514 | Portland | L K | 2003 | 54 | W3 | NK | NK |
018 | 43729 | Schwass | R C | 1999 | 50 | W3 | Own hand | NK |
019 | 42449 | Shields | T T J | 1990 | 52 | W3 | NK | NK |
020 | 579531 | Stead | I W | 1994 | 57 | W3 | Heart Attack | NK |
021 | 43223 | Wright | D N | 1970 | 24 | W3 | DIED OF WOUNDS | |
022 | 337670 | Yandall | J. B. MID | 1982 | 49 | W3 | NK | NK |
023 | 916642 | Brooker | G R | 003 | 63 | W3 | Cancer: liver/pancreas/kidneys | NK |
024 | 41912 | Spence | D W | 2005 | 56 | W3 | Neurological Disorder Huntingtons disease |
NK |
025 | 37933 | Hemana | M K | 2005 | 65 | W3 | NK | NK |
026 | 43689 | Drylie | C M | 2005 | 55 | W3 | Cancer | NK |
027 | 43514 | Mihinui | T J | 2000 | 50 | W3 | NK | NK |
028 | 383901 | Te Haara | R H | 2006 | 60 | W3 | NK | NK |
029 | 390389 | Alex | G A | 2007 | NK | W3 | NK | NK |
030 | 541953 | Turner | D R | 2007 | NK | W3 | NK | NK |
031 | 42775 | Ashford | W. G. | 2008 | NK | W3 | NK | NK |
032 | 303236 | Simeon | D. | 2009 | NK | W3 | NK | Ongoing health issues. |
033 | 729910 | Moana | P. | 2009 | NK | W3 | Sudden death | NK |
034 | 777186 | Mortimer | A. J. | 2010 | NK | W3 | Cancer | NK |
035 | 711777 | Thompson | E. | 2010 | 76 | W3 | Natural | NK |
036 | 623038 | Harris | L. H. | 2010 | NK | W3 | NK | NK |
037 | 43443 | Lewis | D. J. | 2011 | 62 | W3 | Bowel cancer | Cancer of lungs, liver |
038 | 41790 | Bridge | H G. | 2011 | NK | W3 | Veh accident | NK |
039 | 41731 | Howell | N. A. | 2013 | 66 | W3 | Cancer | NK |
040 | 350483 | Hopkins | P. S. | 2014 | 74 | W3 | NK | NK |
041 | 727936 | Kenyon | W. R. | 2014 | NK | W3 | Cancer | NK |
042 | 43730 | Harris | P. B. | 2014 | 65 | W3 | Accident | NK |
042 | 43659 | Mahoney | O S | 2006 | 57 | W3 | NK | NK |
044 | 43436 | Malloy | W.W. | 2015 | 66 | W3 | Cancer | NK |
045 | 43827 | Dunlea | R. S. | 2016 | NK | W3/V5 | Suddenly | NK |
046 | 544995 | Wihapi | M | 2015 | NK | W3 | NK | NK |
047 | 42582 | Chambers | D R | 2018 | 74 | W3 | NK | NK |
48 | 839836 | Cribb | P. R. | 2017 | 74 | W3 | NK | NK |
049 | 43655 | Revell | J. W. | 2017 | 69 | W3, V5 RNZSigs | NK | NK |
050 | 729539 | Mullen | J. P. M. | 2017 | 69 | W3 | NK | NK |
051 | 573486 | Nissen | G. L. | 2017 | 71 | W3 | NK | NK |
052 | 481068 | Rich | M. C. | 2017 | 70 | W3 | NK | NK |
053 | 42876 | Kupenga | P. | 2016 | 72 | W3 | NK | NK |
054 | 40941 | Boylan | B. J. | 2018/td> | 71 | RNZASC | NK | NK |
055 | 43715 | Ryalls | G. S. | 2018 | 68 | RNZIR | NK | NK |
056 | 43715 | Graeme | G. S. | 2018 | 69 | RNZIR | NK | NK |
List | Service No. | Last Name | Init's | Year | Age | Sub-unit | Causation | Other Conditions |
161 Bty | 529469 | Wihapi | T. R. | 2018 | 75 | RNZE att./V4/W3 | NK | NK |