211075 Cpl Hoerara GK

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Corporal George Kingi Hoerara, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, was killed in action in Vietnam on 26 January 1968. Originally from Horoera, north of Te Araroa on the East Coast, George had been living in Taihape when he enlisted into the New Zealand Army.  He initially served in the Korean War as a Signaller, before transferring to the New Zealand Regiment and serving in Malaya as a Private and Borneo as a Lance Corporal. Promoted to Corporal, George deployed to Vietnam as part of Whiskey Company of the First Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Australian Task Force.   

During platoon and section patrolling in the Horseshoe Area of Operations (AO) there were several clashes with the enemy resulting in one enemy being killed, three surrendering and one being captured.  Several other enemy were wounded in clashes but attempts to follow blood trails were unsuccessful.  During this period Corporal G. Hoerara was killed and another soldier wounded when an anti-personnel mine was detonated by a patrol.  

His remains were returned to New Zealand and he was buried at Te Araroa on 4 March 1968. He is remembered by many for many reasons the most popular of which was an unusual sense of humour.