Medals and mayoral chains were on show to honour the "coming home" of one of Cromwell’s own last week.
The official launch of Wellington author Mark Derby’s book Frontline Surgeon New Zealand Medical Pioneer Douglas Jolly was held on Wednesday in Cromwell, Lieutenant Colonel Jolly’s hometown.
The medals were worn by two Central Otago residents who are both former NZSAS members — Graye Shattky, and former chief of army with the New Zealand Defence Force Peter Kelly, now Central Otago District Council chief executive — to honour Lt Col Jolly.
Mr Shattky, a former major, opened the event, recalling his experience during the Tet Offensive, in Vietnam, in 1969.
Under rocket fire for hours, the wounded men around him were treated by medic Ron Pritchard, who was later awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
All the men he treated were eventually flown out by helicopter and survived.
Later Mr Shattky learned Mr Pritchard had read Lt Col Jolly’s book Field Surgery in Total War written some 25 years before, following the Spanish Civil War.
"I regret I did not know about Douglas Jolly until a memorial service in Cromwell.
"I would have thanked him for the legacy and knowledge and skills Ron called on that day."
Read the full story on the ODT here.
