Corporal John ‘Snow’ Coughlan
Corporal John 'Snow' Coughlan became the first RAAF member awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM), the highest flying award for non-commissioned ranks (other than the Victoria Cross), since World War II.
On the 3rd of October 1967, Corporal John ‘Snow’ Coughlan was crewman of an Iroquois helicopter called out to assist an American helicopter which had crashed into dense jungle deep in Vietcong territory. When the Australians arrived, they found the crashed aircraft burning fiercely and its ammunition and rockets exploding. Without hesitation, Coughlan volunteered to be winched down to rescue the badly hurt Americans.
Assisted by a crewman from the wrecked helicopter, Coughlan prepared the three most seriously injured men for evacuation. Once they have been winched out, he searched for the remaining survivors who had wandered off in a state of shock. He then supervised their recovery by other helicopters which had arrived overhead. Throughout the rescue, Coughlan was exposed to exploding ammunition and rockets from the burning helicopter and was frequently forced to take cover from bullets and shrapnel.
Three months later Coughlan assisted with the rescue of another downed American helicopter, again facing danger coolly even though he knew he was an exposed and obvious target for enemy fire.
He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal in 1968 - the highest decoration for valour for non-commissioned aircrew other than the Victoria Cross; his conduct on both occasions demonstrated resolution and courage of the highest order. Coughlan was only the tenth member of the RAAF to receive the medal since it was instituted in 1943.
Coughlan remained in the Air Force after his tour of Vietnam, eventually reaching the RAAF’s highest non-commissioned rank of Warrant Officer. When he retired in 1989, he was widely respected for his professionalism and modesty.
'The John ‘Snow’ Coughlan CGM Encouragement Award'
Since 2010, educational bursaries funded by AFA Victoria have assisted over 40 young students of RAAF Vietnam veterans with their education or training endeavors.
A separate Incentive Award, funded by the RAAF VVA, in addition to the bursaries, was presented annually.
In 2014 the Incentive Award, with the new title of "Encouragement Award" and funded by individual members of AFA Victoria's Vietnam Veterans Branch, was formalised in memory of John “Snow” Coughlan CGM and presented each year by his widow, Gill.
(Sources: The Royal Australian Air Force – Alan Stephens, Oxford University Press 2001 pp. 269-270; Australian War Memorial)