Charles Peter Yacopetti MC MID
From Our Contribution
 | |
 2003 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 Sep 1929 |
| Place of Birth | Reggio, Calabria, Italy |
| Occupation | Student |
| Address | Mundaring, Western Australia |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 57013 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit/Formation | 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | POW 26 May 1953 |
| Monument(s) | Ballarat POW Memorial |
| Medals |
Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches Korea Medal United Nations Service Medal for Korea Australian Service Medal 1945-75 Vietnam Medal |
Contents
Introduction/ Pre War
Charles Yacopetti travelled from his home on the south coast of New South Wales to Armadale to participate in the dedication of the Gerald William Russell Reserve in Hilbert on 30 Oct 2004. This reserve is named after the one local who lost his life in Korea. At the ceremony Charles shared that he had for a short period of time attended the St Francis Catholic School before his family moved to Harvey. For a time, the family ran a small dairy farm before selling it after Charles' father became an invalid and his older brother was called up for service during WW2. The farm was sold and the family moved to Mundaring. Aged 18 Charles was accepted by Duntroon Military College, entering it on 1 Mar 1948. He graduated in 1951 and was posted to the WA based 6th Australian Recruit Training Company. In August 1952 he married Barbara, and soon after he was posted to Korea to join the 3rd Infantry Battalion' then part of the 28th Commonwealth Brigade.
War Service
Charles was one of the 30 Australians captured by the Chinese during the Korean War; six RAAF personnel and 24 Army; one of whom died in captivity.
Lieutenant Yacopetti commanded a rifle platoon from November 1952 until he was declared missing in action on 26 May 1953. He earned an outstanding reputation as a skillful and fearless leader and one who, by his desire to come to grips with the enemy, could be relied on to inflict heavy casualties on any enemy with whom his patrols made contact. Lieutenant Yacopetti led twenty fighting and reconnaissance patrols and his courage and coolness under fire, his aggressive outlook and concern for the welfare of those under his command are typified in the patrol action on Hill 355 (Little Gibraltar)from which he did not return.
On the night of 25/26 May 1953, Lieutenant Yacopetti commanded a fighting patrol of seventeen men which was attacked at close quarters by three groups of the enemy, each of approximately twenty men. During the first part of the action, in which he displayed great coolness and courage, Lieutenant Yacopetti's patrol, under his leadership, fought off and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, despite the fact that he himself was wounded soon after the beginning of the action. Shortly afterwards a further fierce assault was launched by the enemy. Despite the fact that his patrol had suffered heavy casualties and he himself had been wounded for a second time and as a result, was unable to move, Lieutenant Yacopetti again skillfully controlled his patrol's fire during this attack, dispersing the enemy. When the patrol was finally ordered to withdraw, he ordered that the other wounded men be evacuated first. Because of his decision, all except he and one other of the wounded, were able to be evacuated before the enemy attacked a third time and overran the area.
Notwithstanding several searches late into the night, Lieutenant Yacopetti could not be found. He was held captive for six days nearby before being moved to an underground hospital. Recovering, he was then sent to a POW camp where he remained until he was released on 26 Aug 1953 as part of the Armistice. Released he was then placed in custody by Commonwealth Military Authorities and was unable to speak to anyone until cleared by Army Investigators reviewing his behavior during captivity.
Lt Charles Yacopetti Addressing Troops on Hill 355 (“Little Gibraltar”) University of NSW https://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/578 1953
Charles at the 2004 Dedication Ceremony - Carol Reynolds photo
Award Comment
"An act of gallantry and devotion of duty during operations in Korea" London gazette24 Nov 1953: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 26 Nov 1953.
Presented to Charles by the Queen at Government House Perth on 27 Mar 1954 while Charles was serving with the 17th National Service Training Battalion at Swanbourne.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1968 soldier with Barbara at 2 Little Gibraltar road, Karrakatta; 1972 soldier at 13 Dumaresq street, Dickson ACT; 1977 - 1980 public servant at 12 Parer street Scullin, ACT; 2000's south coast NSW. From 27 Sep until 2 Oct 1966 Charles visited Vietnam as a Major and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Charles and Barbara had seven children, moving regularly to postings until he resigned his Commission with the wind down of the Army post Vietnam. He then joined the Australian Public Service and served with the Australian Schools Commission for eight years. Barbara died in 1994, and Charles later remarried.
Notes
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