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  Sergeant Robert Zitzelsberger enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 09 March 1965.

He was allotted to the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and served with units of his Corps until 1967. In May 1967, he was posted to 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight to take charge of the Airframes Section in the Flight workshops.

Sergeant Zitzelsberger organised his section into a highly efficient team, and by his personal example, inspired his men to complete tasks normally considered to be beyond their capacity.

In April 1968, a Cessna aircraft crashed shortly after take off, and was badly damaged. Sergeant Zitzelsberger worked for twenty hours each day for five days to repair the aircraft, without any jigs or the correct equipment. As a result of his unique skill and professional competence, the aircraft was available for operations after only six days. Thus, the requirement for a replacement aircraft from Australia, and the delay before arrival of the new aircraft, was avoided.

During the month of May 1968, the ten aircraft of the flight flew over fourteen hundred hours on operations, and the unit's maintenance effort was divided in two locations. During this period of maximum operational commitment, Sergeant Zitzelsberger was the major source of strength and enthusiasm in the hangar. As a direct result of his dedicated example, the servicing effort was able to keep pace with the heavy operational requirement.

By his dedication and extreme diligence, Sergeant Zitzelsberger became a source of pride to the unit during his tour. The excellence of his work and his keen devotion to duty reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the Australian Regular Army.

* Text of citation has been copied from the book "Vietnam Veterans Honours & Awards Army"      

 by Alexander M. Palmer.