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  Captain Rowan Monteith was commissioned in the Australian Army on 11 July 1966, and was allotted to the Royal Australian Army Education Corps.

He subsequently transferred to the Australian Army Aviation Corps and qualified as an Army pilot at 1st Aviation Regiment. On arrival in South Vietnam on 11 March 1971, he assumed the appointment of Rotary Wing Section Commander which he held until June 1971, when he became Second-in-Command and Operations Officer of 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight.

Throughout his tour of duty in South Vietnam, Captain Monteith has displayed above average skill as a reconnaissance pilot. His maturity an experience have enabled him to gain valuable and timely information on enemy locations and camps which has significantly contributed to the intelligence gained by the 1st Australian Task Force. To ensure that this information was as accurate as possible, he has repeatedly flown his unarmed helicopter at slow speeds and at tree top height over known or suspected enemy areas, thereby exposing himself to fire.

As the Rotary Wing Section Commander and later as the unit Second-in-Command and Operations Officer, Captain Monteith has widely guided new and inexperienced pilots in their operational tasks and has ensured that the maximum possible support was provided by the flight to units of the 1st Australian Task Force and other allied units operating in Phuoc Tuy Province.

By his skill, leadership and determination when seeking out the enemy, Captain Monteith has been an inspiration to all ranks of the unit and his conduct reflects great credit upon himself, his Corps and the Australian Army.

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

 by Alexander M. Palmer.