• "Victoria Cross for Australia"
• Distinguished Conduct Medal ( DCM )
• Australian Active Service Medal ( 1945 - 1975 )
  • 1 clasp
  • "Vietnam"
• Vietnam Medal ( 1964 - 1973 )
• South Vietnam Campaign Medal ( Republic of Vietnam )

For the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal ( DCM )

[ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 29 August 1968 ]

[ London Gazette, 10 August 1968 ], Battle of Fire Support Base Coral, 14 May 1968, Private Richard Leslie Norden, 1st Bn, Royal Australian Regiment.

On 14 May 1968 during Operation Toan Thang, 5th Platoon, B Company came under heavy fire from an estimated squad of Viet Cong.

In the initial contact both the forward scout and the section commander were wounded some twenty to thirty metres in front of the remainder of the leading section, which was isolated from the remainder of the platoon due to heavy and accurate enemy fire.

Private Norden, a member of the leading section, asked for covering fire and ran forward under heavy enemy fire to the wounded section commander. He killed one Viet Cong whilst moving forward, and having expended his ammunition recovered the enemy’s automatic weapon which he used against further Viet Cong while assisting the wounded section commander back to the section. Due to this initial action the life of the section commander was saved under intense enemy fire.

Although wounded in his initial move forward Private Norden again advanced to the forward scout. He was fired on by an enemy soldier, but pressed forward and reached the scout killing the Viet Cong who had been using the scout as a shield. Private Norden having determined that the scout was dead, returned to the section, collected grenades and cleared the area so that the body of the scout could be recovered.

His three attacks into the enemy position on his own resulted in the enemy position being secured.

Private Norden showed a complete disregard for his own personal safety, and by his courage and devotion to duty ensured the evacuation of a wounded man and the recovery of the body of the forward scout. Private Norden personally killed at least three Viet Cong in this action.

Richard Norden's service to his country continued when he returned to Australia and became an Australian Capital Territory police officer. He died at the young age of 24 years following a traffic accident while on duty. He is buried in the Woden Cemetery, Phillip, Canberra, ACT.