Vic Underwood was just 21 when he served as a tunnel rat, an elite group who dealt with mines, booby traps and tunnels.

At the Kootingal Anzac Day service, Mr Underwood was presented with the Unit Citation for Gallantry for his efforts during the Tet Offensive in 1967, which is when the war changed from skirmishes and guerilla warfare to some of the biggest battles seen since WWII.

A down-to-earth Moonbi man with a dry sense of humour, Mr Underwood was chuffed to receive the medal, but wished more of his fellow tunnel rats where still around to get the recognition they deserved.

"All of a sudden the army decided we need a citation for the gallantry shown through that period," he said

"There are so many in our little group of tunnel rats that are gone. It's too late for them, quite a few have passed away."

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While not one to blow his own horn, Mr Underwood said rebuffing the Tet Offensive was a huge effort by the Aussies.

"It was good to be recognised, because it was a big deal at the time," he said.

"The North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong said this is the year we drive them out, and that didn't happen.

"The boys were good enough to stop them. There were a lot of losses on both sides, but they stood up and were counted.

"People back home didn't want to know about it, but for those involved it was massive."

Mr Underwood also led the Kootingal Pony Club in the Anzac Day march, wearing a WWI Light Horse uniform.

"It was good of them to ask me - I knock them back a few times, but they had made up their mind, so the decision was take out of my hands," he said, with a chuckle.

While Mr Underwood looks forward to marching on Anzac Day, it wasn't always the case.

"I came home at the end of '68 and never marched in one until '96," he said.

"I tell you what, the Kootingal service is great show and gets a bloody big crowd for the amount of people that live in the area.

"I'm so bloody pleased with the number of people, young ones too, going to the dawn service. It's pretty good to see."

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