Saunders, Reginald Walter (1920-1990), became the first Aboriginal officer in the Australian Army when he was commissioned in 1944. In 1969, he was appointed as liaison officer to assist the minister for Aboriginal affairs.
Saunders was born on Aug. 7, 1920, in Portland, Victoria, Australia. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 and served in the Middle East, Greece, Crete, and New Guinea during World War II (1939-1945). He served as a company commander in the Korean War (1950-1953). He died in March 1990.
