Sandy MacGregor

For the professional Canadian ice hockey player, see Sandy McGregor.
Sandy MacGregor
Born (1940-03-16) 16 March 1940[1]
New Delhi, India[2]
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Army (1957–70)
Australian Army Reserve (1970–80)
Years of service 1957–80
Rank Colonel
Commands held Officer Cadet Training Unit
University of New South Wales Regiment
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Military Cross
Reserve Force Decoration
Bronze Star Medal (United States)
Website www.calm.com.au

Colonel Alexander Hugh "Sandy" MacGregor, MC, RFD (born 16 March 1940) is an Australian author and former army officer. He now trains people in the public, educational and private sectors on how to "use the power of the subconscious mind."

Early life

MacGregor was born in New Delhi on 16 March 1940, where his father was serving in the Royal Australian Engineers. His grandfather and great-grandfather had also served in the Corps of Engineers.[3] His family relocated to Ulverstone, Tasmania, when he was eight years old.[2]

Military service

MacGregor graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1960 and then completed a degree in civil engineering at the University of Sydney.[2]

MacGregor served in the Vietnam War as a captain, commanding the 3 Field Troop engineers from September 1965 to September 1966. MacGregor was the first anti-communist soldier to explore the Cu Chi tunnels.[3] Whereas standard US Army practice had been to seal, blow up or otherwise attempt to render tunnel systems unusable with smoke, tear gas and explosives before quickly moving on, MacGregor and his men searched and mapped the tunnels they found, using telephone line and compasses to plot the subterranean passages. MacGregor was the first to head down the tunnels. With a torch in one hand and his army pistol in the other, he was lowered into a tunnel by his sergeant, who had tied a rope around one of his legs.[3] Over a period of four days MacGregor and his men found ammunition, radio equipment, medical supplies, typewriters, over 100,000 pieces of paper and food as well as signs of considerable Viet Cong presence. One of the men under his command, Corporal Bob Bowtell, died from asphyxiation[3] when he became trapped in a tunnel that turned out to be a dead end. At an International Press Conference in Saigon shortly after Operation Crimp, MacGregor referred to his men as tunnel ferrets. An American journalist, having never heard of ferrets, used the term tunnel rats instead. The term stuck, and has since been used to refer any soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War. MacGregor was later awarded the Military Cross for his leadership and actions.[4] He was also awarded a Bronze Star Medal by the United States Armed Forces.[2]

MacGregor's service included commanding both the Officer Cadet Training Unit and the University of New South Wales Regiment. He finished his career in the military as a colonel in the Australian Army Reserve.[2]

MacGregor returned to Vietnam in 1998 to revisit the tunnels he explored and meet with former enemy soldiers.[3]

Post-military life

After he had retired from the army, MacGregor began working for his father-in-law.[3] He later divorced his first wife Beverley, with whom he had four children, and married Sandra with whom he had another two children. On January 23, 1987, MacGregor's three daughters from his first marriage and a friend were shot dead by Richard Madrell,[5] a paranoid schizophrenic who was reportedly infatuated with one of the daughters.[3] MacGregor states he began "meditating again soon after the murder and I realised in meditation that hatred, anger and revenge will only make me another victim. That's when I started to work within meditation, acceptance, co-operation, unconditional love and forgiveness." MacGregor subsequently wrote two books, Switch on to Your Inner Strength and Creating Happiness Intentionally, which feature chapters on forgiving others.[5] He began running lectures and seminars on the power of the subconscious mind and overcoming pain and distress.

In a radio interview with Margaret Throsby MacGregor publicly stated for the first time that he had forgiven Madrell.

She actually asked me the question, "And you have forgiven him?" And that was when I, you know, had this rush of adrenalin, and thinking, "Well, hey, it's too late now. People are going to think I'm a bit of a nut." "Yes, I have forgiven him, Margaret."
— Sandy MacGregor being interviewed on Australian Story

454 people rang the radio station regarding MacGregor's interview. MacGregor states he has received letters from people who are angry that he has forgiven the killer, on the grounds that this is dishonouring his daughters. MacGregor maintains that forgiveness is for the forgiver, not for the forgiven, and that by moving forward and not carrying anger he is honouring them.[3]

In 2001 MacGregor met Madrell in prison for the first time and forgave him face to face.[3]

I want to reiterate that I [did] it for me, not for him. It doesn't give him carte blanche to go out and do it again.
— Sandy MacGregor being interviewed on 60 Minutes

MacGregor believes Madrell should remain in gaol for life as his schizophrenia makes him a danger to the public. He continues to run seminars encouraging people to "use their inner strength and power". His ex-wife Beverley is reported to be unhappy that MacGregor speaks of their daughters murders in his books and seminars, as she believes he does not have the right to gain financially from the incident.[3]

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ "MacGregor, Alexander Hugh". Vietnam War Nominal Roll. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 MacGregor, Sandy; Thompson, Jimmy (1993). No Need For Heroes. CALM Pty Limited. p. 6. ISBN 0-646-15167-3.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Devil You Know". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. July 19, 2001. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ Ham, Paul (2007). Vietnam: The Australian War. Sydney, NSW: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-7322-8237-0.
  5. 1 2 "Fighting for justice: Mark Middleton and Sandy MacGregor". 60 Minutes. April 1, 2001. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
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