on 22-08-2015 12:52 PM
For many of us, we remember the events and happenings of the Major Conflict that we know today as The Vietnam War.
This was the first time that actual War Footage came into our Lounges via the square box with 4 legs on it, called the Television.
What many of us saw and had etched into our minds and memory banks was the sheer force of actual conflict being presented by both friend & foe. The senseless taking of life in not only Military Terms, but also Civilian Terms, was also unaccountable.
Peoples very lives, villages, homes, and families destroyed, and devastated, never to return to previous days.
Was it a War that we as Australians should have been involved in ?
Very easy for those who were not called up via Conscription, or were already Serving in the Australian Armed Forces.
Let us Remember three Main Points here:
1. Australia's involvement in the Vietnam Conflict was NOT VOTED ON BY PARLIAMENT as was required by e Constitution. Notice l termed it a Conflict & not a War. At no time did we declare War on North Vietnam.
The Serving Men & Women of the Australian Defence Force, are AT ALL TIMES UNDER ORDERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY.
There were many Serving Personnel that did not agree that we should have been involved in the Conflict, but were Duty Bound by the Constitution of their Country to obey the call for request by the Republic of South Vietnam for "assistance". This call
also echoed by the United States of America.
2. The Decision to Send "Assistance" Military wise, was not Voted on, but was a decision made by the Prime Minister at the time Harold Holt, PM and after his "Death", the next Prime Minister Robert Menzies, PM, with the support verbally of the Opposition Party,The Liberal Party.
3. The "Losers" in any War or Conflict are always the Civilian People, always have been through History, and always
wil be in any conflict, as we see today on our Teevision screens.l
Yes, we "Lost" many fine young Australian's to a conflict that today seems so far away, yet,should never be forgotten.
Whether "we" should have been there at all, was not decided by the Australian People, as it should have, but we were there, with Valour, Pride, & Distinction.
Was l asked if l "wanted" to be sent to a fair away place, meet interesting people's, and destroy them ? NO, but l went
and Served as l was Commanded to by my Commander, The Chief, of The Royal Australian Army. I obeyed, l served, and by the Grace of God, l was able to Return Home, even though Physically & Mentally Wounded to this Day. All War is Hell.
As we would often make comment, at the time, "Bloody ell mate, cannot remember the last time l saw a North Vietnamese
plane Bomb Australia." Point Taken.
50 Years may have gone by, but the pain, memory,suffering and reflections of the time, will never GO AWAY.
IN MEMORY OF ALL WHO HAVE SERVED AND GAVE THEIR ALL, IN THEIR SUPREME SACRIFICE. RIP. "Diggers"
Dale Dibble - The News & All The News.
on 22-08-2015 01:08 PM
on 22-08-2015 03:33 PM
@myoclon1cjerk wrote:
A series of negotiations took place between Australian, American and Vietnamese representatives to secure acceptance of the Australian troops. The South Vietnamese government and the American ambassador in Saigon, Maxwell Taylor, were initially reluctant to receive more foreign troops. It seemed that the necessary South Vietnamese invitation wasn’t going to be forthcoming.
Fortunately for Menzies, the South Vietnamese government was persuaded to accept the Australian offer. A formal request was given just before Menzies made his speech in Parliament.
Yes, l remember it well, the State by State newspapers were alive with " Troops to Vietnam"
and "We are on our Way"
Exciting times to take us our of Kings Cross & Redfurn, and off the Streets of Sydney Town.
Did you serve ?
We were doing Perimeter Security for the huge US Airforce Base at Bien Hoa.
Sadly there have been many other Military Involvements since this time, and looks like no lessening of them coming in the now and future.
on 22-08-2015 04:25 PM
You have your Prime Ministers a bit wrong.....Menzies was PM up to 1966 when he retired. Holt was the next PM...they were both Liberals. It was Holt who "went all the way with LBJ" which was why LBJ came to Australia for his Memorial Service. The Americans wanted to keep us on side.
on 22-08-2015 04:53 PM
22-08-2015 05:11 PM - edited 22-08-2015 05:13 PM
My contribution to this thread was to highlight the fact that Menzies really wasn't asked for help.As you can see, the request was made after the leadership of South Vietmam was convinced to ask for assistance i.e they probably had arms twisted.Nice of Mr Menzies to sacrifice Australian lives to suit his agenda.
on 22-08-2015 05:16 PM
My contribution to this thread
your? contribution?
on 22-08-2015 05:28 PM
You were lucky to go by plane.....pity the poor troops who went up on the HMAS Sydney...most of them were seasick.
I remember the events of that time very well. I was interested in the politics of the day as I had just turned 21 and was elegible to vote for the first time. I also married a sailor in 1966. He was serving on one of the Destroyer Escorts that accompanied the Sydney into Vietnam on her first trip with equipment. He later made another trip as crew on the Sydney...they used to delight in tipping the soldiers out of their hammocks when they went on watch. And a further trip on another DE.
In 1967 we were living on the Naval Base in Canberra when Holt went missing. By the time it was announced that LBJ was coming for the Memorial Service he had already landed at Fairburn RAAF base....my husband was responsible for the communications links to Air Force 1.
Eventful times!!!
on 22-08-2015 06:54 PM
on 22-08-2015 07:52 PM