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. 
@this-one-time-at-bandcamp wrote:As a former American veteran, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Australians who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam conflict.
I wonder how much being a member of SEATO influenced the decision to participate?
You are Welcome mate, ....and we Remember with Respect the huge price paid by your fellow countrymen/women to the Conflict in the South East Asian Republic of South Vietnam.
A War/Conflict that was as unpopular in the USA, as it was here.
Not withstanding that, our Troops went as Requested, Served, Died, were Wounded, and some were to become the group known as the MIA POW, never to return to their home country again. They paid the Supreme Sacrifice as well.
Most of the younger generation have little or no idea of the times or events that led up to this terrible war/conflict, seeing the nice Travel Advertisement's to go to Vietnam now, ....and how could our Countries invade such a beautiful country and people ?
History does not always portray the real account and actual facts we who were there went through. Sadly many are left with the mental scars of the event.
RIP Mates
