G&DVVAA Presidents Welcome Message
14 August 2011 Geelong Vietnam Memorial
Thankfully we are blest this year with weather that allows us to hold our Vietnam Memorial Service out of doors at this Memorial today. The past two years it has had to be held indoors due to the inclement weather. As President of the Geelong & District Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia I would like to acknowledge the presence of the following dignitaries and special guests: “As per listing”
I would also like to welcome on behalf of the Committee and Members all Veterans their Partners and families and also the General Public to this Service honouring the sacrifice made by Australian Servicemen in the Republic of South Vietnam.
It is with sadness that the following members have fallen since our Last Service, We also remember and offer prayers and condolences to their grieving families and loved ones.
14/12/2010 31186 Harry James Wright AATT Vietnam 03/09/70-02/09/71
24/12/2010 39506 Alan John Connolly HQ Aust Force Viet 13/11/68-05/11/69
02/03/2011 3788230 Maitland Schofield 1st Field Squadron 07/01/67-06/12/67
04/06/2011 3796857 Christianus Koolen 1st Field Squadron 30/04/70-01/05/71
Most in attendance today understand that Vietnam Veterans Memorial day 18th August was chosen as it was the date of the first significant battle that Australian forces were involved in Vietnam.
On the 18th August 1966 D Coy 6RAR (Royal Australian Regiment), some 108 ANZAC’s (Incl. 3 NZ’s) fought courageously against a 2,500 plus enemy force, in the rubber plantation at Long Tan in the middle of a monsoon deluge. 19 Australians were killed, 28 wounded or injured. Enemy documents captured in 1969 showed 878 enemy soldiers were killed and over 1,500 wounded in action.
In 1968 the United States Military awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation to D Coy 6RAR for their courageous actions in overcoming an Enemy force greater that 25 to 1. However it has taken a further 43 years for the “Powers that Be” this year to award the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) to D Coy 6RAR (Long Tan 1966). The Governor General will be presenting the award at the 45th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan to the survivors and wider 6RAR family at Enoggera on 18th August 2011.
The length of time taken for official acknowledgements seems to be synonymous with the Vietnam Campaign. We often ask our Media to be present at events such as this with little or no result. Our Media would prefer to fill its pages with stories on the elite Sportsmen and Women and continually call them the Australian Public Heroes.
In my opinion these Sportspeople are idols not heroes, Australians need to lift their game and inject some patriotic endeavour into Australian culture.
The following is an extract from an article that I have read recently:
The Vietnam War was a disruptive and divisive experience for Australia as a nation, and for those who fought it in the country's name. History calls it the 'TV War' where the morning's battles were on the news at home that night. After initially supporting the War and the troops many Australians, particularly those in the media and public life, turned against it and, sadly, us who were sent to fight it. Politician's such as Robert McNamara in America and Malcolm Fraser here in Australia now tell us that it was a mistake, it should not have happened. That might appease the consciences of these old men but where does that leave us, you, and I, who served, who did our duty to the nation.
We now see in the media and hear politicians expressing their full support for the war in Afghanistan and the troops that have been sent there in our name. Fellow veterans it is now our duty to make sure that the media and more importantly the “powers that be” are not fair weather friends but will continue to support those who serve in our name. We know that war is not a game where you can take your bat and ball and go home if the going gets tough or someone spits in your eye or bites you on the arm. Wars are there to be won if the reasons for committing to them are well founded. This Government and the previous Government’s have told us that we are there for a just cause. Let them now see it through and let us never again have men and women treated poorly or shamefully for having done their duty.
There are young warriors now returning from overseas who need our support and advice now and at times a shoulder to cry upon. There are the mates in need of care, a visit, a hand or a kick up the backside! There are Widows and partners who silently cry out for our support. We need to be able to read those silent signs they give us, but are too embarrassed or too stubborn to ask for help.
The past is the Past so let us be proud of what we did so many years ago. I encourage you to stay the course, let us stand tall and say, “I am a Vietnam Veteran and be proud of it”.
Mr Ken Baker.
President G&DVVAA.
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