Introduction
1 Elizabeth Stewart, ‘Return to Vietnam’, Paper, University of Newcastle, 2005
2 Ian McNeill, The Team: Australian Army Advisers in Vietnam 1962–1972, pp. 128–9
3 Elizabeth Stewart, op. cit.
4 Ibid
5 Ibid
6 ‘Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of development and significantly reducing poverty. Growth averaged around 9 percent per year from 1993 to 1997.’ Source: The World Factbook 2007, www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/vm.html
7 Elizabeth Stewart, op. cit.
8 Ibid
9 Ibid
10 Bruce Davies and Gary McKay, The Men Who Persevered—The AATTV: The Most Decorated Australian Unit in the Viet Nam War, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2005
11 Gary McKay, Delta Four—Australian Riflemen in Vietnam, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1996
12 Interview with Garry Adams, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
Chapter 1 Great expectations
1 Interview with Garry Adams, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
2 Letter, Steve Campling, 24 December 2005
3 Letter, Derrill De Heer, 17 May 2006
4 Ibid
5 Letter, Bob Hann, 25 July 2006
6 Letter, Garry Heskett, 19 June 2006
7 Ibid
8 Letter, Suzanne Heskett, 16 June 2006
9 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, Mt Gravatt, Qld, 27 February 2006
10 Ibid
11 Ibid
12 Interview with Peter Rogers, Yaroomba, Qld, 12 December 2005
13 Ibid
14 Ibid
15 Ibid
16 Letter, Ian Ryan, 2 May 2006
17 Interview with Garry Adams, 12 October 2005
18 Ibid
19 Ibid
20 Letter, Bob Hann
21 Letter, Steve Campling
22 Letter, Derrill De Heer
23 Letter, Garry Heskett
24 Letter, Ian Ryan
25 Letter, Derrill De Heer
26 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, 27 February 2006
27 Ibid
28 Interview with Peter Rogers, 12 December 2005
29 Gary McKay, Delta Four—Australian Riflemen in Vietnam, Allen &Unwin, Sydney, 1996, p. 246
Chapter 2 The 5 RAR tour group
1 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, Canberra, ACT, 20 February 2005
2 The HMAS Sydney was a converted ex-Royal Navy aircraft carrier. This ‘fast troop transport’ ship became known as the ‘Vung Tau Ferry’ or ‘The Steak and Kidney’.
3 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, 20 February 2005. In the Second World War Chin Peng rose to prominence in the jungles of Malaya where many Chinese Malayans were waging a guerrilla war against the occupying Japanese. After the war he was elected Secretary General of the Communist Party of Malaya and gained notoriety for leading an armed insurgency that was responsible for the deaths of many civilians. He was exiled from Malaya but continued to lead the struggle against British rule.
4 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, 20 February 2005
5 Citizen Military Forces (now known as the Army Reserve) soldiers and officers could be transferred to the Regular Army on what was called Full Time Duty status, abbreviated to FTD— usually for a minimum period of twelve months.
6 The Officer Training Unit at Scheyville just outside Sydney was established in 1965 to train selected national servicemen as officers for the Army. It was a 22-week course and based on the twelve-month Regular Army Officer Cadet School (OCS) course conducted at Portsea in Victoria. The training is described in some detail in my first book, In Good Company, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1987.
7 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, 20 February 2005
8 Ibid
9 Ibid
10 Ibid
11 Ibid
12 Ibid
13 Ibid
14 Interview with Paul and Wendy Greenhalgh, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
15 Ibid
16 Prospective medical officers were trained in an Army undergraduate medical program that required a return of service obligation after graduation of at least five years.
17 Interview with Ted and Joy Heffernan, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
18 Ibid
19 Ibid
20 Interview with Peter Isaacs, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
21 Ibid
22 Letter, Peter Isaacs, 7 September 2005
23 Ibid
24 Ibid
25 Interview with Ben Morris, Yaroomba, Qld, 8 March 2005
26 Ibid
27 Ibid
28 Ibid
29 Ibid
30 Ibid
31 Ibid
32 Ibid
33 Ibid
34 Ibid
35 Ibid
36 Interview with Ben Morris, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
37 Interview with Ben Morris, 8 March 2005
38 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Royalla, NSW, 2 September 2005
39 Ibid
40 Ibid
41 Ibid
42 Ibid
43 The Army infantry battalions underwent several organisational changes after the Second World War as defence planners struggled to come to grips with a shift in alliances and a change in strategic outlook. These changes are discussed in a history of The Royal Australian Regiment, Duty First, by Dr David Horner, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1990, pp. 134–44.
44 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Brisbane, Qld, 14 July 2005
45 Ibid
46 Ibid
47 Ibid
48 Letter, John Taske, 13 September 2005
49 Interview with John Taske, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
50 Letter, John Taske
51 Ibid
52 Interview with Tina Taske, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
53 Interview with Roger Wainwright, Canberra, ACT, 15 February 2005
54 Ibid
55 Ibid
56 Ibid
57 Ibid
58 Ibid
59 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
60 Ibid
61 Letter, Tony White, 9 September 2005
62 Ibid
63 Ibid
64 Interview with Tony, Doffy and Rupert White, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
65 Letter, Tony White
66 Ibid
67 Interview with the White family, 9 October 2005
68 Ibid
69 Ibid
70 Ibid
71 Ibid
Chapter 3 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and surrounds
1 Gary McKay, Australia’s Battlefields in Viet Nam, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2004; this book is a tool for those who wish to visit the battlefields where the 1st Australian Task Force units fought during the war. For a more comprehensive guide to the country, the culture and travel-oriented matters, readers should refer to travel guides such as Lonely Planet.
2 Letter, Peter Isaacs, 18 November 2005
3 Interview with Peter Rogers, Yaroomba, Qld, 12 December 2005
4 Letter, Derrill De Heer, 17 May 2006
5 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Brisbane, Qld, 14 July 2005
6 Interview with Peter Rogers, 12 December 2005
7 Gary McKay, Bullets, Beans & Bandages: Australians at War in Viet Nam, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1999, p. 74
8 Gary McKay, Bullets, Beans & Bandages, p. 61
9 Gary McKay, Bullets, Beans & Bandages, p. 73. Wallaby Airlines was the nickname given to the RAAF 35 Squadron and the Caribou short take-off and landing aircraft, owing to the squadron insignia on the tailplane.
10 For a full account of the battles, see The Battle of Coral: Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral May 1968 by Lex McAulay, Hutchinson, Melbourne, 1988.
11 Interview with Peter Rogers, 12 December 2005
Chapter 4 Inside the wire: Nui Dat
1 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, Mt Gravatt, Qld, 27 February 2006
2 Letter, Derrill De Heer, 17 May 2006. (On 23 November 1969 and just prior to 9 RAR’s departure from South Viet Nam, a disgruntled soldier placed an M26 HE grenade into a tent that housed Lieutenant Convery and his platoon sergeant. Convery was killed in the subsequent explosion.)
3 Letter, Bob Hann, 25 July 2006
4 Letter, Ian Ryan, 2 May 2006
5 Interview with Roger Wainwright, Canberra, ACT, 15 February 2005
6 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Brisbane, Qld, 14 July 2005
7 Ibid
8 Letter, Peter Isaacs, 18 November 2005
9 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, Canberra, ACT, 20 February 2005
10 Interview with Ben Morris, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
11 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
12 Interview with Peter Rogers, Yaroomba, Qld, 12 December 2005
13 The Australian Veterans Vietnam Reconstruction Group also supports an orphanage in Ba Ria (Phuoc Le) township and has been doing so for many years. For more information on their activities see their website at http://avvrg.au104.org/.
14 Interview with John Taske, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
15 Interview with Tony, Doffy and Rupert White, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
16 Interview with Rupert White, Vung Tau, SRV, 8 October 2005
17 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
18 Ibid
Chapter 5 Outside the wire: Phuoc Tuy
1 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, Mt Gravatt, Qld, 27 February 2006
2 The Regional Forces (formerly the Civil Guard) and the Popular Forces (formerly the Self Defence Corps) were South Vietnamese militia. The Popular Forces were trained and equipped to a lesser level than the Regional Forces.
3 Letter, Garry Heskett, 19 June 2006
4 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, 27 February 2006
5 Operation Hardihood was conducted from 24 May to 12 June 1966, and involved units from the American 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) based at Bien Hoa, 5 RAR and elements of the future Australian Task Force.
6 Interview with Peter Isaacs, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
7 Ibid
8 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, Canberra, ACT, 20 February 2005
9 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, 27 February 2006
10 Interview with Ben Morris, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
11 Ibid
12 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
13 Interview with Peter Rogers, Yaroomba, Qld, 12 December 2005
14 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
15 Interview with John Taske, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
16 Interview with Roger Wainwright, Canberra, ACT, 15 February 2005
17 Ibid
18 Ibid
19 Interview with Ron Shambrook, 12 October 2005
20 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, 20 February 2005
21 Interview with Paul and Wendy Greenhalgh, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
22 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Royalla, NSW, 2 September 2005
23 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
24 Interview with John Taske, 11 October 2005
25 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, 20 February 2005
26 Letter, Derrill De Heer, 17 May 2006
27 Interview with Peter Isaacs, 11 October 2005
28 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, 27 February 2006
29 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, 11 October 2005
30 Ibid
31 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, 11 October 2005
32 Interview with Tony, Doffy and Rupert White, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
33 Robert O’Neill, Vietnam Task: The 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, 1966–67, Cassell Australia, Melbourne, 1968, pp. 221–6, 228
34 Interview with the White family, 9 October 2005
35 Interview with Roger Wainwright, 15 February 2005
36 Letter, Peter Isaacs, 18 November 2005
37 Interview with Roger Wainwright, 15 February 2005
38 Interview with Peter Rogers, 12 December 2005. For a full account of the battle at Binh Ba, see Gary McKay and Graeme Nicholas, Jungle Tracks—Australian Armour in Viet Nam, Allen &Unwin, Sydney, 2001.
39 The aviators were Captain Barry Donald and Second Lieutenant Alan Jellie, flying a Pilatus Porter at night and shot down on 3 December 1969.
40 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Vung Tau, SRV, 8 October 2005
41 A military demarcation line on the 17th Parallel split Viet Nam as a result of the Geneva Accords, which came into effect at midnight on 22 July 1954.
42 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, 11 October 2005
43 Interview with Wendy Greenhalgh, Vung Tau, SRV, 8 October 2005
Chapter 6 Long Tan: The Cross
1 Elizabeth Stewart, ‘Return to Vietnam’, Paper, University of Newcastle, 2005
2 Interview with Steve Campling, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 12 August 2002
3 Interview with Bob Hansford, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 12 August 2002
4 Interview with Gail Campling, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 12 August 2002
5 Letter, Gail Campling, 24 December 2005
6 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, Canberra, ACT, 20 February 2005
7 For Buick’s account of the battle, see Bob Buick and Gary McKay, All Guts and No Glory—The Story of a Long Tan Warrior, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2000.
8 Interview with Paul Greenhalgh, 20 February 2005
9 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Brisbane, Qld, 14 July 2005
10 Interview with Ted and Joy Heffernan, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
11 Interview with John Taske, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
12 Ibid
13 Ibid
14 Interview with Ben Morris, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
15 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
16 Ibid
17 Interview with Ron Shambrook, 14 July 2005
18 Ibid
19 Interview with Peter Rogers, Yaroomba, Qld, 12 December 2005
20 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
21 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
22 Interview with Tony, Doffy and Rupert White, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
23 Interview with Peter Isaacs, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
24 Ba Ria–Vung Tau Guidebook, 2005, and letter from Garry Adams, 23 November 2006
25 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, Mt Gravatt, Qld, 27 February 2006
26 Excerpt from Wartime, Issue 35, July 2006, p. 16
Chapter 7 The gamut of emotions
1 Interview with Garry Adams, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
2 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
3 Interview with Garry Adams, 12 October 2005
4 Ibid
5 Letter, Steve Campling, 24 December 2005
6 Interview with Ted and Joy Heffernan, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
7 Ibid
8 Interview with Ron Shambrook, 12 October 2005
9 Interview with Ben Morris, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
10 Ibid
11 Interview with Peter Isaacs, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
12 Interview with John Taske, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
13 Interview with Tony, Doffy and Rupert White, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
14 Interview with Paul and Wendy Greenhalgh, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
15 There are 24 Viet Nam servicemen buried in the Australian section of the War Cemetery at Terendak in Western Malaysia, and one (Warrant Officer Class 2 Conway) interred at Kranji Military Cemetery in Singapore.
16 Interview with Ben Morris, 12 October 2005
17 Ibid
18 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
19 Ibid
20 Ibid
21 Interview with the White family, 9 October 2005
22 Letter, Bob Hann, 25 July 2006
23 Ibid
24 Letter, Garry Heskett, 19 June 2006
25 Interview with Peter Isaacs, 11 October 2005
26 Ibid
27 Ibid
28 Ibid
29 Letter, Peter Isaacs, 18 November 2005
30 Interview with Bill Kromwyk, Mt Gravatt, Qld, 27 February 2006
31 Ibid
32 Interview with John Taske, 11 October 2005
33 Ibid
34 Interview with Ron Shambrook, 12 October 2005
35 Letter, Ian Ryan, 2 May 2006
36 Ibid
37 Interview with Garry Adams, 12 October 2005
38 Ibid
39 Letter, Gail Campling, 24 December 2005
40 Interview with Paul and Wendy Greenhalgh, 12 October 2005
41 Interview with Garry Adams, 12 October 2005
42 Letter, Derrill De Heer, 17 May 2006
43 Ibid
44 Interview with Robyn Nolan, Coolum Beach, Qld, 3 May 2006
45 Ibid
46 Ibid
47 Ibid
48 Ibid
49 Ibid
50 Ibid
51 Ibid
52 Ibid
53 The War Atrocities Museum, as it was called when the report was written, is now known as the War Remnants Museum. It is located in the former US Ambassador’s residence in Ho Chi Minh City and contains graphic displays showing images after the My Lai massacre, summary executions and many dead Vietnamese, as well as glass jars containing grotesque, seriously malformed unborn foetuses, claiming Agent Orange to be the cause. Regardless, there are no reports or images of Viet Cong or NVA atrocities, such as the massacre in Hué during the 1968 Tet Offensive.
54 Interview with Robyn Nolan, 3 May 2006
55 Ibid
56 Ibid
57 Ibid
58 Ibid
59 Ibid
60 The VVCS is now known as the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service and caters for all veterans of all conflicts.
61 Interview with Robyn Nolan, 3 May 2006
Chapter 8 Reflections
1 Interview with Paul and Wendy Greenhalgh, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
2 Ibid
3 Interview with Ted and Joy Heffernan, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
4 Ibid
5 Ibid
6 The Hippocratic Oath traditionally taken by physicians pertains to the ethical practice of medicine. It is widely believed that the oath was written by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, in the 4th century B.C.E., or by one of his students.
7 Interview with Ted and Joy Heffernan, 11 October 2005
8 Ibid
9 Interview with Peter Isaacs, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
10 Ibid
11 Interview with Ben Morris, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
12 Ibid
13 Interview with Fred Pfitzner, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
14 Ibid
15 Interview with Ron Shambrook, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
16 Interview with John Taske, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
17 Ibid
18 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, Hoi An, SRV, 11 October 2005
19 Ibid
20 Interview with Tony, Doffy and Rupert White, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
21 Ibid
22 Ibid
23 Interview with Ted and Joy Heffernan, 11 October 2005
24 Ibid
25 Interview with Roger and Tina Wainwright, 11 October 2005
26 Ibid
27 Interview with Tina Taske, Ho Chi Minh City, SRV, 9 October 2005
28 Ibid
29 Ibid
30 Ibid
31 Interview with Paul and Wendy Greenhalgh, 12 October 2005
32 Ibid
33 Interview with the White family, 9 October 2005
34 Interview with Doffy White, Vung Tau, SRV, 8 October 2005
35 Interview with the White family, 9 October 2005
36 Ibid
37 Ibid
38 Ibid
39 Ibid
40 Ibid
41 Letter, Kelly McKay, 7 December 2006
Epilogue
1 Interview with Garry Adams, Hoi An, SRV, 12 October 2005
2 Elizabeth Stewart, ‘Return to Vietnam’, Paper, University of Newcastle, 2005
3 I was present on this visit to Nui Dat on 17 August 1996.
4 I introduced Jim Richmond to Mr Sinh, a Long Tan veteran, on 17 August 1996.
5 Elizabeth Stewart, ‘Return to Vietnam’