Long Tan TrekVietnam, February 2008

Some photos of a journey by Steve Noakes

Australians served in the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1973, and for a brief period again in 1975.

About 60 000 Australians served in the war, and many veterans of allied nations have also come to Australia –including from what was formerly South Vietnam, Cambodia, New Zealand, the United States, and elsewhere.

in 1965, under 21 year olds could neither vote not drink. In the eyes of the law they were mere boys; to the government they were old enough to fight and kill, throw grenades and fire a machine gun.

The vote was later extended to 20 year olds, but in 1966, the year of Long Tan, a conscript did not have the right to vote for or against the government whose policies decided his fate: to fight, to kill or be killed.

Ham. Paul. Vietnam, The Australian War, 2007 Pp 170

The most well known Australian engagement of the war in Vietnam was the battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966.

108 soldiers of D Company, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment were on patrol when they encountered a much larger enemy force moving to attack the Australian base at Nui Dat.

For almost three hours, in darkness and pouring rain, D Company fought off repeated attacks until a relief force got through.

18 were killed – 17 from D Company and one from the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron – and 25 wounded.

www.dva.gov.au/commem/longtan06/background.htm

Vietnam: a wounded digger, hurt in a booby-trap explosion, is evacuated to Vung Tau. AWM COL/67/0140/VN

http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/vietnam.htm

Vietna

Still, by 1966, the Viet Cong virtually controlled Phuoc Tuy.

By night, their cadres infiltrated the villages with ease.

‘Before your forces arrived, Nguyen Gia Ho said, ‘the National Liberation Front controlled the province; that was why the Americans thought it was so peaceful.’

On the eve of Australia’s arrival, enemy forces virtually saturated Phuoc Tuy

Ham. Paul. Vietnam, The Australian War, 2007 Pp 182

Leading Aircraftman John George Stirling, 9 Squadron RAAF, was in the crews dropping supplies during the battle.(AWM VN/66/0047/16)

Leading Aircraftman John George Stirling, 9 Squadron RAAF, was in the crews dropping supplies during the battle.(AWM VN/66/0047/16)

Second Lieutenant David Sabben, D Company, 6RAR, suveys the battle scene the next day. He was mentioned in Despatches.

(AWM CUN/66/0698/VN)http://www.awm.gov.au

Approaching the Long Tan Memorial through rubber plantation, February 2008

Aussie Vietnam Vets we had the honour to travel with:

Barry Ruttle, Kerry Phelan, Peter Haran, Larry Davenport, Dave Sturmer, Bruce Chapman

Six young Australians who went off to the Vietnam War.

Barry Ruttle joined the Regular Army in 1964. Posted to 2 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment after Infantry Corps Training at Ingleburn. Jan 1965 volunteered to join 5 RAR who were training to go to Vietnam in May 66 Went over as 2i/c of a section in D Company. Not long after arrivalpromoted to a Corporal Section Commander. His Company went out to the site of the Long Tan Battle at first light next morning the 19th of August 1966 to assist 6 RAR in the clearance and follow up of the enemy withdrawal. He returned to Vietnam with 5 RAR on their second Tour as a Sargent Mortar Fire Controller attached to A Company. Returning to Australia and rising to the rank of Major, Barry retired from the army in 1993 after a 29 Year military career

Kerry Phelan was called up in the fifth intake of Australia’s National Service scheme, where he served with the Corp of The Royal Australian Engineers .In December 1966 he was posted to.1 Field Squadron at Enoggera. Then completed a Jungle Training Course at Cunungra, prior to dis-embarkation to Vietnam, arriving in the war zone in March 1967 where he served for 11.months, returning to Australia on the eve of the January 1968 TET Offensive.

Peter Haran has written 4 books on the war. He was a dog handler and served his first tour with the tracking team in 67-68. He wrote the book Trackers telling the story back in 2000. The next three years as a journo he also wrote Crossfire and Flashback, retelling what happened on his second tour (1971) in 2003 he wrote Shockwave which told of an Australian helicopter crew in Vietnam. That included the crew involved in the Long Hais crash, which saw his friend Tom Blachurts, killed.

Larry Davenport was one of only four national servicemen who were posted to every front line artillery regtfrom the Vietnam era. He was called up for national service in the fifth intake in 1966 . However, following a football induced concussion was deferred until the 7th intake in1967. Did basic training at Puckapunyalin Victoria and then ,posted to the School of Artillery at North Head for corps training & further specialist training as an Artillery Signalman . Posted to Wacol,Qld with 1Fd Regt specifically 105 Bty His first unit posting was to Wacol in Qld with 1Fd Regiment then going to Vietnam with 105 Battery. As a reo with HQ Bty 4th Fd Regt in Oct 67.Moved to Arty Tac (Regt fire control centre). When 4 Fd completed tour Extended with their replacement 12 Fd regt for 6 months - returned to Aust Oct 68.

Dave Sturmer Sapper Dave Sturmer was wounded twice again in Dec of 1969 in Operation Picton.

Bruce Chapman completed his basic training in Singleton with 3TB (3rd Training Battalion), before undertaking his Corp Training with Ordinance Corp, then being posted going to Vietnam in Dec 1969 based at Nui dat with 1 OFP (Ordinance Field Park).

Excerpt from Dave Sturmer’s wartime dairy: “Man Landed on the Moon” on the 21 July 1969.

“21 July 1969 – Operation Mundinggarra “One small step for mankind”3 Platoon A Company 6RAR/NZ had walked into a minefield in the Light Green area east of Hoi My.

Relocated “Jumping Jack” Landmines from our Barrier Minefield had been placed off the track knowing we would be passing through.

As the Combat Engineers cleared the tracks for landmines around 10am the Platoon Commander detonated one landmine after informing his platoon “Man had just landed on the Moon”.

Frankie from the song “I was only 19” (by singer songwriter John Schumann), was the radio operator that day and received serious wounds to most of his body. In a calm manner and disregarding his own safety, Frankie called for assistance to evacuate the casualties.

Cpl Phil Baxter (MM) and Sapper Dave Sturmer, both wounded reassured each other and got on with the job they were trained to do, clearing a safe path in a very tight situation where minimalmovement was essential.

At days end two diggers had been killed and 23 wounded. Sapper Dave Sturmer was wounded twice again in December of 1969 in Operation Picton.”

Peter Haran

Track from Nui Dat to Long Tan

Pearly Gates, Nui Dat,Former Australian Task Force Base

February 2008

Greg McCarthy, Dave Sturmer, Steve Noakes, Kerry Phelan

Nui DatFebruary 2008

Australian army camp Nui Dat, around 1966

Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force (April 1966 to December 1971)

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/vietnam/nui_dat.htm

Vets: Kerry Phelan & Dave Sturmer, atop SAS Hill, Nui Dat, Feb 2008

Kanga Pad, Nui Dat with SAS Hill in the background 1960s

Horseshoe HillFeb 2008

HORSESHOE HILL, PHUOC TUY PROVINCE, VIETNAM, 1967-11. A VIEW TO THE SOUTHEAST FROM A MACHINE GUN BUNKER AT THE FIRE SUPPORT BASE ON HORSESHOE HILL. AT RIGHT IS A .50 CALIBRE MACHINE GUN. (DONOR: C. SISSON)

http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/P01661.001

Baria Orphanage

Kindergarten project

The site of the old Nui Dat airstrip – Luscombe AirfieldFebruary 2008

Minh Damh Secret Zone

Viet Cong hide-outs,Minh Dam.

Radar Hill, overlooking Vung Tau

Tet Beach Festival, Back Beach, Vung Tau

Happy snaps

Grand Hotel, Vung Tau

Bazza’s bridge

What bridge ?

With respect. Lest we forget.

steve@pacificasiatourism.orgBeechmont 4211, Queensland

Rugged, razor-back country blanketed in dense rainforest surrounds the Jungle Training Centre in Canungra, a few drab administration buildings in the foothills of the Beechmont plateau, south-east Queensland.

Passing this final, three-week course was mandatory for all soldiers bound for Vietnam.