Vietnam an Australian Perspective

I have read some of comments made in regrard to the Vietnam and can offer a few thoughts from an allied country.

Australia like the US committed militray advisors to Vietnam in 1962. Advisors were normally junior officers or senior enlisted. In the vast majority of cases they were attacyhd to local units or sent to raise units.

Australia committed 1000 troops in 1965 to the 173rd Brigade at Bien Hoa in South Vietnam.

It soon became apparent that the Australian style of counter insurgency style of warfare differed from that of the US. Australia had been involved in a number of jungle counter insurgency operations (Malaya 1949-1963, Borneo 1964-67) and was heavily focussed on this type of operation. Australian troops also benefitted from a historic focus on jungle & close country warfare and at the time there were two jungle warfare schools in Australia. Australian vets, from my knowledge have no doubt abot the bravery or committment of US troops, though some have questioned some US tactics.

Australian forces were deployed to Phouc Touy province from 1966 to 1971. almost 50,000 australians went ot Vietnam and 500 were killed with about 1500 wounded.

Vietnam had a profound affect on Australian culture. Australia had not seen real civil disobedience until the anti-war marches of the Vietnam War. Australian troops had fought in WW1, WW2, Korea, Malaya & Borneo - without any public discontent. Vietnam changed that. Vitenam saw australia conscript troops for the second time ever. This was carried out by a televised lottery - if your birth date appeared you had a very good chance of going to Vietnam.

Australian vets were treated badly on their return, as were the US vets. This was redressed too some extent with a 'welcome home parade' in 1986?? in Sydney where for the first time Vitenam Vets marched through the streets of Sydney.

Would Australia do the same thing again?? probably not so fast. Having said that Australian and US troops have served together again in the Gulf War 1991, Somalia 1992/3, in the last couple of Gulf flare ups.

Cheers,

John Storey Canberra Australia