A FEW years ago I had the great privilege to visit Phc Tuy Province in South Vietnam and walk the ground of the former Australian Task Force position at Nui Dat and the battlefield at Long Tan - both locations are synonymous with Australian involvement in the Vietnam War 1962-73.
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The province has historical significance to all Australians and, being a military professional when I visited, I found the area of particular interest.
When I joined the Army in 1981, this country had only been out of the war for eight years and most of the senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and officers above the rank of Major had served in Vietnam.
It was their experience and professionalism that influenced the Junior NCOs who were my immediate superiors. I have always considered those junior NCOs to be the most competent and professional soldiers I have ever served with.
I attribute this to the fact they were trying to emulate the example set by our superiors who were Vietnam veterans.
It is my strong opinion it was the standard set by these veterans that provided my generation of soldier with the model we all wanted to emulate.
I consider it was this example that enabled the ADF to maintain high standards through what some refer to as the 'Long Peace', the period between 1973 and 1999.
I also consider the Army was very fortunate to have a Vietnam veteran lead us out of this Long Peace when the Defence Force got busy again with events in East Timor in 1999. I refer to our former Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.
August 18 is also the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. On that day in 1966, in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan, the Aussies, supported by the Kiwis, fought one of their fiercest battles of the war.
Although this is the day chosen as Vietnam Veterans Day, on this day we remember all actions of this war as well as the outstanding efforts of sailors of the Royal Australian Navy who supported land operations, and airmen and airwomen of the Royal Australian Air Force who served in combat and transport roles.
Our commitment to this war cost 521 Australian lives in-country and many, many more who have passed as a consequence since.
We had approximately 3000 personnel wounded in Vietnam. There are countless others who received wounds we could not see, and many who still bare those wounds to this day.
The Vietnam War divided the nation. For many who returned from Vietnam, there was a cold shoulder from the nation waiting for them. Many were spurned and some were even abused.
Some veterans were made to feel ashamed of something they should have been incredibly proud of. Thankfully, largely due to the determination of veterans and their families, the nation has reflected on that appalling ingratitude and the negative perception has been reversed.
The two greatest examples of this are firstly, the Welcome Home Parade in October of 1987, and the construction of the Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra in 1992.
I consider it is through the recognition of the service of our Vietnam Veterans and the conditions they served under that we as a nation have come to better identify and strive to better understand the mental wounds that war can inflict on service men and women.
And the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs has since come a very long way in the provision of support services to service and ex-service men and women.
COVID-19 restrictions have put a halt to this year's traditional Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations. The camaraderie that is shared on this day is very important to most of our veterans, so many will be doing it tough.
On Tuesday August 18, Vietnam Veterans Day, let us remember those who served, who died in the field, who returned with physical and mental wounds, and those family and friends who supported and continue to support them. Lest we forget.
