From: jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Larry Jewell)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans,alt.war,alt.war.vietnam
Subject: Australian Vietnam Memorial
Date: 5 Oct 92 17:44:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.BvntAE.HF0
Followup-To: soc.veterans
Organization: Purdue University



Reposted from VWAR-L:

From:   BITNET%"VWAR-L@UBVM.BITNET"  "Viet Nam War Discussion List"  5-OCT-1992
   06:43:47.52
Subj:   Viet Memorial Dedication
From: Tony de Bont ^} <TDB@CBRPN1.PRIME.COM>

G'day,

Thought I'd share the events of the last week or so with you.  It all
started when I decided that *THIS TIME* I was going to march.
The occasion being the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial
here in Canberra on Saturday Oct 3, 92.  It was exactly 5 years
after the Welcome Home parade held in Sydney.  At that time I
thought such events were for the 'grunts' and other combat types,
not for the Vung Tau warriors who didn't hear a shot fired in
anger.  I didn't go to Sydney 5 years ago, instead I sat in front of
the TV and cried my stupid eyes out.  So this time I decided to be
there.  Yes it took considerable coercion from my daughter and
also the 'teachings' of the VWAR list over the past 18 months or
so.  Having decided to go, I asked Natalie to pick up an
information kit for me.  The Australian vets had set up an
information booth here for the event.  It was hard to get any
information about the whole thing and it was poorly publicised in
the popular press.  OK if you were a member of some organisation
but I wasn't, so in a way this was my first contact with the 'local'
vets.  I ramble on - Natalie went down there to get the package
and when asked who it was for gave my name.  She wasn't too
keen because she knew I was an officer and there are some long
memories amongst the soldiers.  I don't know what the odds are,
but both guys had served in my unit during the time I was the OC.
Next thing I knew there was a phone call from the past as one of
my diggers invites me out for a beer.  The three of us had a beer,
just as well Natalie was there too, I wouldn't have recognised
either of them and I'm sure they wouldn't have recognised me.

My work sent me off to a customer's site 500 clicks away for the
week.  So it was a mad dash home on the Friday night.  I got home
about 20:30 and set the alarm for 03:45.  The next morning my
wife Jenny and I made it to the Dawn Service at 05:00.  Some
hymns were sung, some prayers recited and then a very moving
speech by Brig Colin Kahn.  The Last Post and the Piper's Lament
set the scene for the climax - a low fast pass overhead by a single
Huey decked out in Vietnam livery complete with door gunners.
They got a spontaneous salute and after that the waterworks really
started for most of us.  The whole thing lasted only about 45
minutes but I'm glad I was there.  I think it certainly was the most
emotional event of the day.  The official estimate put attendance
at 10,000.  In a way I felt that there were many more there in
spirit.  This ceremony was held at the Australian War Memorial
which enshrines the memory and memorabilia of Australian
service personnel since before the Boer War.

The assembly area for the march was directly across the road and
quite a number of us wandered over there.  Some of Canberra's
service clubs had set up mobile kitchens and were serving Hot
Dogs and Steak Sandwiches.  There was also free tea, coffee and
biscuits from the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.  Thousands
of vets wandered around, trying to spot a familiar face in the
crowd, bit hard after 20+ years for most of us.  Some had renewed
their acquaintances back in 87 at the welcome home.  One guy in
particular intrigued me.  He was short and stocky wore US
fatigues with an bald eagle on his right sleeve.  He would
approach small groups, shake hands with each person and then
pull a note or something from his pocket, more handshakes and
off to the next group.  Natalie's curiosity was aroused but she
wasn't game to approach him.  She didn't have to, he headed
towards us, he was looking for a 'buddy' who 'just had to be there'
and he vowed to approach everyone of the 20,000 people there if
need be.  I don't know if he ever found his mate, I sure hope he
did and if he didn't it wasn't for the want of trying.

Marshals started to 'organise' us.  I think they'd have had more
luck with a mob of sheep.  There were two loyalties tugging us in
different directions.  For the conscripts (Nashos), the Unit they
served with in 'Nam was quite central and they happily stood in
Unit lots, there were mates in other units but by and large they
were quite happy to be with the guys they spent time 'over there'
with.  Us 'Regs' also had mates from before and after Vietnam and
we were inclined to wander about a lot meeting up with class
mates from 30 years ago.

The dedication ceremony started close to the appointed time of
09:00 and it was broadcast on a 'Big Screen' in the assembly area.
Some Vets were a bit peeved that the politicians were talking to
the 'public' rather than to us .  But I doubt that too many of them
would have listened even if they could have heard.  The memorial
was unveiled by four people, the sole surviving VC winner, the
widow of one of the fallen, a child (now about 20) of another 'lost'
mate and the General who was Chief of Staff when troops were
first sent to Vietnam.  With all the official stuff out of the way the
march was lead off by the Next of Kin of the fallen.  Then the
disabled Vets in vehicles and then the Australian Army Training
Team, Vietnam (AATTV).  The parade took about 2 hours to
march past the memorial.  Police estimate 36,000 Vets marched
and there were about 20,000 lining the route.  As well as the
Australians there were contingents from New Zealand, the USA,
and Vietnam.

After the march the various Corps and units held reunions at
various venues in Canberra.  The Royal Australian Engineers had
about 600 Vets turn up.  We all registered and were issued with a
name tag - great idea - it made identification possible.  There was
an orderly assault on a mountain of cold beer and a common form
of greeting was a shake of the right hand and a cold beer slapped
into your left one.  That's if you were caught with an empty
drinking hand.  Some left to be with family or more private
gatherings, I stayed till after 18:00 and certainly wasn't one of the
last.

My long suffering wife picked me up and took me home and it
took the best part of the next 24 hours for me to regain a hold on
my senses.  Exhausted, drained and drunk, sounds like how I used
to feel sometimes in Vung Tau after a week of 24 hour operation
as we received supplies from a discharging ship.

I'll let it go at that - no doubt you've had enough or hit the 'D' key
before this.


Thanks a lot for listening ...  it was a great day and I figure I and a
lot of mates can now put 'that' period to rest.  At least we have
public recognition if somewhat belated.

Tony de Bont #32

-- 
#L.W. Jewell Moderator at the Veterans Information Site (veteran@cc.purdue.edu)#
#& WWII-L Listowner: "Sunday's horoscope is note worthy because of its strange,#
#sudden and wholly unpredictable and inexplicable occurrences, affecting all   #
#phases of life." "Your Horoscope" L.A. Evening Herald Express, Sat, 12/06/41  #