I was in SVN in1971-72. I did not do anything heroic but was proud of my service which, I thought, was in Australia’s interests. In 1972 I was posted to LTS in the UK and in March 1973 attended a course with the USMC in California. I returned to Australia in mid-1973. My father-in-law, a Vultee Vengeance pilot in WWII, insisted that we join the Anzac Day remembrances in Adelaide in 1974. I marched with the Vietnam contingent. We were booed and later at the Adelaide Cenotaph were jostled and derided. I had a great lunch subsequently with my father-in-law, his back fence neighbor and the neighbor’s pilot whom, to my amazement, had flown with 617 Squadron but not on the dams raid. They were amazed with my knowledge of their squadron and the luncheon finished very happily. We caught a bus home, and my father-in-law suggested that we have a cleansing ale at the Mitcham RSL where he was a member. A couple of WWII veterans, seeing my medals, asked where I had served and when I told them they said, ‘You don’t know anything about war!’ I was shattered as was my father-in-law who resigned from the RSL the next day. His wife was a life member so this was no small thing to do.
Chris Hunter. Thank you for your valiant and lawful service mate. I sincerely hope you were awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Citation.
Richard Barry OAM. [6RAR SVN 1969]. 10th intake Nasho.
Strangely enough my reception at the Croydon Kilkenny RSL was good when I joined in 1966 when I returned ex SVN. After two years in Malaysia I went to a ANZAC day march with the same RSL and some of my current co member put dirt on my service. I gave the RSL away as a bad joke until 1989 when I joined an RSL in Redcliffe Qld did enough good deeds to be presented with life membership in 2009. By 1990 they were crying for members just as they are doing now.
The younger vets are giving the RSL the flick as being not relative any more. The circle continues.
I was in SVN in1971-72. I did not do anything heroic but was proud of my service which, I thought, was in Australia’s interests. In 1972 I was posted to LTS in the UK and in March 1973 attended a course with the USMC in California. I returned to Australia in mid-1973. My father-in-law, a Vultee Vengeance pilot in WWII, insisted that we join the Anzac Day remembrances in Adelaide in 1974. I marched with the Vietnam contingent. We were booed and later at the Adelaide Cenotaph were jostled and derided. I had a great lunch subsequently with my father-in-law, his back fence neighbor and the neighbor’s pilot whom, to my amazement, had flown with 617 Squadron but not on the dams raid. They were amazed with my knowledge of their squadron and the luncheon finished very happily. We caught a bus home, and my father-in-law suggested that we have a cleansing ale at the Mitcham RSL where he was a member. A couple of WWII veterans, seeing my medals, asked where I had served and when I told them they said, ‘You don’t know anything about war!’ I was shattered as was my father-in-law who resigned from the RSL the next day. His wife was a life member so this was no small thing to do.
Chris Hunter. Thank you for your valiant and lawful service mate. I sincerely hope you were awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Citation.
Richard Barry OAM. [6RAR SVN 1969]. 10th intake Nasho.
Correction – SVN was 70-71
Strangely enough my reception at the Croydon Kilkenny RSL was good when I joined in 1966 when I returned ex SVN. After two years in Malaysia I went to a ANZAC day march with the same RSL and some of my current co member put dirt on my service. I gave the RSL away as a bad joke until 1989 when I joined an RSL in Redcliffe Qld did enough good deeds to be presented with life membership in 2009. By 1990 they were crying for members just as they are doing now.
The younger vets are giving the RSL the flick as being not relative any more. The circle continues.