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After decades of war and with the imminent fall of Saigon in 1975, a humanitarian crisis was unfolding in South Vietnam.

As Communist tanks neared the borders, Australians and Americans were called on to evacuate thousands of South Vietnamese, including many war orphans.

A humanitarian mission named Operation Babylift was launched to take orphans to Australia and the United States.

During the refugee evacuation, eight RAAF C-130 Hercules and two C-47 Dakotas were dispatched.

Among the hundreds of orphaned children was a 5-month-old, 4-kilo malnourished baby who was adopted by a family in Berri, South Australia. He is now Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Darren Wasley.

Today, the actions of those during Operation Babylift are not lost on him, knowing the airlift gave him a new lease of life.

Almost 50 years later, on 3 July, WO1 Wasley met 87-year-old Val Lawrence, an Air Force nurse who was aboard one of the RAAF aircraft headed for Saigon, at an RSL-run nursing home in Adelaide.

‘Meeting RAAF nurse Val Lawrence was surreal; it was like meeting your midwife,’ WO1 Wasley said.

‘There were so many children, but we now know she was on my flight.’

Ms Lawrence said she was elated when she first found out one of the orphans was coming to meet her. She had never had the opportunity to see any of the rescued children.

She said her actions on the mission were only a small part of a bigger picture.

‘I always find myself wondering where the kids are today and what they’re doing,’ Ms Lawrence said.

‘These days my memories of it all are kind of sketchy; it was 50 years ago. It all happened so quickly. I was one of the four nurses and there were so many children.

‘I am so grateful that Darren came to meet me and I will cherish this moment.’

About 200 orphans were evacuated to Australia. It was not long after the last flight on 17 April 1975, that North Vietnamese Army tanks rolled into Saigon.

Growing up, WO1 Wasley always knew he was different because he did not look like his parents.

‘They were white Aussies, I was not,’ he said.

In his teens, WO1 Wasley was an Army cadet with an interest in war history, so he joined the Army in 1994 as a reserve rifleman.

After he decided to go full-time, a knee injury during training at Kapooka shifted his career to a role in the Armoured Corps, where he spent the majority of his time at 3/4 Cav Regt in Townsville.

Today, he is the Honours and Awards secretary for Army Headquarters and is studying at the Australian War College.

WO1 Wasley plans to visit Val Lawrence again and is hoping to meet some of her family.

Turning Points in Public Perception

The period from the Tet Offensive in early 1968 to the Moratorium demonstrations of May 1970 marked a crucial turning point in the Vietnam War, particularly in the battle for American public opinion. This era witnessed the downfall of President Lyndon Johnson and the emergence of President Richard Nixon’s Vietnamization strategy. As Americans commemorate anniversary of these events, there has been a renewed focus on re-examining the war, its strategies, and its impacts.

Reevaluating the War: Years of Debate

The last fifty or so years have seen extensive political debate and scholarly research regarding the Vietnam War. Documentaries like Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vietnam War and books like Max Hastings’ Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975 have brought these discussions to a broader audience. They reflect on how the war was conducted by the United States, its impact on American politics and society, and provide deeper insights into Hanoi’s perspective and the internal dynamics within South Vietnam.

Understanding the Main Participants

Significant details have emerged about the main participants in the Vietnam War. The United States’ military, political, and diplomatic strategies have been scrutinized, alongside the profound effects of the war on American society. Recent research has shed light on Hanoi’s war efforts, revealing how leaders like Ho Chi Minh were sidelined by more ruthless figures such as Le Duan. There is also an emerging recognition of genuine nationalists within South Vietnam who feared the future under a communist regime.

The Overlooked Regional Context

Much of the literature on the Vietnam War has been produced by Americans, focusing primarily on American perspectives. However, from an Australian viewpoint, the regional context is critical and often underrepresented. Two elements deserve particular attention:

The Domino Theory Revisited

The domino theory posited that a communist victory in South Vietnam would lead to a spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia. While Laos and Cambodia did fall to communist regimes after Saigon’s collapse in 1975, the theory was often discredited. However, in the mid-1960s, the theory influenced Australia’s decision to commit combat forces, driven by concerns over the stability of Malaysia and Indonesia amidst regional tensions and the threat posed by the Indonesian Communist Party.

Changing Regional Dynamics

By 1968, regional dynamics had shifted dramatically. Indonesia had transitioned to a Western-oriented regime, tensions in Malaysia had subsided, and the formation of ASEAN in 1967 marked a new era of regional cooperation. These changes, unforeseen in 1965, suggest that the regional impact of an earlier American withdrawal from Vietnam might not have been as catastrophic as initially feared. This perspective is supported by Singapore’s leaders, who argue that the American intervention delayed the fall of Saigon, allowing regional nations to better prepare for the new balance of power.

Australia’s Strategic Calculations

Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was driven by strategic concerns distinct from those of the United States. While the US was focused on containing communism globally, Australia was more concerned with regional stability. The commitment to Vietnam was influenced by a policy of ‘forward defence,’ which had previously proven effective in the Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation. However, Australia’s lack of detailed knowledge about mainland Southeast Asia and overestimation of American capabilities led to strategic miscalculations.

Lessons for Modern Strategy

The Vietnam War offers several lessons for contemporary Australian strategists. Effective intervention requires a deep understanding of one’s own capabilities, the enemy, the ally, and the historical context of the region. These lessons are crucial for evaluating future commitments and ensuring that strategic decisions are based on comprehensive knowledge and realistic assessments.

In reflecting on the Vietnam War, it is evident that both the costs and benefits of military interventions must be carefully weighed. For Australia, this means considering regional dynamics and maintaining a balance between alliance obligations and independent strategic interests. The war remains a potent reminder of the complexities of international conflicts and the importance of informed decision-making in foreign policy.

The Australian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing practical support to veterans with today’s announcement of $4.731 million in grants for local advocacy services.

The funding has been awarded through the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program, and is shared among 102 ex-service organisations (ESOs) across Australia.

The annual grants program helps ESO advocates to provide veterans with advice and assistance about entitlements, health and wellbeing support, services and claims.  
ESOs of all sizes and from every state and territory were among the successful applicants, reflecting the diversity of organisations dedicated to supporting veterans and families in their communities.

Local ESOs play a vital role in supporting the veteran community, providing advocacy services and support to current and former ADF personnel.

BEST grant funding provides a contribution towards the salary of compensation advocates and their administrative support staff, equipment and administrative expenses associated with the delivery of advocacy services to veterans and families.
When veterans’ claims are submitted with all required documentation, it allows for greater efficiency, faster processing, and improved access to services and entitlements.

More details, including a full list of the BEST grant 2024-2025 recipients, is available on the GrantConnect website

With compliments

Korean War:  North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. This war
has never ended. The Armistice was signed on July 27,1953.

2024 KVAA commemoration service; July 27 2024

https://www.shrine.org.au/korean-veterans-association

Ralph Wollmer

Police are investigating the theft and vandalism of an Australian Defence Force (ADF) 40M truck, which was stolen from a barracks and abandoned in a Brisbane street on State of Origin night.

The truck was discovered in the car park of Mitchelton Youth Club on Thursday morning, covered in graffiti. Phrases like “F–k NSW” and “Go QLD” were spray-painted in orange, along with “thanks” on the front and “party bus get on” on the back.

The incident followed Queensland’s tough loss to New South Wales in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night. Queensland Police reported that two men accessed private property around 2:25 am and stole the vehicle, which was found shortly after in Mitchelton.

Police cordoned off the area and conducted investigations inside the vehicle before it was towed away in the afternoon. The Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera is located just a few streets away from where the truck was found.

A Defence spokesman confirmed that both Defence and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) are investigating the incident, but no further details were provided.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops are steadily advancing towards an August graduation under the new condensed officer training program at the Royal Military College – Duntroon. This innovative approach reduces the officer commissioning program from 18 months to 12 months, spanning from January to December 2024. Despite the shorter timeframe, trainees receive the same rigorous training, meet the same graduation standards, and qualify as lieutenants upon course completion.

Commandant of the Land Combat College, Brigadier Jason Groat, noted that ADF trainee officers are currently undertaking their final modules before their August graduation.

“The first group of Staff Cadets to undertake the Foundation Warfighting module has been completed, culminating with an extensive field exercise at Puckapunyal,” he said.

“During this exercise, Staff Cadets integrated with the School of Armour, School of Artillery, and Army School of Transport to better understand the Combined Arms Fighting System. This included conducting attacks with the Mechanised Regimental Officer Course.

“Preparation for this phase began in the classroom, where Staff Cadets developed their understanding and application of tactical actions. They refined these skills at Duntroon before testing them in the field phase. Both the learning and practical phases of Foundation Warfighting enhanced their resilience and demonstrated their ability to thrive in a field environment for extended periods. Conducting stability operations at Puckapunyal, including force-on-force engagements, was extremely beneficial, and I’m encouraged by the cadets’ skills and resilience.

“My direction to the team has been to develop combat behaviours at every opportunity. Initial evaluations support additional time for this development during the Foundation Warfighting module. I Class Staff Cadets are undertaking their final module – Foundation Command – prior to graduating in August. II Class has commenced the Foundation Military Planning Module.”

The Royal Military College – Duntroon began trialling the condensed 12-month program earlier this year, replacing the traditional 18-month format. This initiative aims to educate trainees to the same standards more quickly, increasing the speed to capability for service category (SERCAT) 7 generalist officers and informing training design for other SERCAT and training audiences.

Additionally, the ADF has supported the ServeOn program for already employed military personnel, allowing them to remain connected with the Australian Army and embrace semi-retirement in a flexible role.

You know, there comes a time in everyone′s life when they must say goodbye, that time is now, so with tears in either eye, I say goodbye.  Ross

BY my imperfect record keeping I have contributed this weekly column to The Townsville Bulletin since April 7, 2010, over 600 columns give or take the occasional days it was not published.

As an old soldier, ancient even, I am minded of John Le Mesurier, Dad’s Army sergeant Wilson’s last words, “It’s all been rather lovely”.

Journalism was a late career, fulfilling a life’s ambition to write for a living, with an opportunity presented on The Gold Coast Bulletin, near where I had hung my boots and sword.

CLICK LINK to continue reading

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Fortescue Ltd has announced plans to lay off 700 employees and abandon its ambitious green hydrogen project by 2030. The news has led to a significant drop in the company’s share price.

This development has fuelled criticism of the Albanese Government’s support for the initiative, which some are calling another failed venture. Critics argue that Labor has a history of backing unproven and impractical projects, citing examples like Wave Generation in Western Australia and geothermal energy in South Australia.

Detractors claim that the government’s decisions are driven by individuals who have never taken financial risks with their own money but are willing to gamble with public funds. They describe these decision-makers as career politicians and union organizers who have never run a business but have continuously benefited from public resources.

Green hydrogen not dead despite Fortescue retreat, says Bowen

Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen dismissed concerns over the green hydrogen industry, despite Andrew Forrest shelving a major production project. Bowen highlighted that over $200 billion in ongoing investments in Green Hydrogen will continue, emphasizing that only one company had deprioritized a project. Speaking after a meeting of state and territory energy ministers, Bowen countered claims by Federal opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien, who criticized the lack of commitment to increasing gas usage.

Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio acknowledged the need for more gas development due to diminishing supplies. Bowen reiterated that Fortescue was not shortlisted for funding under the Hydrogen Headstart program, which will proceed as planned and if the requires further investment that will be provided. Meanwhile, all ministers opposed the Coalition’s nuclear reactor plans, citing cost and timeline concerns, including Queensland’s Energy Minister Mick de Brenni.

Donald Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, gave his first speech since he was picked for the Republican ticket. Vance discussed his humble beginnings and the importance of a Trump-Vance ticket for the future of the country.

ED: Yesterday around mid-day, my computer shut down unexpectedly. At first, I thought the issue was with my computer because I encountered a blue screen and it wouldn’t reboot. Later in the afternoon, I discovered that the problem was due to an offshore software update. Since I subscribe to a US security company that uses Crowdstrike, my system was affected. Thankfully, I’m back online and secure now.

A global IT outage has thrown Australian airlines, hospitals, media, banks, and small businesses into disarray, causing widespread disruptions.

When the story first broke, people speculated that it might be the result of a cyberattack by adversaries. However, it turned out to be something much less alarming: an update.

The issue stemmed from a defect in a single content update of CrowdStrike’s software on Microsoft Windows operating systems. CrowdStrike’s CEO, George Kurtz, confirmed the problem and advised customers to reboot their computers. The issue is specific to Falcon, one of CrowdStrike’s main software products, and does not impact Mac or Linux systems.

CrowdStrike is a major player in the cybersecurity industry, CrowdStrike’s software is used by numerous companies and Australian small business to detect and block hacking threats. The company operates globally through software sales and investigations of major hacks.