

By a Digger
He was a young soldier, strong, fit, naïve,
placed into a battalion with its own
structure - officers, warrant officers,
sergeants, corporals, etc.
He was a number
-
in the late 1960's, the Army wanted
infantrymen, and if he fitted the above
criteria, he found himself in a Rifle
Company, training for war in Vietnam.
He was not alone - his platoon consisted of
exactly the same as him - strong, fit and
naïve. His kit was thrown at him, and
because he had survived ten weeks at the
Infantry Centre, he was considered to be a
competent soldier.
He trained well the year before Vietnam -
night rifle range, Darkes Forest,
Wedderburn, Gospers, Shoalwater, Canungra,
short exercises, long exercises, guard
duties (for discipline), and happily
accepted any other training tasks that would
prepare him for Vietnam.
Ten days on
HMAS Sydney which was good fun - then
the anticipation of moving into a war zone,
sorting the buggers out - putting all that
training into practice - mates all around -
he thought he was bullet-proof.
Then the real facts - tents - monsoons -
cold showers - ration packs - wet bedding -
hot beer - Tinea - damp gear - the
psychological tolerance of some colleagues -
Dear John letters - mosquitoes - prickly
heat - 'posties' refusing to send mail -
'wharfies' refusing to load the ships,
consequently no parcels from home - the
hostile attitudes of those at home -
picquets - mess queues - haircuts -
irregular days off on R&C (Rest &
Convalescence) leave - TAOR (Tactical Area
of Responsibility) patrols - ambushes -
contacts.
Then the horror - the stark reality that the
unthinkable had happened - a minefield! The
huge explosion - the screaming - the terror
- the gunner is dead - your mate's boot
found ten metres away, with his foot still
in it - blokes without legs - blokes blinded
- shrapnel wounds - officers and senior NCOs
leading by remote control, staying calm and
displaying sensational leadership. This was
the result of war.
After a year of this, the battalion was sent
home. No debrief. National Servicemen were
discharged. Others went on leave. No
acknowledgement for their efforts. No
acknowledgement from their Country, for
which they had given their service.
Criticism from those who were opposed to the
Vietnam War. Politicians not willing to be
truthful and confirm that our involvement
was purely political. 504 young Australians
gave their lives for our country.
Funny isn't it - those who served still love
Australia, march proudly, have forgiven
their fellow Australians who derided them so
much, have tried to get on with their lives,
but seem to be rated as second-class with
their pensions, in comparison with public
servants, who, with their pension
entitlements, seem to have secured their own
futures.
He's glad he was a Digger.
An Infantry Soldier
C Coy 5 RAR 2nd tour
Vietnam, 1969-70
ONCE WE WERE SOLDIERS
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