ANZAC DAY- Vietnam War and the NZ Soldier.

The controversial Vietnam War sparked mass demonstrations in New Zealand but veteran John Masters said there was a fear of the spread of communism in the 1960s.

"We were very conscious of the growing communist threat to the north and the domino theory, now in hindsight has been rubbished etcetera, etcetera, was actually a real phenomenon," Mr Masters said.

He said soldiers had difficulty identifying targets and when they did get into "fire fights and produced some dead bodies they found that these dead bodies were young girls, young children and women".

"Soldiering is the application of violence. It's killing or be killed and if you find yourself in that role, it is very important that you never ever get to like it.

"Kiwis, I'm quite certain, have the capacity to do one thing when they have to but maintain their humanity," Mr Masters said.

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[pjezierski]

@joshua12345a To You; I say Thank YOU. any ally of U.S. of A., is an ally mine. I could not be there, (medical) but I wished I could have been.

[GB2010MD]

Legends just doing a job - pricks back home chastising the soldiers who went through hell while doing the job they are paid to do.

[joshua12345a]

@Guevaristas we deserve as much repect as the americans dick shit

[afroman0981]

@raybot1 I agree completely with you there, its not like they went there with the specific intention to 'fuck shit up' they went cause they thought they were doing what was needed for their country, they thought they were protecting people and they only get bad rep for it cause the 'Americans' didnt know how to keep their fingers off the trigger.

[raybot1]

@Guevaristas why do these men derserve no respect?? they were sent to a place to do a job in which they had no say. and in doing the job they did it with the upmost proffessionalism in trying to limit civilian casualties. this is in stark contrast to ur "heroes" who killed anyone they chose whether they were for the south or wishing to mind there own business be they women, children or the elderly.

[COMMUNISTPHILOSOPHY]

My Lai Massacre".

'He fired at it [the baby] with a .45. He missed. We all laughed. He got up three or four feet closer and missed again. We laughed. Then he got up right on top and plugged him.'

"Peers Inquiry: Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident".

[callumkerwick11]

love you boys!

[newtz1000]

stalin killed more people then the nazis.pol pot killed many of his own people.north koreans starve like dogs.communist hate jews.communism gets you nowhere except working on a collective for the party.communism will fail.

[blitza24]

well done

[shovel20]

You sir are a man of wisdom! You speak the truth! Well met and well done!