Tribute to Australians who served and died in the Vietnam War

Tribute to Australians who served and died in the Vietnam War. From 1962, approximately 50,000 Australians, including ground troops, air force and navy personnel served in Vietnam. 520 died and close to 2,400 were wounded. The images on the video are from Vietnam Veterans 1 RAR (1st and 2nd tour of Vietnam) - Many thanks to Brian Lees, Tom Smith, Clive Williams and Rick O'Brien. 1 RAR was the first Infantry Battalion posted to Vietnam.

VIETNAM 1965-66

The Battalion based at Holsworthy was warned in March 1965 for service in South Vietnam and after a rapid preparation departed by charter aircraft and HMAS SYDNEY. After concentration at the Bien Hoa air base in early June 1965the Battalion was placed under command of the 173rd US Airborne Brigade (Separate) and formed part of the perimeter for the defence of the base. This period saw intensive training with helicopters and armoured personnel carriers (APC) and also patrolling with the US troops. On the 25/26 June the Battalion carried out the first of many successful operations against the Viet Cong (VC) and afterwards in conjunction with the remainder of the Brigade conducted operations in such well known areas as 'War Zone D', 'Ben Cat', 'The Iron Triangle' and other notorious VC areas. New Years Day 1966 saw the Battalion open Operation Marauder in the 'Plain of Reeds' then from there to Operation Crimp where it was the first unit to air assault into the 'Ho Bo Woods'. It was later found that the Battalion had in fact landed on the top of the underground HQ of the VC Military Region 4. Many weapons and some 100,000 pages of documents were found in the tunnel complex which was the deepest and most elaborate found up to that time. Until April 1966 operations continued and included two with the US 1st Infantry Division, better known as the 'Big Red One'. In June 1966 1 RAR returned to Australia by air and was given a tremendous ticker-tape welcome as they marched through the streets of Sydney. The result of the years operations during the tour were 128 VC KIA plus a large number of WIA and PW with own casualties being 23 KIA and 130 WIA. Decorations for the period were two DSOs, nine MMs and seven MIDs

VIETNAM 1968-69

After vigorous training in the Holsworthy area the 1 RAR advance party departed Sydney for Vietnam on the 17th March 1968. The main body, including 130 members who had previously served in Vietnam, sailed on the HMAS SYDNEY arriving at Nui Dat on 9th April 1968 to relieve 7 RAR. On 3rd May 1968, after two short operations the Battalion commenced Operation Toan Thang. Initially deployment was in the Long Khan Province with a later move to fire support patrol base (FSPB) Coral. Following a probing attack estimated at battalion strength, 'Coral' was attacked on 16th May by a Regiment later identified as the 141 North Vietnam Regiment. Fierce fighting by the gunners of 102 Field Regiment and 1 RAR repelled the attack, 'Toan Thang' produced 162 KIA. Between July and September, several operations were carried out including sweeps through the Hat Dich, Tua Tich and Baria areas.
Between 28th September - 12 October the Battalion once again deployed into the Hat Dich area. Operation Windsor was followed by Operation Capitol a giant allied sweep through the north-west of Phouc Tuy Province near the Mao Tao mountains. Besides other major operations, 1 RAR conducted village cordon and searches, convoy escort, FSPB protection, land clearing protection, extensive TAOR patrolling and company size operations.
The Battalion returned home and marched through the streets of Sydney on 28th February 1969. During its tour of duty, 1 RAR had accounted for 276 VC KIA, and the destruction of numerous bunker complexes and caches, for the loss of 31 KIA and 165 WIA.

You can contact the author of the song if you would like to use the song for commemorative purposes for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. Music sheets are also available.
ANZAC Day website: http://www.anzac-day.australianwarheroes.com/

Concept, title, lyrics and copyright owner of the song: Peter Barnes

You can email the author (Peter Barnes) at peterbarnes@australianwarheroes.com

You can read about the song at the website http://www.australianwarheroes.com or http://www.vietnam-war.australianwarheroes.com

New Instrumental music for the popular original war heroes marching song 'Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching?'. Instrumental recording by Fountain Gate Secondary College Band, Narre Warren, Victoria. Hear the new music with helicopter film footage images and vietnam war era helicopter sound effects at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14BnjoTEoHw

More Australian songs by the author at http://www.australian-songs.befoundonline.com.au/

Peter Barnes video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-vOxWFq2PY

© Peter Barnes 2001 - 2010. All Rights Reserved. All content remains the property of the respective copyright holders.

Australian Vietnam war tribute.

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[revelation100]

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY - 18TH AUGUST - LEST WE FORGET

[Boltneck77]

@trpilot6 That's right mate, we were there before the U.S. forces. And believe it or not, we were also the first to go down the tunnels too. And we didn't have the same amount of equipment either, we relied on one thing the yanks aren't all that good at, and that's jungle warfare.Yanks are good, but not as good in the bush as Aussie troops.Our General Infantry soldiers are more trained and conditioned to jungle warfare than the yanks.The Americans just churn 'em sausage factory style.

[USATito]

Thank you Aussies

Regards from the USA

[MegaRocketman09]

My Father fought in Vietnam and came home with one leg 8 fingers and one eye. Thats why im going to sign up soon. :(

[cultofmao]

Good tribute to brave men but the war was false from the very start. The Vietnamese were fighting for their country against Imperialism and were victorious because of that. Don't try to take something from a people which you say you hold sacred, freedom.

[drktigger]

@doginthemafia Yes they were.

[iriewaregl1]

Nice tribute. My father served 3 years in Nam as a US Green Beret beside Aussies. Thus, I

take issue with fools like person3enpassant who has plastered his channel with a "commentary" suggesting America & their allies (Aussies included) were baby killers. Yes, atrocities happen in war, BUT compared to those committed by the communists, there was no comparsion. If any Aussie Vietnam vets are reading this, go to that Ausse punk's channel & read his misinformed nonsense. It is a slap in the face.

[maxsimmer400]

@MultiMarcus111 and you know this because you where there???

p.s im Aussie

[boooya83]

Are u fucking retarded Aussies were in that war ... Fucking moron

[doginthemafia]

Lol u idiot the assies wur nevar in the vietnam war It was only america

[TheGus619]

One aussie soldier was worth 10 american GIs in nam. Those are real statistics, up the AIF! Number one military in the world, keep on fighting were behind you