Strange Land Vietnam

Dear Mr Howard

While I was in the Army I received two medals for serving in Vietnam, as did everyone who completed more than six months. Then I received two more medals for long service – including the National medal that police, firefighters etc receive. Since I’ve been out (20 years) I’ve received another three – the Australian Service Medal because I happened to be in PNG before 1975, the Australian Active Service Medal because I was on active service in Vietnam (but hey, I’ve already got two medals for that), and yesterday the Australian Defence Medal for completing a period of enlistment. I believe over a million people are entitled to this last medal.

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American and Australian soldiers generally got on well with each other overall. Sure we spoke differently, had different uniforms and weapons but tended to he as mad and wild as each other through the common bond of youth and recklessness.

I remember once inviting a bunch of US helicopter pilots from the Vung Tau air base over to our boozer for drinks and a barbecue. I don’t remember how we got to know these guys, but it was probably through trading supplies such as Aussie hats and boots.
There was no tomorrow for these guys and part of their assignment specification must have been incipient insanity, because some of the missions they had to fly to further the war effort defied comprehension.

Jimmy Jones from Montana, Continue Reading »

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