Henry V and Old Soldiers

You know the type; been there, done that, and very glad to tell you about it. Especially about what they did in the war.

I’ve always found that more unsolicited talk equals less real action because those who have really done it don’t like to brag. They have no need to.

I’m attempting to read the complete works of Shakespeare in lieu of walking the Kokoda Trail, and I came across this passage in Henry V, that describes perfectly the above:

Gower:

Why, ’tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and then goes to the wars, to grace himself at his return into London under the form of a soldier.

And such fellows are perfect in the great commanders’ names: and they will learn you by rote where services were done; at such and such a sconce, at such a breach, at such a convoy;

who came off bravely, who was shot, who disgraced, what terms the enemy stood on;

and this they con perfectly in the phrase of war, which they trick up with new-tuned oaths:

and what a beard of the general’s cut and a horrid suit of the camp will do among foaming bottles and ale-washed wits, is wonderful to be thought on.

But you must learn to know such slanders of the age, or else you may be marvellously mistook.

Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study (COVVHS)

Today I received this email that deserves the widest distribution

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Hello all,
The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Mr Bruce Billson announced recently that; “The Howard Government will undertake world-first research into the impact of war service on the health and welfare of the children of Vietnam veterans”.

Announcing a $13.5 million research program, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson, said the “Vietnam Veteran Family Study provides an innovative, integrated and holistic approach to the health of veterans’ families”. Read the rest of this entry »

US Agent Orange Program Procedures

Mick Cassidy sent me this procedure guide that could be helpful for thos who believe they or their children have been affected.
AGENT ORANGE HEALTH REGISTRY (AOR) PROGRAM PROCEDURES
TO INCLUDE ALL VETERANS EXPOSED TO AGENT ORANGE
AND SPECIAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VIETNAM VETERANS’ CHILDREN

1. REASON FOR ISSUE. This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook
establishes new reporting procedures for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VHA,
and the Environmental Agents Service (EAS) Agent Orange Health Registry Program.

Download procedure (PDF format)

The Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans.

This is from the website:

http://www.vietnamroll.gov.au/home.aspx

The Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans lists approximately 61 000 men and women who served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Vietnam, or in the waters adjacent to Vietnam, during the conflict between 23 May 1962 and 29 April 1975.
This website also contains the names of more than 1 600 Australian civilians who were awarded or were eligible to receive the Vietnam Logistics and Support Medal (VLSM).
Building the expanded version of the Roll has required that individual service records and thousands of other original service-related documents be manually checked.

All Vietnam veterans will be on the Roll, except those who have requested that their details not be published. A small percentage will not have full details until their remaining information is confirmed.

The outstanding details will likely be those where, for some groups, there are quite complex documentation to search for relatively few members. These details will be published on the website as they are completed.

Here is a reduced size copy of my certificate. Click to view.