The Minefield Greg Lockhart

Last week I went to Canberra for the launch of Greg Lockhart’s new book, The Minefield, an historical analysis of the decision to lay the Dat Do minefield and a detailed description of its consequences to individuals and units.

Lockhart, an Australian Army officer, served as a captain in Vietnam as an adviser to the ARVN in 1972, and was himself involved in a mine incident. After an academic career, he is now the honorary historian of the VVFA.

Why did Brigadier Stuart Graham, the Task Force Commander, order an 11 kilometre barrier minefield to be laid against the advice of his battalion commanders and, most importantly, his engineer adviser? Read the rest of this entry »

Iraq War

This is the text of an email I received recently. It would be a great pity if this were universally true, and an even greater pity that people are not able to distinguish between those doing their job and those making the policy. Same old same old.

AUSTRALIAN soldiers returning home from Iraq are being taunted and shunned because of widespread opposition to the US-led war, according to veterans advocates.

Nearly 40 years after Vietnam War veterans returned to a vitriolic reception, some Iraq Diggers believe not much has changed — and even claim sections of the Returned and Services League are hostile towards them.
The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans Association, which represents returned Iraq Diggers, said some had been publicly abused.
“A lot of them do feel a bit uneasy. It’s not a popular war,” association president Paul Copeland said.

“A lot of them are frustrated. They feel like they are second-class citizens.”
Mr Copeland said several Iraq veterans had committed suicide, partly because of the reception they had received at home, which had compounded existing mental problems.

He said people within the RSL were also culprits.

Vietnam veteran and Nollamara RSL branch secretary Arthur Ventham said it was shocking that some returning Iraq soldiers felt they were being treated like Vietnam veterans.

“They say, `we’re not treated very well because of the opposition to the war’,” he said.

“I’ve heard some RSL people saying, `it’s a war we should never have been involved in’. And I thought, `people were saying that when we went to Vietnam’.

Former SAS officer Peter Tinley, who was the leading tactical planner for Australia’s Special Forces contribution in Iraq, blamed widespread opposition to the war for the current severe lack of defence force recruits.

“I’ve talked to a lot of Year 11 and 12 boys and a lot of them can’t see why they should join the defence force and end up going to Iraq,” he said.
He was aware of Iraq veterans receiving abuse and being shunned within sections of the RSL.

WA RSL president Bill Gaynor said the organisation was fully supportive of the returning Iraq Diggers.

“It would be a minor pocket (in the community) that has probably got an axe to grind. It would be very, very isolated,” he said.

Vung Tau Surfer South China Sea, Vung Tau 1970

You could feel the midday sun beginning to burn as we sat astride our boards outside the line of breakers in the warm, sparkling surf. Wave out the back! Time for action, up on the board, break left, duck under the curl, enjoy the exhilarating acceleration and hiss as we carve up the wave like a hot knife through butter. The South China Sea, Vung Tau, 1970. Read the rest of this entry »

Web Site Change

You’ll notice I’ve changed the theme of the web site – I felt it was a bit gloomy. As well I’ve changed the pricing and details on the CD, now $15 Australian including post and pack, and I’ll upload more songs when I get the chance.

Bill