Lakes Entrance RSL Sub-branch held its Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony at the cenotaph on Monday, August 18, with thought-provoking speeches and songs.
It is a day to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of Australian Vietnam War veterans. The day is also known as Long Tan Day, commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
A lone piper, David Hynd (pictured), from the Sale RSL Pipe Band, opened the ceremony with the haunting sounds of the bagpipe, before RSL president Peter Tunnage welcomed all, stating this year marks 50 years since the cessation of hostilities following the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
“However, Australian and New Zealand forces had been withdrawn from the war by 1973,” Peter said.
“The Vietnam War ushered in a new era of ANZAC cooperation and it was the first war beamed directly into our loungerooms, heavily censored and some would say fodder for the radicals in our universities leading the civil unrest, demonstrations and the vilification of our returning personnel. This robbed them of the dignity and pride of their overseas service, leaving them disappointed, bitter and frustrated with little or no support from those on high.
“While much has occurred in the way of redress of that welcome home, I believe the damage done to many was an act of betrayal that many will never forgive. That is why we are gathered today to remember their sacrifices and their service,” he said.
Mr Tunnage paid his respects to the passing of two Vietnam Veterans this year, Brian Bows RAN who served with the 135th Assault Helicopter Company and Barry Nagle who was a Medic with the 102nd Field Workshop.
Guest speaker Russell Mitten, who is vision impaired, gave a history of Clearance Divers (CD) in the RAN, particularly in Vietnam, which Peter Tunnage read out.
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Mr Mitten wrote that he joined the Navy in 1967 and qualified as a CD in 1969. Training was all forms of marine operations both surface and underwater, including harbour and beach clearance, covert surveillance, attack swimming, explosive ordnance disposal of mines, counter measures, booby traps and ship hull searching
for explosives.
As the Navy’s involvement in Vietnam increased a specialist EOD team was sent. CDT3 was formed and undertook intensive training. Each contingent was six personnel on call 24/7 with tours of duty being seven months.
From the outset CD3s became so effective in interrupting NVA and Viet Cong operations that a price was put on the head of every team member. Tasks performed were varied working beside Australian, US and South Vietnamese.
In just over four years of deployment 48 CDs, eight teams, searched 7673 ships removing 78 explosive devices, undertook 153 major diving tasks, destroyed 353 tonnes of heavy ordinance and 42,000 items of unsafe ammunition and participated in 68 special ops, including unofficial ops with the US into Cambodia.
The CDT3 unit and personnel are among the most highly decorated members of the RAN with both Australian and foreign recognition awards, the latter of which could not be accepted at the time due to Australian Government Policy. This was later rescinded in the 2000s.
Mr Mitten said that although he was not deployed to CDTs he is proud to have been a Clearance Diver, and many unique lessons were learned while CDTs were in Vietnam which have been incorporated into latter-day training.
The Nowa Nowa Men’s Choir sang three songs appropriate to the ceremony and Alice Smith read the poem Footsteps
on the Sand.
Mr Tunnage thanked all who attended, organisers and contributors and invited all for refreshments at the Lakes Entrance RSL.
