RAAFVVA (Vic) Blog

A No 34 Squadron Reunion is being planned for 2012. The venue will be Parliament House Canberra.
For more details, contact the organiser, Ken Stone, at – marganken@bigpond.com

Distinguished guests, veterans, ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls, every year on the 18th of August we gather to commemorate the Vietnam War. Thank you for attending. Respectfully we acknowledge the following distinguished guests and/or representatives:

• Representing Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland, LCDR Dominic Catter, ADC (Hon);
• Representing the Government of Qld, the Honourable Mr Paul Lucas, Deputy Premier of Qld and Minister for Health;
• Representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Krista Adams;
• Representing the QLD Opposition, Mr Mike Horan;
• Representing the Commissioner of Qld Police Service, Mr Peter Martin, APM;
• Representing QLD Ambulance Service, Mr Russell Bowles, Deputy Commissioner;
• Representing the three Services of the ADF:
  • LT Makaila Belnap, RAN;
  • MAJGEN Mick Slater, DSC, AM, CSC, Commander 1st Division with CAPT Robert Haertsch and WO1 Wayne Giddings, RSM 1st Division all of the ARA; and
  • GPCAPT David Pasfield, AM, RAAF;
• Ms Alison Stanley, Qld Deputy Commissioner, DVA.

It’s a particular honour to address this gathering on Vietnam Veterans’ Day when we not only pay tribute to those Australians who served, suffered and died in Vietnam but also to those much loved families of veterans, for they also served while waiting at home. Such service provides inspiration and informs the values and ideals on which Australia is founded. On this date, in this special place last year, LCDR Krause, RAN, spoke of the Vietnam War from a broad perspective, correctly emphasising Tri-Service involvement.

My address is multi-factorial addressing values and concepts such as military mateship and the unique nature of military service, for these values embrace Australia’s national values and also on offer are views on the future of Vietnam Veterans and their Associations. I will also speak of the Unit with which I served in South Vietnam, 161 Reconnaissance Flight.

However and appropriately, I will begin at the beginning, for Vietnam Veterans’ Day first recognises Long Tan Day and the heroic service of Australian soldiers during the iconic Battle of Long Tan and secondly, the service of all Vietnam Veterans.
Unarguably, the Battle of Long Tan is one of the most, significant Australian engagements in the Vietnam War. It followed soon after the Task Force was established at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province. On 18 August 1966, the Battle pitted D Company, 6 RAR against at least two battalions of NVA regular and provincial soldiers. First, the determination and gallantry of D Coy 6 RAR, coupled with decisive command, strong and accurate artillery support, a well executed ammunition resupply by RAAF Hueys, and the arrival of 1ATF reinforcements led to a decisive victory for the Australians, which quickly and deservedly became world news. But not all Vietnam Veterans fought at Long Tan in August 1966, or served in Vietnam at that time. Service in Vietnam involved 50,000 uniformed veterans from all types of Units and Services from 1962 to 1975 on the sea, on land and in the air.
To my Unit: The VVAA has kindly invited me to speak of my service in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971, an opportunity that I’ll modestly use as follows. You’ll note the photo on the cover of today’s program is of a collection of fixed and rotary winged Army aircraft at Nui Dat’s Luscombe Airfield. The aircraft are part of 161 (Independent) Recce Flt, which saw service in Vietnam from 1965 until 1972. 161’s members and aircraft historical have attracted little attention during discussions of the Vietnam War, yet every 1ATF Operation from Nui Dat and before that every 1 RAR Operation from Bien Hoa was prepared for and supported by 161. About 750 veterans (94 pilots) of 161 flew tens of thousands of hours, during thousands of missions, in small, mostly unarmed, single engined aircraft, both by day and by night regardless of weather. All three Services and almost every Army Corps plus NZ and US veterans served in 161. It was truly an International, Inter-Service unit like few others. From the Delta to the DMZ, members of 161 flew all over South Vietnam, principally missions of reconnaissance and Direct Support (DS) of Infantry Battalions. However, 161 also conducted propaganda missions using loudspeakers and an “Mk1 leaflet dropping device”.

161 also provided DS to all other Arms’ Units and delivered pay and mail to Australians (usually AATTV) in remote localities. 161 dropped battlefield illumination flares, marked targets for air and arty strikes and significantly with 1ATF Signals elements, tracked NVA force movements in the lead up to the Battle of Long Tan.

For their service in Vietnam, members of 161 received; one MBE, 14 DFCs, one Queen’s Commendation for Bravery, and sixteen MIDs. Bravery awards for another five members of 161 were received from US and SVN Governments during the war and others, of uncertain numbers, were honoured similarly. One Medal for Gallantry and four Distinguished Service Medals were awarded to 161 members in the June 1998 ‘End of War List’. Those members of 161 Recce Flt who served with the 1 Battalion Group from 1965 to 1966 received the United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation. Although enjoying air superiority in Vietnam, it was not unusual for 161 Recce Flt aircraft to be shot down and many more, struck by ground fire, managed to complete the mission or make a safe forced landing. During the course of these actions, an unknown number of 161 crew and passengers were wounded in action. Sadly, three 161 pilots were Killed in Action, including the OC, Major George Constable, who was shot down providing top cover support to Australian Centurion tanks on 22 May 1968 just prior to the Battle of Balmoral. In all of the above and below there are elements of the unique nature of military service.

Aussie ingenuity was also to the fore in 161. (To the dismay of staff officers in Australia) 161 aircraft were fitted with and fired rockets (from pods of 2 – 18 rockets), M60 machine guns and a 20 mm cannon all fitted and maintained by resourceful RAEME Craftsmen.

Let’s move now to a definition of the unique nature of military service. During March this year, at a public meeting of the Military Compensation Review Steering Committee, an eminent veteran, Brigadier (Rtd) Kerry Mellor defined the concept:

Today, ADF members are fighting in the thick of that very high risk environment described by Kerry Mellor. During the seven years to 2010 of today’s War on Terror, more than 30,000 ADF members have deployed on more than 80,000 warlike service tours. About 2000 ADF members are currently on warlike service, which of course means Australia is again at war. These men and women serve in many places far from the Sunburned Country called Australia, while others provide equally valuable peacekeeping, peacemaking and border protection service nearer to home. Today, here in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square we pause to remember the service of Australia’s Vietnam Veterans. While we should never forget that service, neither should we ever forget these courageous men and women currently serving in the ADF. Their multi-tour, warlike service is unique and the unique nature of their warlike service is that which typifies the War on Terror. It is dirty, dangerous and far from home and 18 Australians have been Killed in Action there.

Now every cloud has a silver lining and military mateship is the silver lining on the cloud of war and it is that topic to which I now turn. Military mateship forged during the unique nature of warlike service when usually mates are all you have to rely upon. This immeasurable, hard to define and comprehend, unique nature of warlike service builds mateship and obligation during service and stretches forever across the miles and the years after that service. It can be seen in the activities described below. Many of Australia’s Vietnam Veterans help other veterans who have experienced this unique nature of military service.

As volunteers they work in fields of advocacy, pensions, rehabilitation and welfare. Daily, veterans are helping veterans, veterans are helping families, veterans are helping widows, and veterans are helping current serving members. Wives and partners of veterans are helping each other, while at the same time helping the children of veterans and the mothers and fathers of veterans. They continue to help and support each other and in the process provide considerable financial benefit and social cohesion to Australia.

So mateship is not only strong among veterans who have experienced the unique nature of military service but it is also a key characteristic of the Australian community.

Mateship can be seen in the volunteerism that is so apparent in the Australian community (for example; Surf Life Saving Clubs) and in the manner in which Australians excel at team sports which are so reliant on mateship and teamwork.
Is there a dollar cost to this unique nature of military service, this military mateship? Well, you bet there is and a huge cost at that! The current Defence budget is $26 billion. But that is not the only cost, because to be realistic you must also factor in a DVA budget of $12 billion which represents the cost of being at War. This means that the annual cost of defending Australia is more correctly put at $38 billion. Now I’ve not heard one raised voice against that level of expenditure during the current election campaign and I read that absence to mean an indication of acceptance by Australians of value for $$$$. Australia maintains with this budget a strong, agile ADF and ADF’s real strength lies in its people, not in the modern, high tech equipment typical of the modern ADF.

Now to the future and the question which asks how can the value of military mateship built in the unique nature of military service be exploited to provide a better future for veterans, current serving members, their families and dependents and just as importantly for the future generations of men and women who will join and serve in the ADF?

The Head of Defence People Capability, a decorated veteran who I have the privilege of working with, in several ‘spaces’ (his term), is a thoughtful, caring leader who tells anyone who’ll listen that he has a well-developed insight into the challenges faced by veterans and not surprisingly, given his ADF role, a clear understanding of the challenges faced by those currently serving.

The MAJGEN sees the challenges in the gaps between current serving and ex-serving communities; gaps that must be bridged if we are to improve the linkages between Regimental Associations, ESOs and current serving members of the ADF. This perceptive MAJGEN considers the current strength of Regimental Associations and ESOs to be founded in the warlike service of veterans and the realised need to provide support to mates, a support that will be even more necessary as the effects of the last ten years of high tempo operational deployments are felt.

Younger veterans have for last decade served in Timor, the Solomons, Iraq, Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in a multitude of other places. Many have multiple tours and many are still serving with injuries and concerns they will only share when they decide their warlike service days are finished. The challenge for those currently serving and for those no longer serving, is to build linkages between Regimental Associations, ESOs and current serving members in order to develop a sense that all are part of a supportive and caring community, there for their mates. Says the Head of Defence People Capability, Regimental Associations and ESOs should not be places that only have old soldiers, more appropriately they must reflect the sweep of their respective Corps and be the spiritual home of Regimental and Unit Associations and the ADF.

As I understand it, the Head of Defence People Capability is urging Regimental Associations and ESOs to link up with the Diggers of today in order to provide them with a community for tomorrow. Regimental Associations and ESOs must be made attractive and relevant to current serving members and their service.

Significantly, and to demonstrate their relevance, ESOs, Regimental and Unit Associations can play a very important role in the transition from ADF to civilian life. This means it is time for Vietnam Veterans to consider the next step in the development of our many Associations. Let us take the initiative, build linkages, establish relevance and contacts between the old soldiers and the young Turks – who in the end will become tomorrow’s old soldiers. And to this speaker, that sounds like a clear description of mateship, founded in the unique nature of military service. Maybe this Head of Defence People Capability bloke knows of what he speaks!

Conclusion

Broken bodies, minds, and families are common but not the only by-products of war. However, tending to these people breakages post-War requires Australia’s continued attention and commitment for these are the National values forged in the aftermath of WW1; that is to properly support veterans and families of the fallen and the wounded. This can best be done by exploiting the long held value of Australian mateship which is in part a consequence of military mateship and the rendering of warlike service of a unique nature. So today as you go home, consider those ADF members in far-off places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands giving their todays for our better tomorrows.

Finally, it follows that you should always protect and never forget the value of the unique nature of military service and always plan for the future.

Thank you.

Mr Benfield enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1963 and served in Vietnam from November 1970 until November 1971. Post Vietnam he served overseas in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Following discharge (as a Sergeant) he was employed with the Royal Thai Navy Air Wing in Thailand from 1984 to 1987.