Australia

Perth, Australia

I knew I would return to Australia if possible. It is the most beautiful country in the world with the kindest people. I had made contacts with several organizations about my project and was invited to visit.

Kyra Edwards

Ms. Edwards is the President of the Oral History Association of Australia WA Branch. She works at the Mount Flora Regional Museum. I met with her to discuss the collection of oral histories in Australia as well as comparing the collection of oral histories in the U.S. Vietnam does not have a collection of oral histories.

Aborginial Art

Ms. Edwards showed me the museum and explained the history of the Aborgines in the area. She is Aborgine herself and is working to secure their history.

Perth War Cemetery

Walls with the names of the fallen

The plaque explains the purpose of the gardens.

This is the National Military Cemetery in Perth.

Five Australians killed in Vietnam

WWII

I did not know of this event during WWII. The Australians recused many of the bodies but some were lost to the sea. There is a marker on the back wall indicating the names of those lost but not found.

Dutch Cemetery

This small cemetery is within the Australian Military Cemetery

Australian headstone

The Australians are the United States closest allies. They have been next to the U.S. in every conflict. Australia is a small country with a population of only 24.6 million but has the land size of the U.S.

During the Vietnam War, over 60,000 Australian men served during the 10 years (1962-1972). Five hundred and twenty-one Aussies were killed and five are still missing.

Within Kings Park, a large green area in Perth, is the Kings Park War Memorial. The memorial lists the names of every Australian killed in all of the conflicts.

Vietnamese Veterans of the Vietnam War

These men fought in the South Vietnamese Army during the war. Afterwards, they were are sent to reeducation camps. One man, second from the right, spent 12 years in the camps. Afterwards, all of the men came to Australia. Two have revisited Vietnam but the other three have never returned. I interviewed them for two hours about their war experiences.

Vietnamese soldier receiving his Vietnam War Campaign Medal

The Australian government allows the former South Vietnamese soldiers to receive a pension and medical benefits from the Australian government. In 2016, the government awarded the Vietnamese soldiers their Vietnam War campaign medals. (bottom photo)

I also interviewed five Australian Vietnam soldiers. The men were eager for me to hear about their service and their interaction with both the Vietnamese soldiers and people along with the American soldiers. One man told a story about an American helicopter pilot retrieving injured Australians. He said that the pilot was able to set the helicopter down in a small clearing to help get out the injured. When asked how he could do this maneuver, the pilot said "you never have seen New York City taxi drivers". I spent six hours with the men interviewing each one and then having an open discussion about the war. The picture, above on the bottom left, is of the man seated on the right. Thanks to Richard Williams (back center), President of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, Western Australia Branch.

Long Tan Cross

After visiting the interviewing the Australian veterans, I felt the need to see a memorial dedicated to a battle between the Australians and the North Vietnamese in 1966.

Remote area of the memorial

The location of the battle is in a remote region of SE Vietnam. It took about 2 1/2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to arrive. There were no signs or directions to the site. My driver relied on the GPS and asking locals for information.

Long Tan Cross

There was no sign at the memorial. But the flowers were recent and the site was well maintained.

Long Tan Cross - The Battle of Long TanLong Tan Cross memorial was installed in South Vietnam on 18 August 1969 and then permanently given to the Australian Government in 2017. Learn more here.

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