Services of Remembrance will be held at every grave or commemorative plaque site across Australia on August 3 to mark 50 years since the withdrawal of Australian combat troops from the Vietnam conflict.
Vietnam veteran and President of the Mackay RSL Sub Branch Ken Higgins OAM and fellow Vietnam veteran and President of the Veterans Support Group Les Palmer have been working together to prepare for the Vietnam Veterans Vigil, to be held at 11:00am, Thursday, August 3 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Jubilee Park.
The Vigil will pay tribute to the 523 that died during the Vietnam conflict, particularly six from the Mackay region and surrounds.
“The tragedy of losing 523 people was bad, but for us to forget them is worse,” said Mr Higgins.
“We need to remember they gave their lives in the service of the country and they should be remembered for that.”
Following the Vigil, a formal service will be held at Jubilee Park on Friday, August 18 at 5:30pm in line with the Australian Government’s national Commemorative Service earlier that day.
A memorial gathering at Harrup Park will follow that evening, featuring rolling tribute footage captured in Vietnam.
“More than 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, over 3,000 were wounded and 523 lost their lives in the longest conflict Australia was involved in during the 20th Century,” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said.
“This was a war that was at times contentious at home, and for some veterans their service was not recognised as it should have been.
“The Australian Government is honouring those who served, and throughout this commemorative year will specifically recognise and honour the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans and their families.”
Read on to learn about the six local soldiers who lost their lives during the conflict.
Service: Australian Army
Date of birth: September 3, 1947, in Mackay
Hometown: Mackay
Occupation: Soldier
Date of Intake: April 3, 1968
Army Employment: Rifleman
Operational Service: South Vietnam
Enlisted: May 19, 1968
Tour of Duty: November 26, 1968 – January 6, 1969 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit; January 7, 1969 – April 8, 1969 A coy, 9th Battalion, RAR
Date of Death: April 8, 1969 in Long Khanh Province, South Vietnam
Resting Place: Bowen General Cemetery
Service: Australian Army
Date of birth: September 30, 1944 in Mackay
Occupation: Soldier
Hometown: Walkerston
Date of Enlistment: February 6, 1967
Army Employment: Rifleman
Operational Service: South Vietnam
Embarked: April 1967 onboard HMAS Sydney from Australia
Tour of Duty: May 8, 1967 – December 4, 1967 2nd Battalion RAR
Date of Death: December 4, 1967 in South Vietnam
Resting Place: Walkerston Cemetery
Service: Australian Army
Date of birth: August 19, 1939 in Rockhampton
Occupation: Soldier
Hometown: Mackay
Date of Enlistment: June 7, 1960
Army Employment: Rifleman
Operational Service: Indonesian Confrontation, Vietnam
Tour of Duty: 1962 – 1966 Indonesian Confrontation; May 14, 1966 – September 7, 1966 Headquarters, 1ATF; May 7, 1966 – February 28, 1967 9 Platoon, C Company, 5th Battalion, RAR; May 8, 1969 – August 4, 1969 6th Battalion, RAR
Date of Death: August 4, 1969, in South Vietnam
Resting Place: Mount Bassett Cemetery
Service: Australian Army
Date of birth: August 21, 1949 in Mackay
Occupation: Builder’s Labourer, Soldier
Hometown: Mackay
Date of Enlistment: 1969
Army Employment: Rifleman
Operational Service: South Vietnam
Tour of Duty: January 27, 1969 – July 5, 1969 7 Platoon, C Company, 5th Battalion, RAR
Date of Death: July 5, 1969, in Long Binh, South Vietnam
Resting Place: Mount Bassett Cemetery
Service: Australian Army
Date of birth: September 14, 1949 in Mackay
Occupation: Soldier
Hometown: Mackay
Date of Enlistment: Unknown
Army Employment: Rifleman
Operational Service: South Vietnam
Embarked: May 1970 onboard HMAS Sydney from Australia
Tour of Duty: May 12, 1970 – August 2, 1970 2nd Battalion, RAR
Date of Death: August 2, 1970 in South Vietnam
Resting Place: Mount Bassett Cemetery
Service: Australian Army
Date of birth: December 25, 1946 in Brisbane
Occupation: Soldier
Hometown: Brisbane
Date of Intake: April 19, 1967
Army Employment: Rifleman
Operational Service: South Vietnam
Embarked: May 1970 onboard HMAS Sydney from Australia
Tour of Duty: March 26 1968 – 16 May 1968 1st Battalion, RAR
Date of Death: May 16, 1968 in South Vietnam
Resting Place: Allambe Memorial Park
