40yrs Since the fall of Saigon!

[Tubby-Nuts2]

I remember watching all this as a naïve 10yr old. Is it now 40yrs. How time fly's! Some great, and not so great images.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/photo...at-helped-define-the-war/ss-AAbrHSl?ocid=iehp

Regards,

Mark

 

[DEL]

Thanks for posting Mark ....... I remember it well as a not so naive 21 year old and yet thinking thank **** we didn't get dragged in.
At that point, in the days before smart phones and real time images, like most of my mates I held the broad misconception that it was an all-American affair.
Here's a very interesting recording by Robert Fleming on the subject. It's nearly 1hr long but there's also a printed transcript.
http://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/lunchtime-lectures/video-archive/jungle-too-far-britain-vietnam-war

 

[Tubby-Nuts2]

Thanks for posting Mark ....... I remember it well as a not so naive 21 year old and yet thinking thank **** we didn't get dragged in.
At that point, in the days before smart phones and real time images, like most of my mates I held the broad misconception that it was an all-American affair.
Here's a very interesting recording by Robert Fleming on the subject. It's nearly 1hr long but there's also a printed transcript.
http://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/lunchtime-lectures/video-archive/jungle-too-far-britain-vietnam-war

Del, 'Wot', ..you are 61?.. Who?? would have thought that?

I must admit, this link that you sent is very informative.

Although his narrative and presentation would 're-fossilise a fossil'! ..that was hard work to get through. Not the most exciting of lectures. .. At one point I started counting the bald heads in the audience

However, it is a great link to inform us of the various nationalities that where involved within this conflict.

High regards,

Mark

 

[DEL]

Del, 'Wot', ..you are 61?.. Who?? would have thought that?
Mark

Yep ....... slippers, a seat at the fire, the Archers, Ovaltine and pureed food ...... that just about sums me up

 

[James O'Leary]

My dad was stationed in Alaska at the time and I was five years old. I remember seeing the images on TV and my dad getting kind of pissed off and cussing. He did two tours in Vietnam from December 1966 through the end of 1968. I also remember him going outside and sitting on the steps when some of the neighbors came by. They were all Vietnam vets and were not happy about the situation and they started talking and a few of them started drinking. I didn't really understand what was going on at the time other than it was something that was upsetting the Army guys. Now, after 35 years or so studying the war, having long talks with my dad and other Vietnam vets, and having been in combat myself, I understand a bit better than I did back then.

My heart goes out to all who served in Vietnam...from all the nations involved.
James

 

[tonydawe]

I hear you James.

My Dad was also a Vietnam veteran. He died about 10 years ago, but he did live long enough to march in the official "Welcome Home" parade for Vietnam Veterans held in Australian in October 1987, almost 20 years after the last Australian soldiers were withdrawn from Vietnam. My Dad and the tens of thousands of men like him were not welcomed home from the war; they were spat on and called "baby killers". He continued to serve in the Army for a further 20 years after Vietnam but he remained bitter and disillusioned about his participation in the war, and especially about the way the veterans were treated when they returned. That bitterness remains in the hearts and minds of the surviving veterans here in Australia, and I'm sure among the many US servicemen who served in Vietnam.
Thank fully today the public attitude towards our servicemen and women has changed significantly. We have learned to love the warrior, and hate the war.

Since Vietnam, Australian and New Zealand troops have fought along side American troops and each other in numerous wars, conflicts, peacekeeping missions and anti-terrorist actions, and not all of them have enjoyed popular support at home, but we have at least learned to separate our feelings about the military deployments our governments engage in overseas, from our love and respect for the men and woman who are sent by our politicians to fight.

Of course the real victims of the war in Vietnam are the Vietnamese people themselves who have to live with the after effects of that most brutal conflict. Many of the refugees who escaped from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and settled in Australia after the war remain traumatised by what happened there 40 years ago.

My heart also goes out to all the victims of war, servicemen and woman and civilians alike.

 

[James O'Leary]

Tony,

I did not realize that Australia treated her Vietnam Veterans the same way ours in the US were treated. I knew there was an anti-war movement, but I did not realize that it was that bad. I have a friend that I served with who was an Australian Vietnam Veteran (he served there in 1971) and that may have been the reason he left and came to the US, but he had never mentioned it. His nephew is currently in the Australian armed forces. My second tour in Iraq, we shared a base with Australian troops and I was impressed with their professionalism and their friendliness with us. I am glad that in both of our countries the people have finally realized that those who get sent to fight are not the ones any aggression or anger should be focused upon as they were not the ones who caused the wars. I have found that the biggest supporters of our current troops are the Vietnam Veterans. Everytime I have gone through the airports either on my way to or on my way back from Iraq and Afghanistan, the first people you see when they let you off the plane are the people who welcome home the flight of troops and in front are the Vietnam Veterans. I have to admit that it is a very touching moment that is quite emotional when you reflect on what their homecoming was like.

I agree with you that the real victims of the Vietnam war are the Vietnamese people who just wanted to be left alone, but had to suffer the effects of the conflict put upon them from both sides. I had a doctor who had been a doctor in our Army, but had been born in Vietnam and his family did not make it out when the South fell. They were placed in a re-education camp, survived, and eventually made it to the US. The traumatic events the average Vietnamese person endured during the war and after the war was over must have been horrendous. My heart goes out to them, too. Thanks for mentioning them, too.

 

[Mirofsoft]

Well, remember also that the name of Vietnam was Indochine, a french colony, and when asking for their Independance, already the com were trying to get all the power .
The french sent there some force with General Leclerc, ending at Dien Bien Phu 1953-1954 . The conflict ended with signed documents partitioning Vitenam in 2 parts .
We all know how well the com respected the document .

 

[badger]

I remember as a schoolboy aged about 12, doing a collage in school about the Vietnam war. I cut out the most dramatic pictures from newspapers and pasted them onto a large baseboard. then later I did another one more on a peace theme as I was sick of seeing people suffering. now I am building a model based on Vietnam, and whilst doing it ,I remember the pictures I pasted on the baseboards at school. we don't need war, life is short enough. bring back people caring about people. if the politians want to go to war, then let them go.

 

[brian]

I enlisted in the Australian air force in London, unaware that i could have easily have been posted to Vietnam,a country i had never heard of before.Just as i was getting comfortable that i just missed out on Vietnam,i was volunteered in the mid 1970s to get flown in to Iran, to pick up Australian citizens,when Khomeini and his revolutionist nutters had 50 odd yanks taken hostage.Luckily it was called off,but as i wasn't an Australian citizen,i must be the only guy with an Australian passport ,that was valid for a year,with citizen scored out and RAAF personnel put in it's place.
It seems the Brits didn't want any British hostages or dead bodies lying about Tehran,as it would have caused an embarrassment.I still have that passport today.
My non-war stories will be published soon
Brian