Pacific Paradise veterans swap war stories
THREE GEMLIFE PACIFIC PARADISE WAR VETERANS SHARE THEIR TALES OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE SERVING IN VIETNAM AND MALAYA.
BOB MCVEY | MALAYA
Bob joined the Australian Army as a national serviceman in 1965 and was drafted for the Vietnam War in May 1966.
“I was part of an artillery battery as an artillery signaller, and we were sent to a post called Terendak Camp, right outside Malaka in Malaya, as part of a British artillery regiment,” says Bob.
“We were all single 21-year-olds over there and many of us hadn’t even been overseas before, so we spent a lot of time in the jungle looking for the bad boys,” he says. “Because I was on radio, I had to be right in the middle of it, as radios were either on us or vehicle mounted.”
Bob’s team took care of the nearest Australian Operational Military Cemetery of Vietnam, so they had the sad duty of looking after any young men who were killed in action and had to be buried with full military honours.
“On one occasion I had to spend the night locked up in the weapons armoury with a dead body, which was a life experience I wouldn’t want to go through again, but it did lead me to the things I have done since, including to my wife Sherryl; an ex-soldier herself,” he says.
“Life eventually led us to the Sunshine Coast and we found ourselves working at the Maroochy RSL Veterans Sub-branch and now look after the wellbeing of old diggers and war widows.”
Bob’s return home
Bob remembers feeling unsettled when he returned to Australia in April 1967. He wasn’t out of the Army yet, so he had to return to service.
“I was sent to the School of Artillery at North Head in Sydney, which a lot of people say was the best post in the Army.”
Bob says he was lucky to get that post although it was hard at times to move on from what they all had seen.
“Anzac Day is a very solemn occasion for anyone who has been a soldier, particularly here at the RSL. We are deeply dedicated to working hard every year to put on the service for as many as 5000 people.”
GRAHAM DUNNE | VIETNAM
Graham enlisted in the Army as an 18-year-old in November 1964. He departed Australia on May 12, 1966 with the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment bound for South Vietnam – the beginning of a long 12 months.
The platoon carried out a total of 18 operations, each lasting ten to 15 days, and Graham says it was always good to get back to base after an operation to shower and freshen up, as there were few creature comforts.
“Initially it was hard to adjust to our life in Vietnam – always wet, leeches, ticks, weaver (chopper) ants, wild monkeys, and getting used to the weight we were carrying. Plus, there was the ever-present possibility of encountering the enemy and booby traps,” says Graham.
“Our daily schedule at base was always busy, with routine close patrols, area defences, physical exercising and training, so for me, it was mostly work.”
For Graham, his memories of Vietnam are tinged with bitterness.
“When I reflect on the Vietnam War, it is with a mixture of anger and sadness. The fact that Australian servicemen returning home were often met with hostility didn’t help one’s morale because it was the government of the day who sent us there, after all.”
On January 28, 1969 he left Australia for his second tour, again with the 5th Battalion, in the advanced party. And on April 5, 1969 he was wounded in action.
“I got hurt but saw out the remainder of that 12-month tour with the reinforcement unit, returning to Australia on January 28, 1970.”
Graham’s return home
Following Vietnam, Graham served at 1 RTB Kapooka, Headquarters PNGDF Port Moresby, 40 IRC Hobart, 8/9 RAR Enoggera Brisbane, 9 RQR Kelvin Grove Brisbane, Officer Cadet School, Portsea Victoria, Headquarters 1st Division, Enoggera Brisbane.
In July 1985 after 21 years in the Army, he finally retired as a Warrant Officer Class One.
“I wasn’t married over there, but I had a sweetheart who used to write to me and keep me going, whom I was lucky enough to marry,” says Graham.
“That girl is my beautiful wife Lynne, who has been with me ever since, and we were lucky enough to have three daughters together and now get to enjoy our six grandchildren and our happy life at GemLife.”
BRIAN CRUICKSHANK | VIETNAM
During the Vietnam War, Brian decided to volunteer as part of the National Service and was stationed with the 17th Construction Squadron with fellow engineers at the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) base called Nui Dat, now part of Ba Ria city.
“Life over there during the Vietnam War was what you made of it, but for me, it was one of the best experiences of my life,” Brian says.
“We had it much easier than many of the soldiers, because we didn’t have to be in the line of fire and were basically stuck in camp most of the time.”
Brian’s squadron was responsible for building vital roads and bridges.
“Our place was to build and keep things going and most people only knew the battle stories from other soldiers. For every one soldier in Vietnam, there was usually ten people behind the lines doing what needed to be done to make it possible for the soldiers to go into battle – that was our job.”
Although he never saw the frontline, he had the unfortunate experience of seeing a man die right in front of him.
“I didn’t know who he was at the time, but he was just a guy building a bonfire who decided that it wasn’t burning fast enough. He threw petrol over it and that was the end of him sadly, which is an experience that will never leave me,” says Brian.
“You either made it or you didn’t. The place got people down, but you had to make the most of it, and my personal experience put me on the right track in life.”
Brian’s return home
Brian says it was strange coming home, especially recalling the taxi drive from the airport because he knew the driver, who was a friend’s father.
“We didn’t speak but once we entered my suburb, I looked around and thought, ‘hell, nothing’s changed’ and then I realised that I was the one who’d changed, which was such a bizarre feeling to process.”
Brian says he felt like an outcast for the first six months – like he left his home back in Vietnam.
“The bonds that I made over there were so hard to get over, but I’m one of those people who always moves forward, but it did take a while.”