Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I interviewed Frank Smith at Evanston in 1985 for a proposed book which did not eventuate. Val Braendler Apr2025


Frank Smith 14 Jennifer St, Evanston 85224673

Boys see themselves as ‘war heroes’ – very exciting. War ruined me.
I joined in 1966, spent 12 years in the army and 23 months in hospital after being wounded. I went back after as I didn’t finish the first tour, only 6 mths 21 days, and wanted to finish. I felt strongly about being back in Vietnam as a professional soldier. It was my free choice to join the army and I felt I was cheating society while others were being called up (if I didn’t return). I was under no delusions, just had a strong sense that what we were doing was right.
This stems from childhood. Vietnam and the Communist regime bullying Southern Vietnamese meant someone had to stand up or the whole nation would be bullied. We were there to let bullies know we weren’t prepared to let this happen.
1968-69: of 8000 vets only 1000 could fight at one time (8 people t support 1 fighter). We were quiet and aggressive. We had a job to do, therefore there was little encouragement of reporters. The Americans had no discipline, I would say, no internal structure of corporals, etc.
I was a combat engineer, and saw frightful civic incidents. I went over initially with my troop, then included in my squadron and represented by single reinforcements. During the first tour I worked with my section and got to know 10 fellows. Leyin Rose (?) initiated a ‘sapper economy’: splinter teams of 2 individuals instead of a combat team of 7 to do the job, and working and learning together only when two were doing it, to run in inexperienced people.
I noticed on my second tour that two-thirds basically were in learning stages as seconds.
We were very short of experienced engineers. I had 4 days off in the 2nd 12 months, and was called back on two of those R&R days. Training meant learning on the job: one week’s mining warfare that had absolutely nothing to do with reality, ie: not Viet Cong, and not incorporated in the training manuals.
We were ambushed, and I replaced Nato Sapper Smiley as no. 1, being in Vietnam for 8 months in since warfare began.
Qn: What did you think of training and preparation?
The old textbooks were written for gun warfare in WWII, eg: we couldn’t use main machine guns and rifles. Smiley was a road runner. APCs (armoured personnel carriers) never went anywhere without engineers because of mines. I went to pick up his convoy and hit a roadblock, pulled the stores off, was harassed by an officer, who was then killed by a booby-trap. I was told to tell anyone in authority to ‘get oxy-welding’. This instigated a special training scheme, infantry mine tactics with better contact drills as most didn’t understand them. Infantry gave good training but support people didn’t – only 3 weeks training at Canungra. This led to in-country training especially in mines. Soldiers would just kick them, and were taught to notify them. Supports had to do tail patrols as combat soldiers were very tired.
I started off as a carpenter and joiner. At 26 I wanted to be aa photographer and phys. ed. instructor but was delegated to the infantry as a gunner. It was a pay rise joining the engineering section. I trained at the School of Military Engineering at Moorbank in Sydney to become a combat engineer.
Australia was honouring a SEATO agreement if attacked by an outside country. I see America as a benevolent country, and don’t think that politicians want to be in a war because of financial as well as human cost. “We protected an innocent race of people from an aggressive race of people to establish themselves, but were let down and betrayed all the way.” We weren’t backed up by our nation. The minority persuaded the majority it was a civil war. There were strict rules of engagement, such as ceremonial dress and to go to Vung Tau to see the standard of the army.
We won all battles yet lost the war, leaving a terrible feeling of frustration. It wasn’t worth it. Veteran Affairs now just want to keep the cost down.
Protesters were demoralising and made us angry. I would have done wharfies in when they refused to load store ship Japarit, condemning us to a life of misery- no mail, no home comforts. Our morale was as strong as could be in 1968, but by late 1970 there was high morale in some parts of the army, very low morale in others. Not all were Nato’s, 50% Nato 50% army.
If the army had sent decent PR teams and emphasised civil aid, it may have changed perceptions. Our efforts should be appreciated more. Lousy people branded us as killers. However, most joined because it was a job to do, to prevent South Vietnam from being attacked by North Vietnam.