Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I joined the Navy at 16 as a Junior Recruit at HMAS Leeuwin a training base in WA near Freemantle, pay was $10 a fortnight for 6 months then $12 the last 6 months. What little else went to bank & an allowance to my Mother. Very hard training and bastardry, but it was meant to show us the pain and suffering we would expect. At Leeuwin we were trained in Navigation, Boat Skills, Gunnery, Ropes, Physical Training, etc, but we also continued our education during this time.
My 1st Posting was HMAS Sydney, a converted Aircraft Carrier which became a Transporter for Vietnam, taking supplies, troops to and from and also vehicles, planes, choppers etc. I was only 17 and very unsure of Vietnam & took the Australian Gov. at its word that Communists were working their way down to take us over, known as the Domino Effect. I had several weeks leave before joining & overstayed by another two weeks as I couldn't understand it all. Turned myself in or I would be up for desertion and was punished with No. 9's extra work. HMAS Sydney was a very large ship and we had to know so much so quickly, decks, doors, hatches, positions eg: Leaving ship station, NBCD positions & duties, Action Stations, Watchkeeping etc. 4 weeks later we sailed for Vietnam.
My first Trip to Vietnam involved my position being the doorman on an LCM Landing Craft, of which Sydney carried 6 which were added just before I joined her. I was extremely proud to get that placing but knew nothing of LCM's and the others LCM sailors had been trained when I was adrift in joining. After several trips in with the troops I had lost my pride & gung ho attitude this was after being stuck on the gravelly beach & problems with the door, plus we had to be dragged off the beach once with help from another LCM. It felt like we were sitting targets and I remembered so many black & white landings of WW11 being blown out of the water in film clips and movies. It was a cross between scary and trying to keep my cool. Second trip I was Letterack boy, loading shells into the shell rack of twin Bofors, but only got to enjoy the firing of them in an exercise, not in Nam. The next trip I was Sentry duty on the upper deck watching for enemy divers and possible disguised floating bombs carrying an SLR L1A1 riffle. At this time I was an Ordinary Seaman FC (Fire Control which was direction of Guns & Missiles). I still have many questions of events at that time, but seeing the fresh blood going in to serve their Country all gung ho, like me, then seeing those we were taking home, their faces so dramatically changed and drained, the thousand yard stare, as we called it, apparent in most.
My next sea draft was on HMAS Yarra, the Fighting 45, and the best ship I served on. A very tight crew and always someone at your back to help or you would help them. I spent over 3 years on the Yarra and every trip was eventful. It was on this ship that I did 4 x 6 month FESR trips in the Far East visiting many Ports all over and we even did places like Hawaii, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaya, Philippines etc. We even did an Escort of HMAS Sydney to Vietnam as it's protector/escort, on that trip I was in the 4.5 inch Gun Turret as a loader and this was my Action Station on board the whole time I served on her. In 1971 I could see Vietnam winding down and realised many of us would no longer be needed and I had to think about my future. I knew I could do better in Civvy street, as our pay was a pittance and advancement was minimal due to the size of our Navy. There were no jobs directing Guns in Civvy street, so I changed my rating to Steward and did a Course at HMAS Cerberus Navy Base Vic. then returned to my ship. I got a short shore posting and then was transferred to another ship HMAS Torrens. Surprisingly I never enjoyed this posting, the crew was nothing like the Yarras'. Labor had come into force at around this time and offered us all an 18 months choice of Discharge, so I put my name down in the hope they would keep me on and promote me, as I had been waiting over 20 months for a promotion having done all the exams etc. 18 months later I was still waiting, so took my discharge and entered Civvy street and a new battle. No one wanted to employ Vietnam Veterans, so I moved to SA where Donny Dunstan was Premier and being picked on, which left us still able to get employment. Whilst on the Torrens I did one more FESR Tour and was pleased to leave her.
For three years after I was Honorably Discharged I was very disoriented, but had made my bed and had to lay in it. I went on to do all that I was never allowed to do in the Navy, like Diving and Marine Engine Driver.
I write this at 73 yrs of age, I have major medical problems, I lost my Kidneys and received a live transplant in 2008 after 2 1/2 yrs of Haemodialysis, also suffer from Porphyria Curtanea Tarda (blistering of skin) Hiatus Hernia, Diabetes 2, Degenerative spine and neck with spondylitis, Dry Macular Degeneration, Anxiety & Depression, Barret's Mucosa, Osteoporosis and other ailments. I no longer have an immune system and am very vulnerable now. Was it worth it, for the experience yes, but not as the results. A War we should never have been involved in & that has caused more suffering for all that served there and the People of Vietnam than it ever should have. Then it took our Government 20 years to recognise that service by the Navy.