Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

My story continued as I was having trouble re-adjusting to civilian life, and I joined the CMF at Korumburra, Victoria for 4 years and then moved the family to Queensland. Here once again I joined the Army Reserve and retired as a Staff Sergeant with 35 years service.

I was conscripted into the 10th National Service Intake for the Australian Army on the 4th of October 1967. A oneway train ticket was sent to me and I boarded the diesel train at Wonthaggi, Victoria and arrived at Spencer Street station, Melbourne, then trucked to Puckapunyal Military Base.

Recruit training was completed the same year and of to Corps training in 1968, then posted to the Tiger Battalion 5 RAR as a Rifle man.

We participated in too many training exercices in Australia that had nothing to do with Vietnam.

We embarked on the old Air Craft Carrier HMAS Sydney at garden Island in early February 1969. A 12 day trip to the port of Vung Tau, on to landing craft (just like World War 2) and then trucks to Nui Dat, Australia's Main Base.

On the 6th of June 1969, our Company was on Ready Reaction duty for the Province of Phuoc Tuy, and we were called upon to intervein in the village of Binh Ba as it was being overrun by enemy.

The Battle of Binh Ba lasted from 6th to 8th of June 1969 and we only had 10 soldiers from a depleted platoon as the remainder were either on leave, NCO training or other duties.

Sometime in September 1969 all the 10th intake men were sent home as their 2 year obligation was about to end.