Redgum - I Was Only 19 (US Soldier Reacts) **EMOTIONAL ANZAC DAY TRIBUTE 

. Where you said the names in the song were cities..No Puckapunyal is the main Australian army training facility for all who join the military, Canungra is in Townsville QLD and is Land Warfare Centre promotion courses for officer and NCO training and during WW2 was where troops were sent to train for jungle warfare before being sent to South Pacific. Shoalwater is Shoalwater Bay in Queensland and is a big military exercise area. where parts of Talisman Sabre war games are held with USA and 13 other countries. Man walking on the moon was in the song because after Frankie stood on the mine and the brother in law sat with him waiting for the evac helicopters to arrive, they were late and taking their time as were back at base busy watching the moon landing. Everything in this song has truth and a meaning of the true story of his Brother in laws experience and stories he told. Agent orange is a devastating after effect of that war, personally and sorry to say i love USA and Americans but i think your country should pony up and help pay for allied soldiers who were effected by it. was your war and your biological weapons you used. America makes everyone pay a lend lease for them helping a country in war, proven in Ukraine now and you even charged Australia in WW2 and yet there is no proof you ever paid Australia for all the wars we joined you in. Many stories of US pilots accidnetally dropping this chemical on Australian troops. your country needs to pay tribute.

It would be great if the US veterans help groups could be sent this. This is such a powerful and meaningful song to us Aussies.

Highly recommend you listen to Hey Brother - Wolfe Brothers

@@bradlennon94 I will check it out, thanks!!

@@charlottethehousegoat5960 I agree

Beautiful poem

Lest We Forget.

Lest we forget

Lest we forget

Lest we forget.

airbushken5339, you would certainly understand the lyrics & the heart & meaning behind the words - thoughts & prayers with you as you battle your next medical condition. My parents were relieved when my brother missed the 'ball lottery' for National Service/Conscription, & therefore wasn't sent to Vietnam. Thank you for your service for another country

@@lisajessup6615 I was an Infantry Training NCO at Fort Polk after I graduated Leadership Academy ... the reality (which surprised me) was only 20 something percent of the American Forces in Vietnam were draftees and over 70% volunteered to go. I have many friends from that time who served in the US Military and only one I knew went to combat in VN, beside myself. Sadly, his health is failing do to his exposure to Dioxin (Agent Orange), I've just been lucky ... had to retire from teaching as I'm 100% disabled according to both the Australian and the USA Veterans administrations. You be safe...

I thank you for your service. I appreciate your sharing. I am sorry about your health and the loss of your friends and battle buddies .. Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙

hey legend, from one vet to another - thank you.

@@libatalklieb5793 I'm sorry, my team was on the DMZ and we spent just over 330 days in the jungle, as we had NO BASE CAMP that we worked out of. We would sometimes fly into Camp Eagle for 2 day stand downs; shots, clothing and new gear. There were no Villages, villagers, rice paddies or roads ... just North Vietnamese Regulars crossing into South Vietnam. I only saw civilians on two trips through Hue. I did see the grave sites of the over 2,000 South Vietnamese civilians (men, women and children) the NVA killed during the Tet Offensive for not joining them in their assault. The spraying program "Operation Ranch Hand" was started by JFK in 1961, the same year he started the Peace Corps. Over 400,000 Australian and American solders have died from Dioxin (Agent Orange) related health issues AFTER they came home. As a Sniper and also I walked Point most days, I remember every personal kill, every detail to this day. I just sign myself out of hospital after 4 weeks ... I was wounded in battle and 50 odd years later it was torn open in a fall. The hospital brought back all those memories/nightmares. Thank God I have a caring partner of 30 years who understands.

🇦🇺💙

same mate.

Absolutely, pal. Cheers.

Same Mate. The "Last Post" on ANZAC Dawn also brings me to tears thinking about what our Diggers went thru. Lest We Forget.

@@sinistra328 Diggers?

@@lyndawebb6867 thank you so much for sharing! And Thanks for your support! Love and respect to you and your uncle from South Carolina 🌴🙏👍

No Australian Federal (or State) Govt. has the Constitutional power or right, to tell a person that they have to go to war or to jail. Especially not at the age of 17. The age of Conscription in Australia was 19. I was a 'Ward Of The State' also, though I am not Aboriginal. I spent 8 years in the Salvation Army Boys' Home, at Indooroopilly, Brisbane, from the age of 8 until I was 16 (1956 - 1964). At the age of 17 I joined the Australian Regular Army, for six years, to get an adult wage. I ended up doing two tours of Vietnam, as an Infantry soldier, in 3RAR. I hope your uncle is doing well, but no government could force him to go to Vietnam. Once he was in the Army however, the Army could post him to wherever they wanted to.

Oops! Sorry, my mistake. The age of conscription in Australia for the Vietnam War was 20, not 19. as I stated in my previous comment. I knew better than that. I don't know why I wrote '19'. It won't happen again. Dennis Moore.

@@dennismoore1134 🙂👍

@@dennismoore1134 Dennis, I turned 18 in Jan 1972 and I remember being aware that the next year when I was 19 that I was ging to be included in the conscription draft. Then Labor won the Federal election in Nov 1972 and Gough Whitlam abolished the draft and officially declared our withdrawal from Vietnam. I just remember that I was so young that I has zero understanding of what it might have meant for me, none whatsoever. Years later, when did finally realise what it could have meant for me, I was angry and also felt so sad that so many people had to endure just because of a date of birth.

I thank your father for a service. It does take a real man to admit that you need help. I’m glad that he is getting help now. And thank you for sharing.

@@JustAnotherArmyVet he's gone now sadly, but I think of him often, as do my sisters, he was a wonderful man and father.

@@marieantoinette1360 i’m sorry for your loss. 😢🙏💙

@@marieantoinette1360 he was clearly, to have such a compassionate wife and children. We owe so much to our serving members, whether they see action or not. They are among the very best of us. I worked as a civilian engineer, alongside crews in all services.

I'm so happy to read your father surrendered to the truth of how life was for him and leaned on your mother, that, takes strength. Bless him.

You are welcome and thank you for your support. I will always have Australia in my heart, and my aunt is from New Zealand, so I feel a little connection there as well ❤️❤️

Yes, let's not forget our Kiwi cousins in ANZAC 🇦🇺🇳🇿

@@becounted763 exactly 👍

@@JustAnotherArmyVetthey were places where they trained troops before they sent them to Vietnam

@@JustAnotherArmyVetpuckapunyal is an army base in my home state Victoria

@@garrymallard8335 That is good to hear that he is still alive. He sounds like an amazing member of the community and a good person 🤗

Lest we forget.

@@garrymallard8335 I'll take $50 for things that aren't true

Frank Hunt (Frankie in the song) was my public speaking teacher when I was a high school kid in the 80's. He seemed to be a beautiful soul - always giving to the community and striving to make our little town a better place. I think he is still around. Knowing this song was about him gave me enough context to learn some empathy and respect - which was not easy for teenage me to do. It helped me respect soldiers and understand the shit they our governments' put them through. They were literally kids. And so many of them were conscripted. They had no choice. This song has a huge impact - across generations. It builds empathy and understanding.

@@user-yp2jz9rx3m thank you so much for sharing 💙

You know what ... i think thats an apology that needs to happen

they did not deserve how they were treated and know that public stands with them! i and all us fellows owe our freedom to those brothers! know they will never be forgotten! we stand with them for eternity!!

The Australian people owe all the veterans who have served us a massive big hug 🫂. Just to say, welcome home boys. 😊

My grandpa was a Scottish immigrant who served as an Aussie soldier in Tobruk, New Guinea, etc, in WWII and rarely spoke of it, but when he did, it was horrifying and immeasurably sad. Said the happiest day of his life was when his youngest son (my uncle) failed the medical to go to Vietnam. We/Australia used a Birth-date Lottery system for drafting soldiers and my uncle was chosen. Never found out why he failed the medical but Pops said he didn't care why, he just rejoiced. Thankyou for your service.

Well they actually did have a choice - conscious objector springs to mind; bugger off to Timbuktu or elsewhere; medical. But I suspect they feared being labelled with cowardice more than the trials and tribulations that awaited them. This is not a judgement on those who served or those who chose not to.

My respect to your spouse and to you. I know it can be hard life with a spouse in the military. Thanks for your support 💙

Im ex army too, but hate American government, they should be compensating our vets for the agent orange. America are quick to call war crimes on any country, but don't own up to their own war crimes. The definition of a bully. Wake up America u start wars then claim ur the saviour. U guys are absolute rats.

If it was hand to hand combat instead of ur hit em fr9m 100 miles away tactics , u would be flogged by most countries. U r pussies

@gme273 Have a listen Brocken Soldier by Beccy Cole an Australian artis. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3no_pZdZ_yE.htmlsi=k6tmXA-zC2s1tQVv🦘AU

My Dad grew up in Nazi occupied Paris then as an adult came to Australia and joined the army. He was deployed to Korea and then Malaya. This song allways makes me cry, I think of my Dad.

Very emotional song. I do appreciate your insight. I will definitely check out that song. 💙

If you listen to "and the band played waltzing matilda" make sure you have some tissues close by you. It hits hard. "waltzing matilda" is a song about a man who sleeps in a swag and moves around the outback of Australia.. In the old days if you were going "waltzing matilda" it meant you were one of many farm hands going from place to place looking for work (walking, often for days). The number of men looking for work would increase in the drought years and during the great depression. Often they were paid with just enough food to move to the next farm and would follow the harvest work around (waltzing) and their swag got the nickname "matilda" for some reason. Waltzing matilda has become to symbolise "going bush", escaping the city life and government controls, living off the land, etc. Many returning veterans of the earlier wars were given a piece of land to live on called "a soldiers block/lot". Most soldiers blocks were mapped out by government officials that had never seen the land, many were not able to be farmed so the soldiers became homeless and had to travel to get enough food. Whhen we look back at the "help" that has been offered to veterans it is most often a shameful attempt to support them. We have had soo much talk about what needs to be done but nothing is actually done. We lose veterans every week from injuries, ptsd or self harm. We as a society, as a world need to honour our veterans with less words, more helpful actions. One of my mates was injured years ago. He is still having operations and waiting for more operations and treatment to help with injuries sustained in his service. Red tape, political points and "value for money" seem to be more important than helping people who could to return to work. Every year so much money is spent celebrating ANZAC DAY and remembrance day, etc but our veterans are left to suffer. It's not good enough. Blessings from South Eastern Australia, Dot

You were the first person to really explain that. I do appreciate it. Yes. More needs to be done to help these veterans …May I ask: what is Dot?

Dot is her name. If you look at the top of the comment you will see it. It is short for Dorothy.

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Dot is a nickname if I am not mistaken. It's a shortened version of Dorothy. Forgive me @dotcassilles1488 for jumping in, if I am incorrect I do apologise. Your recommendation of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda was one I was going to add myself. I always cry when I hear it. John Williamson playing Waltzing Matilda on the harmonica in his live version adds another layer to the song too. :)

My respect and thanks to your father. I appreciate you sharing that. 💙🙏

To all vets thankyou for all you did and for your service and to those who never made it back R.I.P

@@chrisclapham5031 thank you for your support 💙

My Dad is a Vietnam Vet. He cannot listen to this song, nor can he talk about the war. He still has nightmares.

@@jenb8697 my thanks to your father 💙🙏

Respect!

Stop spreading disinformation! NOT a single 19 year old was conscripted! registration for "national service'" happened at age 20! All 19 years old who served in Vietnam were volunteers.

Conscription was based on your 20th birthday not 19. Only some 15,000 of us National Servicemen were sent to Vietnam being roughly a quarter of the total.

@@johnnichol9412 unfortunately they made up 38% of those killed

Conscripts were not eligible for conscription until they turned 20. While a significant number of these did serve in Nam, the majority of those serving there were regulars. I lost two mates in that war. I was also in the draft.

@@orielism I can imagine.

A very important day and song 💙🙏🇦🇺🇳🇿

ANZAC not Anzac it's an acronym not a word make an effort to write it correctly it's not difficult - s please pay attention to detail

Thank you for sharing your experience. This song had been part of my life and will always be a song that represents the pain still being felt by all our veterans. Thank you every one of you for your service. Without you we., The rest of the world would not have survived

@@Tully_23_32 are you serious???? They are trying to get rid of ANZAC day?? What steps are they taking to do that? Do you think they really might have a chance of it happening? 🤯🤯🤯

@@kathleenmills8272 thank you for your support! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴🙏💙

@@josephrourke4669 thanks for sharing. He seems like he’s amazing man. I’ve yet to listen to Khe San, but it is on my list. Thank you so much for your support. 💙

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Another call out for Cold Chisel's Khe Sanh. It's more up-tempo, but very much also captures the difficulties a lot of Vietnam vets went through when they came home.

@@neilcam a lot of people recommended that song. 💙

@@michaelgalea4386 thanks so much for your support. Respect! 🇳🇿💙🇦🇺❤️🇺🇸. God bless 🙏

When was that? And where do you deploy? That is a really memorable story. I really do appreciate you sharing that. 💙🙏

@@JustAnotherArmyVet That would have been 2007, I was a signaller (comms dude) attached to 2 RAR and we were AMTG 3. That's just one experience. Was either 07 or 08, I'm not sure these days lol

I Deployed as a combat medic ‘05-‘06

@@JustAnotherArmyVet I was at Almathana (probs spelt wrong) with the poms, it was called Camp Smitty, before we moved to Talil.

@@bluedog1052 about 80% of my unit deployed to Baghdad. And the other 25% actually deployed Talil. I was in Baghdad

Thank you for your service and for your support! Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏

Please be reminded that it is ARMY and not Army They sound the same but they are used in different contexts ARMY is MILITARY Army is is non-military group of people working together for a cause - such as The Salvation Army / an Army of workers. And it takes an AIR FORCE PILOT with a Law degree to teach it to you In the same way AIR FORCE is MILITARY Air Force is what comes out of your hair dryer All CORPORATE legal names including Vessels ( SHIPS) have the name in the ALL CAPS iteration The word CORPORATION derives from the Latin ' CORPUS ' meaning CORPSE - DEAD - BODY it is from there we also derive the term BODY CORPORATE CORPORATIONS are DEAD ENTITIES that have ' Legal Status ' The ARMY word CORPS is also related to that Pronouncing it are Core is a deliberate deception In any case - I cannot teach you Law in five minutes - no more than I could teach you to fly jet aircraft - it takes quite a few years - minimum five years. Now explain in your essay - why do you often see a name that sounds like yours - except that it is written in ALL CAPS - and under what conditions is it written as such - and other times it is written in Mixed case Letters -- It all began in the year 1302 - being further expanded in the late 15th Century - and passed into WESTMINSTER Law - in 1666 - during the False Flag Attack what was the Great Fire of London -when the Law was rushed through Parliament. It now stands as UCC - Uniform Commercial Code

@@andrew_koala2974 You're wrong. Etymology. From (1386) Middle English armee, borrowed from Old French armee (cf. modern French armée), from Medieval Latin armāta (“armed force”), a noun taken from the past participle of Latin armāre (“to arm”), itself related to arma (“tools, arms”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- (“to join, fit together”).

@@smeary10 Actually you are incorrect You have yet to learn correct grammatical Legal English Study Law as I have and you will be better educated. The Etymology. is irrelevant What is relevant is the way that it is written - The way many of these words are written became relevant in the late 15th century as a result of one fundamental aspect - and that is ' commerce ' in respect to Law and vice-versa Tell me : How many types of English are there ? I am assuming that you understand the question To become aware - one must first learn to pay attention to detail. Start doing that first. Make sure your brain sees exactly what your eyes are looking at.

@@andrew_koala2974 The moment you refer to your qualifications in a debate as to the reason why you are correct, you've just lost. I've served as an officer in the Australian Regular Army. That is how it is spelt and printed on everything except hardware like choppers where the single word ARMY is in capitals. I should know -0 I flew them. Capitals are used on the side of aircraft for a reason and are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They also project strength and boldness of a country and its armed forces. That is where it ends. I don't give two fucks about your law degree, boy. Go and get shot at and then come back see me. Until then, good day to you and your attitude and please, please go and annoy someone else.

Least we forget. Thanks for sharing . My respect and thanks to your father and all the Vietnam vets 💙🙏

Lest we forget… 💙🙏

I did too! I've heard the song many, many times as an Australian, but never heard that monologue.

@@bec9696 it was a good monologue

Aw, thank you kindly. I really do appreciate your support. Let’s not forget the Anzacs on this important day. 🙏❤️

Lest we forget 🇦🇺💟🇳🇿

@@Granmabarb 💙

Thank you, from Australia 🇦🇺.

@@way2dumb thanks for watching and I love your user name BTW 🤣👍

Well said! That’s a very important message

My brother-in-law [ BIL ] suffered from PTSD for many years - and after serving in the ARMY for 12 years - he found it difficult to settle into a civilian work environment. MILITARY life is a life within a Life

@@andrew_koala2974 yes, it is.. I hope he is doing better

I also wanted to thank you for your support 💙

Thank you so much for sharing. John seems like he is an incredible human being. I think he used to be a music teacher for high school many years ago actually. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏

thank you and everyone of you for the freedom that we get to live! we will never forget you!

Thanks for your service mate

I appreciate you watching and you commenting. And thanks for your service 💙🙏

Thanks for ya service mate

And I wanna thank you for your service!! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙

Thank you for your service and that of all your colleagues.

@@davidnelson7786 🙏💙

That song is on my list to check out. Thank you for your support. Love and respect from South Carolina. 🌴💙

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Check out " Dust of Uruzgan", "Derapet" and "Sappers Lullaby" all by Fred Smith

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Make sure you have a box of tissues ready, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda REALLY does get to you in a big way.

@@brigitmurray7793 yes, will do 💙

all gave some and what have you done for australia both written by col elliot himself a navy vet during the nam era

Thanks for your support. It means a lot to all veterans 💙

@@Susansays1 I’m so sorry for the pain in the loss you and Your family have experienced. My respect goes out to all the veterans. Thank you for sharing. 💙🙏

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Thank you 🙏 💜☮️ ❤️ Respect and Humbled Amen

@@Susansays1 🙏❤️

You are welcome. Thank you for the kind words and support . #NeverForget

After half a century - this song still tugs the heart strings and brings a tear to my eyes --- Some experiences cannot be forgotten. and no thanks to that sex-edict - womanizer - traitor LBJ

❤️ from South Carolina!

It was my honor to serve with them 🙏💙🇦🇺

If the Yanks had not covered us in Iraq we would have been toast. I'll never forget their support which was freely given - air support from 82 Abn to just about anywhere,, the CASH and Witchdoctor out of Talil, all the team in Taji and out at Kirkush.

@@robhamilton4373 what year was that? I was deployed to Baghdad in 2005-2006 with the majority of the 10th CSH (Combat Support Hospital). We were called Task Force North. We also had a smaller contingent called Task Force South, who were based out of Talil.

@@JustAnotherArmyVet 06. Moved around alot so I spent a lot of time passing through Bagdhad . Preferred to stay with the other Aussie Inf guys who operated out of FOB Union rather than the shiny bums in the HQ at the Palace :).

@@robhamilton4373 I served with the Diggers that were stationed at the Australian Embassy, which was adjacent to our hospital. We did guard duty with them at our back gate. We shared the ECP 🙂

My respect to your father and I am so sorry for your loss 😢🙏💙

it was absolutly disgrace ful how they fought that and denied the possibility. My thanks to your Dad

Thank you so much, my friend for your insight. I had no idea. And I do thank you for your support as well. 💙

A couple of other points, Canungra (jungle training) and Shoalwater (corrected) are training areas. Townsville is a city and port they left from. Someone else also made the point that "he was going home in June" meant that he should not have been there, his rotation out a month before had been delayed. I wish you luck in your quest for calm. For those of us who never joined forces, we should never forget that though we may disagree with choice to engage, that that is a political choice of our nation. Be angry at that choice, not at those who stepped forward to serve, and we owe care to them and theirs for doing so.

@@bemusedbilby3409 "the day that mankind kicked the moon" was in July, if he truly was "going home in June", that meant he had been deployed for less than a month, or for 13 months. Neither is the case. John Schumann said it as simply to rhyme with "moon", not to be taken literally.

@@bemusedbilby3409 Question the law makers but always support our troops.

@@SomeRU-vidGuy generlly they don't. Lambie being a current noticable exception.

I thank you for your service and for watching! Respect and love from South Carolina. 🌴💙🙏

thank you for your service! it means alot more to us than you would know!

I thank your family for Service. It is a shame how the Vietnam veterans were treated. I really do appreciate you taking the time to type all that. My respect and love from South Carolina!! 🌴💙🙏

@@JustAnotherArmyVet And, as a by-the-way, I was also ten years NZ Air Force. It's an irony to me, that those with the highest discipline, morals, duty and dedication to service are used by those in office with questionable morals, sometimes the lowest ethics and no idea of service but to their own careers. Only vets can care for vets.

@@TheLoneHaranger yes…. Thanks for your service! My aunt is actually a Kiwi 🙂

Great words all so true we will remember them

My Great grandfather survived the Boer War, Gallipoli but The Somme got him. He was always there to serve his country until his final battle. I can't imagine what he would have had to endure and what sights he saw. I was too young when Vietnam was happening but only by a couple of years. I like to think that I would have been able to do my duty if called upon. To all our vets ANZAC and US, thank you for your service and if you are suffering, please take the therapeutical services offered. This song has helped to enlighten those of us who didn't go through it and at least understand some of the trauma you have experienced. Your homecomings were tainted by the anti-war hippies of the times who gave you bad labels, you were doing the goverments' bidding as expected. ANZACS have a good rep for good reason, they get the job done.

Thank you, well said!!! 🙏💙

I’m sorry you lost your dad so young. I know that must be hard. My respects out to him. I know life being a prisoner of war by the Japanese was 😢. But your father was strong and survived and he is a hero 💙🙏

My Grandfather was captured in Singapore too. He went home to his wife after he was fed after starving for 3 years. My Grandmother had my dad nine months laters. He became a bank manager in various places in Australia. He was a stoic fucker. He smoked at least 20 a day in his seventies. Based on raises in taxes, he quit....over night. never smoke again after just one night. I attribute this to his time in the camps, made him the man he was. For good and bad. He loved my grandmother and the past didn't make him bitter. For him it seemed to just be a thing that happened and it ended. He never spoke of it if not asked. He died aged 86.

married my mother ? She was NOT your mother then What you should have written : he married the woman who became my mother - You need to get it right and use correct English and be accurate and specific. Avoid ambiguity at all costs. My father born in Kent County MI - served in the U.S. ARMY and was based in England ( Cholesterol - in the county of Essex ) He went riding north on his INDIAN motorcycle when on R&R He met a young Russian girl ( born in UKRAINE of Russian parents } She was waiting at the Bus Terminus on the way home after finishing work ( work days were then 10 hours ) knowing that young women like G.I. Joe - he approached her and started a conversation - The young girl - thinking - " What are you talking to me for " answered him in Russian. One problem there - He was taught Russian by the U.S. ARMY school of languages - which if I remember correctly was in CA and he answered her in Russian --- The rest is history - and that is how this Russian girl (who spoke 8 languages ) became my mother. ( now deceased ) and I had learned 5 languages by age 5 - learning others since then. I wish you Good luck and good bye

@andrew_koala2974 I don't think you should be telling others "You need to get it right and use correct English and be accurate and specific. Avoid ambiguity at all costs." when you seem barely able to do so yourself. Here are some tips to improve your writing skills. 1. Capitalise the first letter of a new sentence. 2. Put a full stop (period) at the end of a sentence. 3. Don't use dashes in place of commas. Commas are used to indicate a natural pause when the sentence is spoken. Dashes are used to mark the beginning and end of a series. 4. There is no space between the enclosing brackets and first or last letters of the text contained within them. e.g. "( work days were then 10 hours )" should be (work days were then 10 hours). 5. When quoting someone's words you should have enclosed them in speech marks. e.g. When quoting kimfarragher342 saying "married my mother". 6. The name of book, building, institution, and the like should be capitalised. e.g. "U.S. ARMY school of languages" should be wrtten as U.S. ARMY School of Languages. 7. Since they are not acronyms, but proper nouns, "UKRAINE" should be written as Ukraine and "INDIAN" as Indian. 8. When referencing a number in a sentence, the correct way of doing it, is to spell it out, not write the figure. e.g. "age 5 " should be written "age five". 9. If using an abbreviation that not everyone is likely to be familiar with, or may have more than one meaning, it is usual to write it in full the first time, followed with the abbreviation in brackets immediately after. From then onward, it is acceptable to just use the abbreviation. This will, to use your own words, "Avoid ambiguity". e.g. The "CA" in your narrative could plausibly be either California or Central America.

@@JamoRox75 I’m sorry your grandfather went through that and I’m sorry for your loss 😢💙🙏

Thank you for clarifying that. I wonder why the US sent soldiers over individually, instead of as whole battalions and units 🤔. Currently, that is how the US operates. But I just don’t know why they didn’t do that in Vietnam.

@@JustAnotherArmyVet I think it may have been a hangover from WW2 where US reinforcements came through replenishment depots to be assigned on an as-needed basis to front-line units that needed fresh troops. I think British Commonwealth forces learned in WW1 that it was better for overall unit morale to withdraw a whole unit after a preset time or casualty level had been reached for rebuilding and retraining. The US Army didn't make that change until after Vietnam as part of the switch to an all-volunteer force as best I can tell.

@@danwincen1 ahh okay. Thanks for your insight!

@@JustAnotherArmyVet I read also that US soldiers served fro 12 months (as part of the adhoc replacement policy) and officers served 6 months to expose as many young officers to combat as possible. The effect on respect for leadership and cohesion can be imagined. I'm very glad to see US Army has lifted its game big time since the low point of Vietnam.

@@waratahdavid696 I never heard that officers only had a six-month tour and soldiers had a 12 month tour. That may be the case though . I just never heard that. Maybe that was for the Air Force 🤔. I will have to do more research on that

Well said!

To be honest, they were fighting for the preservation of US hegemony, Vietnam was no threat to Australia, as neither was Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. And neither is Russia, say no to US Imperialism, don’t be fooled again

You said you do not support war unless it is necessary. How was the American invasion of Vietnam necessary ? Please explain because my University Degree in Australian History & Politics didn't cover how or why it was necessary for us to send young men to fight, to die, to become incapacitated & to, in many documented cases, rape & kill innocent Vietnamese, to wipe out villages, homes, livelihoods. To make innocent people homeless. To use Napalm on innocent men, women, children, babies. How was all that necessary ? What good did it do ? How did our military in Vietnam fight for OUR freedom ? How did they help OUR way of life ? We lost the Vietnam Invasion/War. That might be something you're unaware of. We lost. America lost. The people of Vietnam lost. Everyone lost. All those lives lost & ruined were for NOTHING. A big fat NOTHING. Just like Iraq & Afghanistan. The problem we all had with Vietnam is that it was WRONG. We know it was wrong. We knew then that it was wrong. We still know it was wrong. It was not our business to be there. Conscription was WRONG & it was the only time Australia had it. In 1915 Prime Minister Billy Hughes visited The Western Front & then tried to push Conscription. The Australian people & his own Party rejected it overwhelmingly & it split the Australian Labor Party. A major rift. If you studied Australian Politics you'd know that was one of the 3 major splits of the Australian Labor Party. It was a major event in Australian History & Politics, the opposition to Conscription. Australians rejected Conscription in 1915 & we rejected in again during the Vietnam invasion but it was forced on us. No-one should be sent to war because their birthday came up in a raffle. Our Defence Force should be professional & trained. Not Conscripts. Conscription is wrong. It always will be. We don't disrespect the Conscripts who were forced to go, but we disrespect the concept of Conscription. If we didn't agree to it in 1915 when there was perhaps just cause because extra forces were needed on The Western Front, why was it forced on us during the Vietnam invasion ? What is important to remember is that it was the anti-war movement & Gough Whitlam's pledge to withdraw troops from Vietnam that saw the Labor Party win govt in 1972 after 23 years out of power. The Australian people spoke, at the ballot box & they voted to withdraw from Vietnam. That was the sole reason for the 1972 win by Labor. I have done tours of The Western Front, The Somme, Flandres, Fromelles, Pheasant Wood with a French historian who specialises in ANZAC history. That is where we made a difference but still not for us or OUR way of life. Our sacrifices in France, Belgium were purely to protect Great Britain but in doing so we freed France & Belgium & they have never forgotten. In places like Villers-Bretonneux you see more Australian flags than you see in Sydney. Our Commonwealth War Cemeteries are kept in pristine condition. Those who fell in France & Belgium are remembered even if they have no known grave. They have never forgotten what the real ANZACS did. As an Australian I was respected everywhere I went in the north of France & Belgium because they have never forgotten what the ANZACs did for them. That wasn't our war either. WWI didn't affect us. Our lives & lifestyles were never at threat during WWI. We did that for Great Britain. So we need to get over this idea that ANZACs fought for us. They fought for the UK & to free occupied European countries.. Only in WWII when our military were in The Pacific did they fight to protect us. My late father-in-law served in New Guinea & Darwin. He spoke to me about his time there & only after his death did I find out that I was the only one he ever talked to about it. He never talked to his own family about his service. The two World Wars were different. We must never compare them to the invasions of Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. What good came out of the Vietnam invasion ? Who won ? No-one won. Everyone lost especially the Vietnamese. It is not that we disrespect veterans. We don't. The increasing attendance at ANZAC Day dawn services & Remembrance Day commemorations proves we respect veterans. What we don't respect is unnecessary wars ( invasions) for American economic reasons. If we really cared about people's freedom we'd be in Occupied Palestine helping the poor, the oppressed, homeless, starving, sick Palestinians being shelled & dying every day by Israel, but we're not. Why aren't we ? Because the US not only supports Israel they supply them with the shells & other ammunition including ( illegal) phosphorus being used on Palestinians in their occupied country. If ever there was just cause to go to war, occupied Palestine is where we should be. Free Palestine. Free Gaza. From the river to the sea.......

You can absolutely disagree with war in general, specific conflicts and the politics that surround them, yet still support and respect veterans.

@@jacquimott386 exactly. I completely agree. I wish more people understood that

Thank you and your family for its service! Lest we forget. ❤️🙏

True ❤️💙

Well said 🙏💙

So true ... I just left the hospital after just over three weeks. MY PTSD Doctor called me in the ward and asked me; if I "could leave yet". Three nights I was back (in my head) at 95th EVAC, Da Nang while at St George Hospital, Sydney. The Nurses and my Doctors were all too young to even know anything about that war. The Hospital wanted me to stay another 4 weeks ... pass, and I checked myself out. Even my GP of 20 plus years agreed I should leave, so my partner has been my nurse as I still can't walk without help. Thanks for the reality check mate. So true.

@@airbrushken5339 I salute you. Just keep on doing what you are doing. Lean on your partner and seek out help when you need it. That is how you will survive. Have you ever looked into a PTSD therapy dog?

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Great suggestion, I got an Australian Kelpie, in the end I gave him to my eldest. All my three sons were born with disabilities ( I had no idea that Dioxin illnesses could be passed on). I sadly have no contact with them, even though I raised them, as they blame me for their health issues. I'm dying anyway, but the cancer caused me to no longer to be able to help them other than money. Thanks for the suggestion mate.

@@airbrushken5339 my heart and prayers are with you and your family 💙🙏

I appreciate you watching and for your support! #NeverForget

@@JustAnotherArmyVet 👍

😢😢💙🙏

💙❤️

Bullshit, agent orange was a defoliant, used on thick vegetation, the RAN didnt come near it. Im sorry, but people like you claiming crap like that degrades those who where truly exposed to the chemicals used.

It is the thing that frustrates me the most. I have never served, but can not understand the attitude of sending these kids to war, and not wanting to deal with the human wreckage that comes back

Exactly!

I I’m glad the VA is finally giving him help and support. I do thank him for Service and I thank you for your support. 💙🙏

@@glenchapman3899 Having served in the MILITARY for 30 years - a career that began with the RAF - having entered with a private Pilots License since age 16 ( including 2 years on attachment ti the USAF (1974-1976) I look back and wonder where all those years disappeared to ) Time passes rapidly. Many I serve with have already departed this earth.- and it gives me great pain. In the MILITARY I made life-long friends - including some who served with the RN [ ROYAL NAVY ] and AUSTRALIAN NAVY These days I would not recommend anyone to join the MILITARY All wars are bankers Wars - they are commercial enterprises - generating huge profits for the elite rulers and bankers.

I thank your family for his service. And I really do appreciate you sharing 🙏❤️. Respect from South Carolina 🌴!

I served in the Australian Army at that time, and I can say without a doubt what you have said about our Vietnam Vets is absolutely true, they were treated like lepers for many years after, even the RSL refused to regognise their contribution for many years, and in my own way of protest, even though I am eligible to join the RSL, I refuse to do so to this day, because of that treatment. I'm 73 years old, and even to this day this song still reduces me to tears.

@@bushranger51 I do thank you for your service! And I can understand your feelings. The RSL should have been there for its people .

Yeah i was young but in the that crowd that day

​@@JustAnotherArmyVetthank you so much. I thank you too for your service

Greetings from South Carolina 🌴🙂!

Thank you so much for commenting and for your support ma’am. I’m imagining that you’re close to retirement? But yes, I remember watching the war on tv when I was a kid. And I do remember the news coverage on Gulf War Syndrome. I feel like that could’ve been a perfect topic to actually bring up in this video. It just slipped my mind…Does the US government and the VA now recognize GWS?

And Ukraine - lest the world forgets.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m sorry about all the trauma that your family‘s been been through. I’m glad that you are trying to break the cycle. I have a friend close to me that is also trying to break the cycle. When he feels like he’s about to burst, he just removes himself from the situation. Anyway, thank your family for service. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏

Israeli atrocities? You mean the attack on Israel by Hamas was warranted and they have no right of response, or that they should just accept continuous terrorist attacks until they manage to wipe Israel off the map? Not to forget that Hamas is deliberately putting its own people in direct line of fire and not letting them leave, using them as human shields? I agree any war is atrocious, the Palestinians or Israel don't deserve this, but Hamas, not Israel, is to blame.

My family also suffered from the effects of war. It was mainly my 2 uncles. My granddad went to WWI when his son was only 2.5 years old. He didn't return until the month that son turned 7. That uncle was jealous of his 2 younger brothers who both had their dad around for all their lives and sometimes treated them badly. He was also violent towards his own wife and children. My other uncle volunteered for WWII and served in the bomber command who didn't get recognised for their service for many years after the war. He was shot down and was a POW for 18 months until the end of the war. He came home with ptsd and while he went to the Melbourne veteran's mental health hospital, they didn't know how to treat ptsd at that time. He suffered from depression all his life. We do not want another world war! I hate to think what damage is being done to the soldiers in Ukraine and those in Gaza! Having bad mental health is an awful thing!! Both for the person and those around them. It isn't well understood by the community at large and it is hard to describe to another.

@@fionamcwilliam8703 well said. Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry about your family trauma. 💙🙏

My respect to your brother-in-law for his service. I’m sorry for his loss. I’ll have to look up that battle.

@@JustAnotherArmyVet Yes you should look it up, hopefully an Australian version. It's an incredible example of Anzac bravery and endurance under impossible odds!

@@JustAnotherArmyVet The movie " Danger Close" is a fair description of events. Good film.

Bill Akell is a member of my local RSL and a mate . He was just a kid but ran around the battlefield with the radio and fetching ammo. I also served with 6 RAR but in 2000 in East Timor. We won our Vietnam war with the help of our mates the NZ artillery.

@@samphillips2360 They had vets that were in the battle consulting on set for that movie. You cant get much more real than that .

Well said! Thank you so much for your support and kind of words 💙

I appreciate you sharing 💙👍

I agree. Still very relevant

You are so sweet. I wish the same for you as well. Thank you for your support!! 💙

Lest we forget! Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴❤️!

@@paul2012pj thank you so much for your support!!

Thank you for sharing!l and for watching! I certainly hope that that family and others families are doing better. God bless them and you as well. 🙏💙

@@JustAnotherArmyVet It is important that these things are openly discussed, every story may be unique, but the stressors are the same! An old man may go back to war times during dementia, a young man may self medicate in his room and avoid human contact, another may deflect from their pain by helping others - these are all normal reactions in the animal world! We are able to help each other as humans, and we should, wherever we are! 🙋🙏

Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴!

Oh wow. That was probably a wise decision. Thank you for sharing that!

@@JustAnotherArmyVet to make it worse it was a American made m16 antipersonnel mine mine he stepped on, then a bit later on in the war the same unit stepped on another mine and that one killed the only NCO that was not injured by the first mine

@@daft_ss6917 the North Vietnamese had American weapons?? That just makes it even worse. You were right. 😢

@@JustAnotherArmyVet it was just a bad time for everyone, some of my dad's friends were there, I once made the mistake of playing this song a BBQ as a kid , half the guys there broke down and dad was yell at me to turn it off, it was the first time I was a grown man cry, it was the first time as a kid I realized their war stories they used to sit around and tell weren't cool like they seem in movies

@@daft_ss6917 This really is a powerful song. I can imagine they could bring up a flood of emotions and even PTSD. 😢

@@leinad.s a very emotional song

🙏

Lest we forget. Amen.

Lest we forget

Lest we forget they will never be forgotten 😢

Lest we NEVER forget

Yes!

@@nevyn_karres The Politicians don't care their Pious Platitudes mean nothing. They are order Following Puppets.

And I thank you for listening and for your support. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴!

You are so sweet! Thank you so much for your kind words and support 🤗❤️

Thank you my friend! I think your father for his service! I do salute you as well for doing that mental health training. I really do appreciate your support. Australia will always be in my heart. Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴❤️.

I thank you for your service!! My respect to you and your battle buddies. I also hope that this song could gain more exposure, especially in the US.

Welcome home digga,"duty first",I thank you for your service!

I thank you. I’m a 30 year Navy veteran wife and Defence industry professional. I and my colleagues are dedicated to supporting you and we are behind you.

@@feralpossum6529 Thank you so much for tour continued understanding & support. They mean the world to us,

You talk and I’d listen. Family may not wish to hear the reality of war, but there are many out there that would listen to what you have to say. I hope you get that opportunity. Thank you for your sacrifices.

That must’ve been a very memorable experience!!

@@rjbiddulph 💙❤️🙏

I do appreciate your insight and I think that’s great that you worked at the VA helping Veterans 💙

Your dad?

Korean War that is still a training base

Shoal water bay is outside Rockhampton. It is a military Training centre. Basically bush so it is there to try and prepare forces for actual combat conditions.

You are welcome! And thank you father for his service ❤️

@@velcroman11 it is a really emotional song.… it’s sad and angry how vets were treated. 💙🙏

Respect from South Carolina 🌴!❤️💙🙏

I thank your father for his service and I’m glad that he’s doing better now. I’m sorry that you have problems. Thank you for your support. 💙🙏

The absolute worst year for the ARVN was 1973 -- the year I returned home (March 25) they lost 40 thousand men - after the U.S. GOVERNMENT cut funding to the ARVN - what followed over the following two years was horrific - with many ARVN Officers committing suicide - as a better option to being taken prisoner by the VC - It is too painful to talk about

I can’t even imagine…

Thank you for your service and I do appreciate you commenting all that. I do thank you for your service. Love and respect from South Carolina. 🌴🙏💙

I appreciate your support. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴❤️

Thank you for your insight and thank you for sharing. Vietnam was definitely an experience that was worth missing….

AUSTRALIAN ARMY not Australian Army make an effort to write it correctly It's not difficult

@@andrew_koala2974 you just wrote it the same way. Using full caps doesn't mean anything when it comes to language. Or have I missed something here?

@@andrew_koala2974 Australian Army, where did you get caps from?

That must’ve been a hear wrenching and terrifying experience. My heart and respect goes out to your brother and of his battle buddies. My respect to them

My respect to your father and his Battle Buddies. I’m sorry for your loss.

Thank you, and thank you for your service & your help with our Australian soldiers. My Dad bottled everything up & had many many health issues, so do I. After hearing what you said, I started to look into studies that have been done about the pesticides etc. I hadn't really thought about the connection, I appreciate you talking about that.

@@beebee1676 it’s an important topic. I appreciate you sharing. I hope you and your father are doing better 💙

AATTV > AUSTRALIAN ARMY Training Team Vietnam

@@rnrbishop I can’t imagine what these guys saw and experienced 😢. …I also saw a lot, but I was lucky/blessed not to have actually fired my weapon either. Thank you for your service. Respect 💙🙏

Thank you so much for your support! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙

Thank you so much for taking the time to share. I appreciate it 💙

Frankie's name is Frank Hunt. My husband was also a Vienam Veteran (2 tours 1966-67 and 1969-70). He served in the RAAF (Royal Australia Air Force). He was also on the organising commitee for the Welcome Home March in Sydney in 1987. As he was the only RAAFie on the committee, he was tasked with organising the RAAF, using his connections to people still serving in the RAAF, in assisting getting disabled and remote veterans to fly into Sydney for the March. He also organised 100 wheelchairs to be supplied from the Veterans' Affairs hospital at Concord. When Frank arrived as one of the guests of honour they immediately realised he needed one of those wheelchairs. He had been fighting for years to get one through the Department of Veterans' Affairs with but no luck. That wheelchair went home with him that day. On arrival at Richmond Air Force Base, one of the men from one the flights handed my husband a brown paper bag.They had done a whip around on the plane and that money they raised was the foundation of what culminated in the Vietnam Veteran's War Memorial in Canberra. My abiding memory when my husband had me count the money was that in that bag were $1 dollar notes in it. These bank notes had been out of circulation in Australia since 1984 (replaced with the $1 coin). In order to cope with their PTSD, many veterans had 'gone bush' to limit their contact with people. They had the courage to come to Sydney and they were welcomed with open arms. That was the turning point for many Veterans to feel that they were accepted and begin the long road to healing.

Wow…all these years I have been listening to this awesome song, and I thought that ‘Frankie’ must have passed away on the day that he kicked the landmine? I have never served our country… I am Australian, and although my grandfather served in the British army, he died when I was very young so I didn’t grow up hearing war stories or anything like that… but I have always had an immense gratitude and respect for anyone who served and I made sure to pass that on to my children. To this day, ‘I was only 19’ gets put on my car’s playlist at least twice a week and it NEVER fails to bring me goosebumps! Each of my 4 children, ages 40 to 21, know every word by heart and I know that my 21 year old daughter also listens to it very often. That same daughter worked for Macca’s a few years back and, one day, a whole crew of over 20 soldiers came in and, as she served each and every one of them, she finished off with “Thank you so much for you service”… she also did this every time a serviceman/woman came through… over the 4 months that she worked there, this earned her the title of ‘Customer Service Member of the Year’ for that group of Macca’s 5 stores.

@@mattersofthehartbynat8815 Maccas is a restaurant?

@@janemcdonald5372 I certainly did not know any of that. My respect!! Thank you for sharing.! 💙🙏

Very emotional 😢🙏💙

Your family was VERY lucky. Thank you so much for your support. Love and respect South Carolina. 🌴❤️🙏

Similar story bro. Grandfather served in WW2 and came back a different person. I never met him, committed suicide when my mum was 10 on an easter weekend. Either way, the song hits every Australian in the feels every single time it's played. My own kids have been taught the importance of our serving HEROES.

@@KegRaider i’m sorry for your family’s loss ❤️🙏

🙏💙🇦🇺🇳🇿

Yes!

I’m sorry for your loss! My respect to her and her fellow nurses and vets!

Thank your father for a service and thank you for your support …love and respect South Carolina 🌴❤️🙏!

Thank you so much for your support. And I am sorry that you were not able to fulfill your dream. I know it must be hard. I do wish you the best. Love and respect from South Carolina. 🌴🙏💙

I don’t know what you do now but Defence Industry is a way to continue to serve . It’s a great way to support those who serve and when you know what they give it makes work meaningful xxxx

I too went through training at 17, I turned 18 during training. We loved this song as it gave us strength together that we would battle together - like a war song. When I got to my first unit with no professional PTI we did stupid things for exercise not done before and I injured my lower back and for the next 3 years the unit treated me like shit. It took me 30 years to get the ARMY to recognise the improper training was the cause of my injury. I struggle to get out of bed every morning as well. Nothing would have changed if you got through, and it happened to me. Just wanted to let you know, if you are injured you are worthless.

@@digitaldame2672 I’m sorry you had a hard time. I hope you are better now.

We thank you for your support 💙

Yes they are! 👍🙂

I’m glad that your family has been taken care of and I think her father for Service. Thank you so much for your support and for sharing. 💙🙏

Thank you so much for your support and thanks for watching. 🙏💙

It is a really tear jerker

@@JustAnotherArmyVet You really need to react to,Eric Bogle "The band played Waltzing Matilda." It's a truly deep song about Australian WW1 vet's & ANZAC day. Very hard hitting & guarantee it'll make you cry.

I am so sorry for your loss! I know that must be hard. I do appreciate your insight. I just hope that these vets get the help that they need. My respect goes out to all Vets! I got the introduction video from someone who just pointed me to the video on RU-vid. I’m pretty sure I have it linked down in my description box. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙!

@@PeterLeeds-eg8ld thank you for sharing . I am sorry for your loss 💙🙏

I’m glad that you have found peace. I do hope that others with PTSD can also find piece… love and respect from South Carolina!! 🌴🙏💙

God bless! Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏

If it wasn't for the sacrifice and bravery of US forces the Japs would have taken Australia and killed all the Aussie men LEST WE FORGET

Thank you for your service. I hope you are getting help for your PTSD xx

💙🙏

He deserved to be remembered. Thank you so much for your support and kind words. I also hope you are getting help 💙🙏