When I was on my subject course for promotion in the Army in 1971 we did the training and course at the Greenbank Army Training Area near Brisbane. It was subject 1 and 2 for corporal. Sgt Lofty Wendt, who was waiting on promotion to WO, was in charge and had us all lined up […]

… 1965… Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. We’d just finished an op, showered, cleaned up weapons and re-supped etc, before half a dozen or so of us went over to the 173rd Airborne for a visit and to drink their low- alcohol piss. During the course of conversation, a Yank asked if it was true that […]

In the mid ’70s, the Green Machine was in mark-time mode. Vietnam was a memory and the troops were getting pissed off with mess duties and silly exercises out the back of E Range at Holsworthy. So our intrepid CSM at the time decided to boost moral and take the whole company to Taronga Zoo […]

Peter Foley was called up to serve in the Army in October 1969 as a National Serviceman – the same intake as myself. Peter then signed on in the Army in Vietnam to see out the Delta Company 4 RAR/NZ tour. Peter served all his time within 12 Platoon. I found him an outstanding soldier […]

It was the rainy season, just outside of the Courtney Rubber in mid 1971. It was near on last light as we moved into our harbour position for the night. We weren’t far from Courtney Hill and I could actually see it outlined against the sky. The area we were in was wet and overgrown […]

It was the summer of ’69 and I was just starting the third year of my gap year. I’d tried a few menial jobs but nothing seemed to cry out “this is you; you’re going to the top”. I felt my talents were being wasted. I thought I’d give it another year & then maybe […]

In the latter part of 1967, a mate of mine, Phil Welsh and I were in Vung Tau on R&C. As usual, one day we gravitated to The Grand, where we proceeded to drink plenty of vodka and 7 Up. After about five or so hours, we decided to head for The Flags for some […]

In 1967, we were going to South Vietnam as a bunch of Reos. We boarded our flight in Sydney and off we went. The first stop was Brisbane to restock the Qantas plane as we had drunk a few. In those days Qantas was not permitted to fly into Saigon. So we had to go […]

I was getting ready for March Out, Kapooka 1969. We’d been issued the old battle dress winter uniforms a few days before and were putting them on for the first time. Platoon Sergeant was going around, checking everyone and making sure they had nothing in their pockets. He came to me, feeling my pockets and […]

I arrived at Kapooka just after midnight on 4th May 1969. That’s when the screaming started. They lined us up according to height and marched us up to the mess for a feed. I was about sixth in line from memory. We got to the doors of the mess, stopped while we were told what […]