The Vietnam Era

tafmo · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:02 am

Really?

Hell, and here I was thinking I was a sinner. I've got buckley's chance (as of course would any good Collingwood supporter :finga:

). In fact I'm working at dying totally sin-free. Christ, I could even be in line for sainthood. :-k

bobcat · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:49 pm

Suuuurrrre Tafmo .... and you might get a Knighthood from the Queen as well ... and meanwhile, :snorting:

are flying overhead.

:sign5:

Milo ... give me strength!! #-o

Bobcat

Lou Butcher · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:32 pm

TAFMO,

Interesting theory regarding dying without sin.
Must have led a very boring life then.

Me, I don't care, up or down, the sentence is forever. I always thought the Rockers would always be a Sailors Pub, and look at it now.

Chardy swilling, mineral water sipping, Latte loving trend setters. Enough to make Lennie the Loop roll in his grave.

:-({|=

Spud · **Posted:** Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:43 am

You guessed it right there Lou about rockers. Last time in Sydney I went to rockers for guess what, if you said beer think again. It was coffee. I had too many beers the night before, but the trouble was there is actually a cafe bar at rockers. :-k

Next I am down that way I will see if I can have beers as well. :drinkers:

Seejay · **Posted:** Sun May 28, 2006 8:34 pm

In Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald, the government announced that a nominal roll of Vietnam Veterans would be available on the internet as from August of this year.

It will include more info than just name and number, and looks like being on the DVA site.

Those who do not want to have their name included can apply through DVA.

tafmo · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 3:59 am

Seejay,

Here's a few excerpts from a recent article on defence by your 'mate' Brian Toohey in Canberra Sunday Times, 28 May 2006.......

Taxpayers are entitled to be sceptical about claims that the Australian Defence Force will be overstretched after its new contingent in East Timor takes its overseas deployments a little past 3000 troops. With a budget of $19.6 billion in the 2006-07 financial year and over 51,000 uniformed personnel, this would not seem a terribly onerous burden for the ADF. After all, 20 years ago the ADF managed to support 70,000 people in uniform, despite the defence budget being smaller in real terms. The costs don’t stop when the troops are withdrawn.

……… 486 ADF personnel were on disability pensions in October, 2002 following their part in the 1999 deployment to East Timor. More recent figures are not available for East Timor. None have yet been published for Iraq, Afghanistan or the Solomons. No matter when the 1200 troops in and around Iraq are brought home, the goal of establishing a secular, market oriented democracy appears out of reach. Instead, we will leave behind a corrupt, war-torn country with Islam newly enshrined in its constitution and its militant neighbour, Iran, a new ally. If we stay, it will do almost nothing to alter the appalling violence and the breakdown in basic services which still confront the Iraqi people following the 2003 invasion.

………550 Australian troops in Afghanistan, or on their way, face more dangers than their counterparts in Iraq’s relatively safe al Muthanna province. Most of the Australians being deployed to Afghanistan will be assigned to Uruzgan province which has experienced savage fighting in the past week. The troops will support a corrupt Afghan Government which really only controls the capital Kabul. Much of the rest of the country is under the rough control of various warlords, drug barons and remnants of the religious zealots in the Taliban regime which was driven from power after it gave sanctuary to the al-Qaeda terror network which committed the September 11, 2001 atrocities in the US. Ultimately, the country looks like remaining an unhappy mess, regardless of the presence of Western troops.

Perhaps we have a better chance of success closer to home. Once our troops are withdrawn from Iraq — as the new Government in Baghdad has signalled it would prefer to occur fairly soon — this will leave about 2000 Australian troops in Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomons. Assuming the Howard Government doesn’t take up an invitation to send troops to Sudan, this should be manageable out of total troop numbers of 51,000 and a budget of $19.6 billion. If not, Defence should abandon its plans for three air warfare destroyers which are irrelevant to Australia’s needs, but likely to cost about $9 billion after the usual procurement stuff-ups.

Seejay · **Posted:** Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:48 am

During August, The History Channel will be running numerous programs about Vietnam, this being the 40th year since The Battle of Long Tan.

A new film is being/has been put together about the battle itself, and will screen on the 16th August. I did wonder why it wasn't programmed for the 18th, but I then realised that it was also Vietnam Veteran's Day, and all concerned would be occupied in other endeavours on that day.

I saw an interview with the producer or director of the film, and the experience has certainly touched him on a personal basis. There's just something about that bloody place, I guess.

bobcat · **Posted:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:23 pm

40th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan

To all you Vietnam Veterans out there ... :salute:

Bobcat

Spud · **Posted:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:18 pm

Quote:

The History Channel will be running numerous programs about Vietnam, this being the 40th year since The Battle of Long Tan.

Yes I watched it last night, but then I saw a face from the past. It was the medic who looked after all the wounded during the battle. He is the same man (still a medic back then as well) who advise me to keep away from the so called women in bogus street weeks before I went to Nirimba.
I knew him because all his army medical mates used to play in the same senior football side as I did. He was like their privite carer. He was humble then at the football club, just like he was last night when explained what he did in that battle.

He also said blame the government for Vietnam, but don't take it out on the people who serve.

I suggest watch it, it shows how a small group of Australians displayed true mateship.

BC · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:08 am

Now Spud,

The big question is................did you heed his advice?

Did you ever go to Bugis Street?

The Vietnam Era

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