Long Tan Cross mural a poignant backdropfor Vietnam Veterans’Day commemoration

With the poignant Long Tan Cross mural as a backdrop, Vietnam Veterans’ Day was commemorated at the Water Tower Museum last Tuesday.

The commemoration began with the iconic Red Gum war ballad I Was Only 19, setting the scene for an emotional service honouring those who had served in the ‘forgotten war’.

Vietnam veteran Robert Noonan travelled from Sydney to attend.

Veterans and friends were welcomed by Gunnedah RSL sub-branch president Anthony Adams, who introduced war veteran John Connelly as guest speaker.

Sapper Connelly had joined the Australian Army as a volunteer national serviceman on 17 July 1968, not knowing what horror and tragedy lay before him less than a year later.

RSL sub-Branch president Anthony Adams.

“Good morning everyone, thank you all for your attendance today,” he said.

“My name is Ronald John Connelly. I served with the Australian army as an engineer. In 1968 I joined the army and in 1969 was sent to Vietnam as a field engineer returning home in April 1970.

“My service duties included accompanying the infantry on patrol to help with anything they encountered, such as mines or boobytraps, demolition, road and bridge building. And also as a driver.

Mick Hull (partially obscured), Malcolm and Helen Jones, Tom Lyle, John Commins, Graham Noonan and Robert Noonan.

“I also operated plant equipment, including bulldozers, rollers and scrapers,” he said. “My time varied in location from Vung Tau to Nui Dat up north as far as Dar Nang.”

Mr Connelly said it was an experience he will never forget, from the poverty and cruelty to the death and destruction and the fear of never making it through the night as the sounds of the eight-inch guns fired round after round into the long high hills, and watching the aircraft drop napalm, wondering if anyone would survive.

RSL sub-Branch vice-president John Atkin laid a wreath for National Servicemen.

“As I related to my family, l was sent at 19 years old returning just 12 months later and I felt 35 years old,” he said.

“I will never forget my time in Vietnam and those who never made it home.

“We depended on each other and I will always remember the friends and mates we made.

“Today is about reflection on a war that took so many lives, 523 Australians, more than three million overall – civilians, American, and Allied forces. Australia lost 496 military, 17 from the air force and the navy lost eight.

“The war was from 1962 to 1973 and it was the first war to have live media coverage – it was on your TV day and night. Lest we forget.”

Former RSL president Peter Kannengeiser returned home for the commemoration and laid a wreath on behalf of the Navy.

Gunnedah Shire mayor Colleen Fuller laid a wreath on behalf of the council and the community, with others laid by representatives from the navy and air force, and also national servicemen and members of the public. The final wreath was laid by Mr Adams.

Like many other Vietnam War veterans, John Connelly suffered many recriminations when he came home and the impact of war and what he had seen changed his life forever.

The veterans landed in Sydney at 11pm to keep a low profile as there were many Vietnam War protesters about. As they left customs, they were given a leave pass and with no debriefing they were told to report back to base when the pass expired.

The young soldier found it hard to forget the living conditions of a third world country, especially one that was at war.

People were living in dirt-floor huts made from discarded beer cans, no larger than three metres by three metres, often housing six or seven people.

Max Dadd from Swansea who served with John Connolly in the engineers.

They lived on rice, had very few possessions and begged for food in the streets. The soldiers gave them fruit and whatever they could spare.

As the soldiers were all there under the same circumstance, strong bonds were formed that would last a lifetime, mates they could count on and who would do anything asked of them.

When Sapper Connelly returned home, he felt out of place with people he had known before and could not talk to anyone about his experiences except another veteran.

He also felt guilty that some of his mates were still there and he had problems assimilating into the community.

John Connelly marching, second from right, as a young soldier aged 19. Photo: Supplied

Acceptance did not come until the Welcome Home march in 1987, but many veterans still carry the scars of being involved in the war.

As the sounds of the Last Post echoed across the peaceful Namoi Valley, it was a time to remember those who lost their lives in the jungles of Vietnam and those who returned battle scarred for life.

Mr Adams said he was determined that the Vietnam veterans would never be forgotten again.

A barbecue lunch followed at the RSL sub-branch headquarters, where memories flowed and old mates were reunited.