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Australia's military involvement in the Vietnam War was the longest in duration of any war in Australia's history. The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. Australia's participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973. The only combat troops remaining in Vietnam were a platoon guarding the Australian embassy in Saigon, which was withdrawn in June 1973. The Australian commitment consisted predominantly of army personnel, but significant numbers of air force and navy personnel and some civilians also took part.
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AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIETNAM WAR
By: Hasan Mohammed, Koshin Jama,
Abdullah Arab and Ahmad Abdullah
Right: Australian Soldiers aiding the injured.
INTRODUCTION The Vietnam war (1959-75) was a
successful attempt by the communist North to impose a system of communism upon the entire nation. It occurred during the cold war and began when Ho Chi Minh launched a guerrilla campaign, led by the Vietcong.
Nations such as the United States unsuccessfully sought to halt the spread of communism military intervention.
Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam war (1962-75), was the longest duration in its military history.
Left: M60 Machine Gunners (Top) and Australian ground tropes (bottom)
THE WESTERN AND EASTERN BLOCS
Initially, nations where divided into two distinctive groups: the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc.
The Eastern Bloc referred to the communist countries including the Soviet Union and its allies, and the Western Bloc consisted of the capitalist nations including the United States and its allies.
Australia, being part of the Western Bloc, was one of the nations that contributed to the Vietnam War in 1955Right: Map of
Eastern Bloc
June 1965July-August 1962 Mid-1968 1969 1970
Arrival of Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam was the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.
1975
MAJOR EVENTS IN AUSTRALIAN INVOLVEMENT
The Australian government dispatched the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment to serve alongside the US Airborne Brigade in Bien Hoa province.
Major offensive by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, launched during the Vietnamese lunar new year holiday period, known as "Tet”.
Anti-war protests were gaining recognition in Australia
Australia had begun to tone down its military effort in Vietnam.
The end of the Vietnam war.
REASONS FOR INVOLVEMENT
One of the central reasons influencing Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was the domino theory (as already mentioned).
Australia feared that it would eventually fall underneath communist power and hence, it became vital for the Australian Government to enforce its ‘forward defence’ policy and prevent further communist expansion. For example, On the 28th of April 1965, the prime minister of Australia, Robert Menzies, announced that troops were to be sent to fight in Vietnam.
Top: Sun Newspaper headline
VISUALISING THE DOMINO THEORY
Note: Here, the domino theory refers to if a region is under
communism then other regions around it will follow.
REASONS (2)
Another central reason for Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War revolved around the concept of aligning itself with superpowers.
For example, Australia joined the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was the basis to Australia’s contribution to the Vietnam War. One of the main aspects of the SEATO and ANZUS treaty was that South Vietnam was guaranteed protection if it was under communist threat.Top: Official
SEATO logo.
WHERE IN VIETNAM?
Australians were fighting in several locations during the war:
Long Tran was the site of D company’s revolt against enemy forces near a rubber plantation.
Binh Ba is a village where combined communist forces fought Australians
Phouc Tuy Province Bien Hoa City (deployment
of Australian platoons)Top: Map of Vietnam combat zone
SOLDIER’S EXPERIENCES
This was a jungle war. Soldier’s had to battle the harsh terrain as well as snakes, leaches, mosquitoes, etc.
They fought in tropical rains, mud ad extreme heat. Chemical weapons were a frequent battle, they had to endure ‘red rain’ (Agent orange) and Agent White.
In addition, booby traps were rampant and soldiers had to fight under the fear of snipers.
Morphine addiction was common as medics had terrible conditions to work and soldiers were severely wounded.
Top: Retreating US and Australian troops.
BATTLE OF LONG TAN On 18th August 1966, a downpour of
torrential rain coincided with the Australians surrounded, short of supplies and ammunitions.
D company faced some 2,500 Vietcong combatants the Australians returned fire with platoon weapons and artillery which was firing from the Nui Dat base, some five kilometres to the west.
After almost three hours of intense fighting by D Company, reinforcements from A Company arrived in armoured personnel carriers (APC). Ammunition was distributed and the wounded were tended. B Company also arrived and engaged the Viet Cong.. The extra fire-power finally stopped the Viet Cong, and all firing ceased.
There were 18 Australians killed - 17 from D Company and one from the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron - and 21 wounded.
Top: Outline of the Battle of Long Tran
CONSCRIPTION ISSUES Conscription was based on the
“birthday ballot system”( a ballot centred on the date of a man's 20th birthday).
The compulsory military service was for a period of 2 years for (most of the time conscription was in effect) but was later dropped to 18 months when it was being phased out.
The SOS (Save Our Sons Movement (1965 - 1973)) was established to protest conscription. In 1970, five of its members were arrested for distributing anti-war leaflets.
Right: SOS protestors
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON SOLDIERS
There were no open fronts in the Vietnam war for soldiers to be treated. Vietnam had an immense psychological impact on the troops, with many suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The selective nature of the National Service Program meant that soldiers suffered depression and often turned to drug abuse or alcoholism. This coupled with a lack of a ‘welcome home’ from the public upon their return made many veterans feel their service to the nation went unnoticed and unrecognised. Top: Foot
gunners resting
PROTESTING AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT
Across: Several propaganda sheets.
OUTCOMES OF AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT
From the time of the arrival of the first battalion in 1962:
Nearly 60,000 Australians (includes navy personnel, air force men and ground soldiers)
Around 520 died due to combat while 3,000 suffered injury
Many protesters were jailed and objectors were persecuted with opposition. Top: Troop
resuscitating
CONCLUSION
Australia’s Involvement in Vietnam War (1962-75)
Right: John Lennon and Yoko Ono
AUDIENCE ACTIVITY
SOLUTIONS:
1. Hamburger 2. Tet 3. America 4. Ho Chi Minh 5.Homecoming 6. Saigon 7. Viet Cong 8. Anti War 9. Dien Bien Phu
INFO-REFERENCES:Primary Sources State Department White Paper On Vietnam
February 27, 1965 Testimony to the Australian Senate on Foreign Relations
April 23, 1971 Australian War Memorial Vietnam ArchivesSecondary Sources (Web) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/reflect/ehrhart.html
(15/08/13) http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/vietnam.asp (15/08/13) http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/battle-of-lo
ng-tan (17/08/13)
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/tp/vietnam101.htm (16/08/13)
http://historywarsweapons.com/battle-of-long-tan/ (20/08/13) http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201004061935
28AAk8ZOE (19/08/13)
PICTURE-REFERENCES: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/EKN/67/0130/VN (Helicopters land to take members of 7RAR back to Nui Dat
after completion of Operation Ulmarra, August 1967. AWM)
http://www.rmwebed.com.au/web_resources/y10history/vietnam_war/troops-to-vietnam.jpg (Menzies Newspaper Heading)
http://www.vwam.com/vets/allies/images/australians-vietnam.jpg (The First Deployment of Australian Ground Forces)
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/vietnam-map.gif (Map of Vietnam War Sites)
http://sydwalker.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Australia_WW1_amti-conscription_poster.jpg (Anti-Conscription flier)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Battle_of_Long_Tan_18_August_1966.png/281px-Battle_of_Long_Tan_18_August_1966.png (Map of Battle of Long Tran)
http://www.rmwebed.com.au/web_resources/y10history/vietnam_war/sos.jpg (Save our Sons Protestors)
http://thecoldwaryearsmejias.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/7/7/13773934/9422115_orig.jpg (SEATO logo)
http://www.anothersource.org/photos/vietnam-war-survivors-guilt-story.jpg (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
http://apmodels.wikispaces.com/file/view/domino_theory.png/133455449/562x154/domino_theory.png (Domino Theory Visual)
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSebYG9sbn_8LoMVrM-Obn23o3tF_wz_0aAEhHcqGfu721rYpeDuw (Robert Menzies Wanted Poster)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/EasternBloc_BorderChange38-48.svg/267px-EasternBloc_BorderChange38-48.svg.png (Eastern Bloc Map)
https://bay172.mail.live.com/att/GetAttachment.aspx?tnail=0&messageId=c0363c49-097e-11e3-9175-00215ad96bc4&Aux=2154|0|8D06BA2A963BD80||0|1|0|0|2|3,11,53&cid=1aa0bfba09466e5a&maxwidth=220&maxheight=160&size=Att&blob=MXxsZW5ub24td2FyMS5qcGd8aW1hZ2UvanBlZw_3d_3d (John Lennon)
