All language subtitles for our.vietnam.war.s 1

NARRATOR: On September 2nd, 1945,

in a quiet Melbourne suburb,

the day a young couple has been
waiting for has finally arrived.

Their first baby is on the way.

At the same time, half a world away,

a thin, proud man with a wispy beard
At the same time, half a world away,

a thin, proud man with a wispy beard
steps up to a microphone.

The speakers crackle and hiss
as he stares out at the huge crowd

who have gathered to hear him speak.

While Robert Graham Perrin
comes into the world in Melbourne,

While Robert Graham Perrin
in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh

in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh

proclaims the independent
in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh

proclaims the independent
Democratic Republic of Vietnam

proclaims the independent
with some familiar words.

with some familiar words.

20 years later, Robert Perrin
will fall from a helicopter

20 years later, Robert Perrin
to his death on the jungle floor,

to his death on the jungle floor,

a casualty in a war
that was born on his birthday.

About 18.5 at the time.
And joined the army.

About 18.5 at the time.
And don't regret a day of it.

And don't regret a day of it.

Nothing prepared any of us

for the conditions
that we had to work and live in.

for the conditions
Nothing.

Nothing.

And we only got 50m in
and the sky fell in.

And we only got 50m in
I was mesmerised by the flutter...

I was mesmerised by the flutter...

..like confetti coming down over me.

MAN: She said, "You shouldn't have
been over there in the first place."

MAN: She said, "You shouldn't have
And that hit me really hard.

And that hit me really hard.

I think
And that hit me really hard.

I think
that's why my dad hasn't slept

for more than three or four hours
in the last 50 years.

('50s MUSIC PLAYS)

Australia slowly emerged
from the horrors of World War II.

Australia slowly emerged
from the horrors of World War II.
Short black hair
makes her look so sweet...

Short black hair
makes her look so sweet...

Short black hair
But as the economy recovered,

But as the economy recovered,

Australia came to fare better
than most.

Until for the comfortable
majority, at least,

Until for the comfortable
life started to feel pretty easy.

life started to feel pretty easy.

Come on, everybody,
clap your hands

Come on, everybody,
Oh, you look real good

Oh, you look real good

We're gonna do the twist
Oh, you look real good

We're gonna do the twist
And it looks like this...

We're gonna do the twist
Australia was a wonderful place.

Australia was a wonderful place.

As everybody says,
they were the good old days.

Oh, it was wonderful,
the '40s and '50s.

Had a pretty sort of
free and easy kind of life.

Round, round get around
I get around

Yeah, get around, round, round
I get around...

MAN: I used to do
a lot of rabbit shooting

and riding all over the countryside
on my bicycle.

There was just good fun,
good mateship.

There was just good fun,
# You know you make me want to shout

You know you make me want to shout

Throw my hands up and shout...

It was so slower and quieter now,

like, you'd live on your bicycle
and just go anywhere.

like, you'd live on your bicycle
There was hardly any traffic.

There was hardly any traffic.

We just had an incredible freedom
to walk, to hitchhike,

to adventure, to climb trees,
to swim in swamps,

to adventure, to climb trees,
to play in creeks,

to play in creeks,

and to do all the sorts of things
that young kids today can't do.

And they don't know
what they're missing out on.

MAN: In that period,

we still felt that we were part
of a big British family.

We were still
part of the great Anglosphere.

At the end of the 1940s,
Australia was led

by a true champion
of the Anglosphere, Robert Menzies.

NEWSREEL: From Canberra,

First pictures of the new Australian
Cabinet just after being sworn in.

They're seen with the
Governor-General, Mr McKell,

at whose right sits Mr Menzies,
Prime Minister for the second time.

He had presence, he had urbanity,

he brought a civilising influence
to bear into Australian policy.

He was a pragmatist,
not a dogmatist.
he brought a civilising influence
to bear into Australian policy.

He was a pragmatist,
not a dogmatist.

He was a pragmatist,
not a dogmatist.
The Cold War of course, was an area
in which he was on one side.

The Cold War of course, was an area
in which he was on one side.

But we always had faith

that Menzies ran a sensible,
tolerant, cooperative,

smooth Westminster system
of government.

Menzies may have been
instinctively drawn to Britain,

but Britain could no longer
assert itself in our region.

MAN: Its days as a global
military power were done.

The United Kingdom could not act
with any kind of pungency or force
MAN: Its days as a global
military power were done.

The United Kingdom could not act
with any kind of pungency or force

in world affairs without the support
of the Americans.

Old European powers such as the UK
were thrown into the shade

by the Cold War battle between
the USA and the Soviet Union.

That didn't stop France
attempting to reassert itself

That didn't stop France
in its former colony in Indochina.

in its former colony in Indochina.

Ho Chi Minh's forces,
known as the Viet Minh, resisted.

Now, in the aftermath of war,

even though Ho Chi Minh declared
Now, in the aftermath of war,

even though Ho Chi Minh declared
a democratic republic,

even though Ho Chi Minh declared
an independent Vietnam,

an independent Vietnam,

France does not want to give up
their colonies,

so they start the French war
against the Viet Minh,

the French war in Indochina.

The Yanks are really in this
from the beginning.

The Yanks are really in this
from the beginning.

They'd actually backed the Viet Minh
during the Japanese occupation

because they're fighting
against Japan as well.

because they're fighting
against Japan as well.
They were supplying them with arms.

They were supplying them with arms.

But when the French come in,
they switch sides

and they start
supporting the French.

And by 1950, they're paying for 80%
of French war costs in Vietnam.

The French were humbled
and ejected from Vietnam in 1954.

But for Australia, French attempts
to retake their colony

But for Australia, French attempts
were really none of our business.

were really none of our business.

It didn't impinge
on our consciousness.

This was a matter
of a stubborn French attempt

This was a matter
to maintain their empire

to maintain their empire

and nationalists attempting
to gain their independence.

But beyond that,
we knew very little about Vietnam.

That is, until the idea of
falling dominoes creeps into vogue.

If we don't stop the advance
of communism in one country,

a whole lot of other
neighbouring countries will fall.

The falling dominoes were expected
to go all the way

from South Vietnam
down through South East Asia

from South Vietnam
and reach the Australian doorstep.

and reach the Australian doorstep.

That was the theory.

Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. The falling of the dominoes.

Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
It was constant.

It was constant.

And the fear of Asia, constant.

And the fear of Asia, constant.
At school, kids passed around
those Japanese torture books

At school, kids passed around
those Japanese torture books

that came out
from recollections of World War II.

And, yeah,
there was a fear of Asia for sure.

NEWSREEL: Active
communist fighting fronts

have been opened up in Indochina,
Malaya and the Philippines

have been opened up in Indochina,
where communist satellites,

where communist satellites,

trained and armed
by their overlords in Moscow,

trained and armed
carry on intensive warfare.

carry on intensive warfare.

They carry the flag
of world revolution.

Even now, their eyes are on
the rice fields of Indochina,

Even now, their eyes are on
the rubber of Malaya,

the rubber of Malaya,

and one of the biggest prizes
the rubber of Malaya,

and one of the biggest prizes
of all - Australia.

DR HOBBS: The idea that Ho Chi Minh
is a communist

DR HOBBS: The idea that Ho Chi Minh
just like Mao is a communist,

just like Mao is a communist,

and that they're all
going to gang up on us

and that they're all
and fall down on us as dominoes

and fall down on us as dominoes

really stems
and fall down on us as dominoes

really stems
from this very essentialist view

of Asian people
as simplistic and easily led.

MAN: There's an ethnic
and cultural disconnect

between us and the world around us,

which goes back
to the very origins of our history -

which goes back
white, Western, British people

white, Western, British people

migrating to this part of the world

migrating to this part of the world
and becoming a white enclave
in Asia.

and becoming a white enclave
in Asia.

And that sets up
a fundamental problem in the history

which we still haven't resolved.

NEWSREEL: The Menzies government
had already committed itself

to support the United States
in Korea,

and in 1952 Australia
was a signatory to the ANZUS pact.

and in 1952 Australia
With the retreat of the British,

With the retreat of the British,

Australia felt very small and alone
in our neighbourhood.

The Menzies government
turned to the United States,

signing the ANZUS treaty,
which came into force in 1952.

The world needs
the United States of America.

The world needs
the British peoples of the world.

The world needs
every scrap of democratic strength

The world needs
that can be found in it,

that can be found in it,

because nobody, however optimistic,

need underestimate the measure
or the character

of the danger
that always confronts us.

Trouble was, we weren't
exactly certain what we'd signed.

Trouble was, we weren't
What is ANZUS supposed to mean?

What is ANZUS supposed to mean?

The Americans answered by saying,
"Our support for you
What is ANZUS supposed to mean?

The Americans answered by saying,
"Our support for you

"will depend on your support for us
elsewhere."

"will depend on your support for us
Now, what did "elsewhere" mean?

Now, what did "elsewhere" mean?

Well, the next item on the agenda
was Vietnam,

Well, the next item on the agenda
was Vietnam,
the support for South Vietnam.

the support for South Vietnam.

Attempting to strengthen ties
with the US,

the Menzies government
dipped a toe into the water.

In 1962, they sent
an army training team to Vietnam

to support the fledgling
Republic of Vietnam

in its struggle against attempts
by North Vietnam

to unite the country
under communist rule.
in its struggle against attempts
by North Vietnam

to unite the country
under communist rule.

'62 is a pivotal year in many ways,

'62 is a pivotal year in many ways,
and the commitment of 30 advisers
to South Vietnam

and the commitment of 30 advisers
to South Vietnam

and the commitment of 30 advisers
as part of a new body,

as part of a new body,

the Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam, as it became called,

was a moment for Australia
to enter the war, really.

These were men sent to train
and assist South Vietnamese forces,

bringing to them their special
knowledge of jungle warfare.

Really, from that moment, Australia
is pretty much in the ball game.

Yeah.

Where does the line draw?
Where do we stop? How far do we go?
Yeah.

Where does the line draw?
Where do we stop? How far do we go?

Where does the line draw?
Well, we start off by trying to win.

Well, we start off by trying to win.

Where do we go from there?
Well, let's win first.

Where do we go from there?
Well, let's win first.
I fell for
the leader of the pack...

I fell for
the leader of the pack...

I will follow him, follow him
wherever he may go...

In contrast to North Vietnam's
stable leadership under Ho Chi Minh,

South Vietnamese President Diem
had trouble making friends.

NEWSREEL: South Vietnam,

focal point of the West's fight
against communism

in South East Asia.

For nearly a decade,
Premier Ngo Dinh Diem

ruled his small nation of 15 million
without open opposition.

But in mid-1963, protests
began mounting against his regime.

I think the problem with the way
the West approached South Vietnam

was that South Vietnam
had just come out of colonisation.

was that South Vietnam
had just come out of colonisation.
It was fighting for its survival
against a very determined enemy

It was fighting for its survival
against a very determined enemy

It was fighting for its survival
that wanted to invade it.

that wanted to invade it.

Yet somehow,
people expected South Vietnam

Yet somehow,
to instantly become a democracy.

to instantly become a democracy.

This was never going to happen.

You know, it was struggling
with far too many issues

You know, it was struggling
just to establish itself.

just to establish itself.

DR HOBBS: Diem had been getting
increasingly repressive.

Increasingly, he's despised
by the South Vietnamese,

basically tips
the JFK administration into action.

The CIA backed a military coup
against the regime.

President Diem and his brother
were eliminated.

NEWSREEL: In a swift coup, they
swept through the streets of Saigon,

overwhelmed loyalist forces
and seized key buildings.

Diem and Nhu refused an offer
of safe conduct out of the country

Diem and Nhu refused an offer
and fled.

and fled.

Both men were killed.

After Diem is then assassinated

because the CIA realises
After Diem is then assassinated

because the CIA realises
he's a disaster,

from that point,
you've got this revolving door.

from that point,
You know, various generals

You know, various generals

sort of rotating through
the prime ministership in Saigon,

and it's very an unstable regime.

But no matter how unstable
the southern Vietnam regime was,

the US government
believed it must be supported

the US government
to keep the communist north at bay.

to keep the communist north at bay.

Let's not forget that on the day
John F. Kennedy was assassinated

in Dallas in November 1963, he was
due to give a speech that afternoon

in Dallas in November 1963, he was
in which he was going to say

in which he was going to say

that America must not tire
from its efforts in Vietnam,

that it still had to be,
for the world,

the watchmen
on the walls of freedom.

MAN: You, Lyndon Baines Johnson,
do solemnly swear.

I, Lyndon Baines Johnson
do solemnly swear.

LBJ comes into power.
He says, "We're in an awful mess."

"This is an awful mess. And I don't
know what to do about it."

He thinks it's just going to get
worse and worse,

and he doesn't see
how we can pull out.

Johnson was on the one hand saying
he was not going to get involved,

Johnson was on the one hand saying
but covertly putting in place

but covertly putting in place

whatever would be necessary

if it came to the point where
American troops had to be committed.

In 1964, with the US
increasingly committed to Vietnam,

Australia saw the opportunity
to lock in the precious alliance.

For that,
we needed more men in boots.

The Menzies government's answer
was conscription.

What do you think about
sending troops to Vietnam?

What do you think about
I think it's a good idea.

I think it's a good idea.

I think all countries
should participate

and help each other like that.

I think it's got to be done.

I haven't got any choice
at this stage.

Well, I suppose
you have to really keep them,

Well, I suppose
keep the communists out.

keep the communists out.

But I'd rather see my boys
stay around.

I think it's perfectly alright.
I think it's a duty of honour.

Well, I don't particularly like
the idea.

Uh, I don't think
we should be brought into it at all.

I don't think they should
send people there.

If the Americans want to start
a fight or start a war,

If the Americans want to start
that's their business.

that's their business.

Why should we be involved in it?

It's got nothing to do with us.

The introduction
of selective conscription,

as it was called
under a National Service Act,

was seen as the way to bring
the numbers up in the Defence Force.

They were looking to get
a force of 40,000

They were looking to get
and they were way below that.

and they were way below that.

20-year-olds were asked
to register their birth date

with the Department of Labour
and National Service on turning 20.

Do you like the idea
of 20-year-olds going overseas?

Do you like the idea
20, 18 or 19, yeah, in they go.

20, 18 or 19, yeah, in they go.

It's a good experience.
Makes a man out of them.

It's a good experience.
I don't believe in conscription.

I don't believe in conscription.

If they want to go,
let them go on their own accord.

I have a son
that is in the national call-up

I have a son
and he'll probably go in time.

and he'll probably go in time.

And I'm a widow and he's my only son

and, therefore, I've got to fight
to say why shouldn't everyone else?

Well, I thought
if it was to assist the country

in the defence
of communism spreading,

it might be a good thing
in the defence
of communism spreading,

it might be a good thing

if the current numbers in
it might be a good thing

if the current numbers in
the Defence Force were inadequate.

if the current numbers in
the Defence Force were inadequate.
Go!

Go!

That's what happens
if you don't leap!

That's what happens
Give us 20 push-ups.

Give us 20 push-ups.

Three, four, five.

Come on. He's like a bag of wheat.

MAN: The population loved the idea
of a young man in uniform

becoming disciplined adults through
the process of military training.

Controversially, the candidates
were chosen by lottery,

Controversially, the candidates
were chosen by lottery,

a lottery that eventually
acquired the unkind nickname

Lottery of Death.

This barrel holds the immediate
future for 40,300 young Australians

who have registered for
national service since January 25th.

The plan, which was announced
last November

in view of the deteriorating
strategic situation,

aims eventually at providing
a constant strength

aims eventually at providing
of 13,800 young national servicemen

of 13,800 young national servicemen

in Australia's military forces.

WOMAN: The draw happened
on television.

There were 31 dates in the barrel,

and if your birth date
was drawn out,
There were 31 dates in the barrel,

and if your birth date
was drawn out,

then you had to register
for national service.

It had an element of randomness
to it.

It also felt somewhat ghoulish
to many,

the idea that your life could change
and pivot

on this single moment of bad luck.

MAN: Here I was going to be taken
away from a life of playing rugby

with St Ives in Sydney,
rowing surf boats with Newport
MAN: Here I was going to be taken
away from a life of playing rugby

with St Ives in Sydney,
rowing surf boats with Newport

with St Ives in Sydney,
rowing surf boats with Newport
and in hot pursuit of a girl from
the computer programming department.

and in hot pursuit of a girl from
the computer programming department.

and in hot pursuit of a girl from
But...um...

But...um...

Yeah, I just...

But then I thought,
"No, it won't happen to me."

But then I thought,
Of course it does.

Of course it does.

Three-two-three.

323.

November 18 to May 20.
Correct.

I always remember a bunch of guys
from Sydney Uni

standing on the footpath
handing out shots of scotch

and telling you to run up the stairs
to the medical appointment

so your blood pressure
would be through the roof.

I drank a scotch
but I then took the elevator.

It was a pretty quick medical.
You know, it was unusual.

Because I guess
I'd played a lot of footy,

so I was used to parading around
with nothing on
Because I guess
I'd played a lot of footy,

so I was used to parading around
with nothing on

in front of other guys.

But they were your mates, so...

Alright.
So, I was conscripted in 1965.

We were the very first people
to have to sort of figure out

the rights that the state has
over an individual.

You're asking to think about
the morality of war.

You're thinking about the moralities
of killing and stuff like that.

These are big moral, political,
spiritual,

you know, religious issues.

Present...arms.

One, two, three...arms.

When you hear people talk about
the Australian Army at the time,

they talk about it
as a place of equality,

a place where people of all races
and classes mixed together.

You could be excluded from
national service if you were gay

and there was a certain amount
of gay pretending if you like,

and there was a certain amount
I think, going on.

I think, going on.

Certainly some doctors were prepared
I think, going on.

Certainly some doctors were prepared
to sign off men as gay

who might not otherwise have shown
any particular gay tendencies.

So, we get
this faintly comedic image

of straight men pretending to be gay
to get out of the services.

But the other side of that coin
is gay men pretended to be straight

so as to be conscripted

because a lot of people
wanted to be conscripted.

A lot of people
wanted to fight the Vietnam War.

A lot of people
That's a fact that's forgotten now.

That's a fact that's forgotten now.

The return of conscription
may have been massively popular,

but there were early ripples
of dissent.

ARROW: Not long after Menzies
had reintroduced conscription,

he delivered a speech to, really
to the party faithful in Hornsby

in Sydney's north-west.

As he started to make his speech,

a number of women
who had infiltrated the crowd,

dressed all in black,

rose silently from their seats,

and they were wearing veils
over their faces.

So they looked like
they were women in mourning.

So they looked like
And they were jeered.

And they were jeered.

They were booed.

Menzies had to kind of
stop his speech for a moment.

And the women stood there
for several minutes,

just kind of absorbing the kind
of abuse, I suppose, of the crowd.

And then they all left the room,
left the hall at the same time

and handed out
anti-conscription pamphlets.

They weren't ratbags.

They were dressed
as respectable liberal women,

but they were dressed
as if they were going to a funeral.

The idea
that respectable wives and mothers

The idea
would protest government policy,

would protest government policy,

that would claim
to know better than Menzies,

would claim to know better
than the government

would claim to know better
who was making these big decisions,

who was making these big decisions,

was seen as kind of outrageous.

It was the first women's protest
against conscription

in the Vietnam era.

It would not be the last.

You know, a number of the women who
were part of these early protests

were sort of told,
"Well, why don't you go home

"and look after your husband
and family at home

"rather than worrying about
this stuff.

"rather than worrying about
"It's none of your business."

"It's none of your business."

So, it was very much
that politics is men's domain

and women, and particularly mothers,
have no role to play

in this kind of broader
civil society debate

about whether we should
be sending young men to fight

about whether we should
in a war overseas.

in a war overseas.

And sending young men
in a war overseas.

And sending young men
to fight overseas

was exactly what Robert Menzies
had in mind.

The decision was taken
at a forgotten Cabinet meeting

The decision was taken
on December 17, 1964.

on December 17, 1964.

He was a bit tired and
he wanted to get it over quickly.

He goes into the meeting
with the Cabinet

and basically he'd clearly
already made his mind up.

He wants them to ratify a decision
to send combat troops to Vietnam.

The meeting was of the Defence
and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee

The meeting was of the Defence
of Cabinet,

of Cabinet,

which was Menzies and McEwen,

the leader of the Country Party
and Deputy Prime Minister,

Harold Holt, the Deputy leader
of the party and the Treasurer,

and what Menzies
would habitually call the new boys.

and what Menzies

On December 14th, a request
came in from President Johnson,

not for a battalion,
not mentioned at all,

not for a battalion,
said he didn't want it, actually,

said he didn't want it, actually,

but for a great array
of other military assistance.

And particularly
he wanted a big increase

And particularly
in the Australian Army advisers.

in the Australian Army advisers.

The US didn't want
in the Australian Army advisers.

The US didn't want
Australian combat troops.

The US didn't want
Menzies had other ideas.

Menzies had other ideas.

After five minutes of discussion,

the meeting decided

to send an infantry battalion
the meeting decided

to send an infantry battalion
of 800 men to Vietnam.

The Prime Minister
saw this as an opportunity

The Prime Minister
to get alongside the United States.

to get alongside the United States.

"Everything we can put alongside
the Americans

"in the common interest
is good," he said.

There are few things more serious
that a prime minister could do

is send people to war.

I mean, this is, you know,
about taking and losing life

I mean, this is, you know,
and national treasure.

and national treasure.

So it's hugely important.

And so, this was just done,
you know, in five minutes.

Five minutes to decide to commit
combat troops to fight in Vietnam.

Five minutes to decide to commit
Five minutes to set in train

Five minutes to set in train

a process that would alter Australia
immeasurably.

The discussion was not worthy of
the great issue that was involved.

By April 1965,

Robert Menzies was ready
By April 1965,

Robert Menzies was ready
to let the rest of the country know

about the decision taken
the previous December.

MAN: He was claiming
it was a civil war,

MAN: He was claiming
not an insurgency from the north,

not an insurgency from the north,

which was part of the justification
not an insurgency from the north,

which was part of the justification
for it, of course.

it was the justification that lay
behind our forward defence policy

and an attempt to get
a powerful American strength

and an attempt to get
into our sphere of influence

into our sphere of influence

which was seen now
into our sphere of influence

which was seen now
to extend into South East Asia.

But first
he had an obstacle to clear.

DR EDWARDS: If we were going
to commit forces to Vietnam,

we would not simply do it
because the Americans wanted us to

or because we wanted
the Americans to want us to.

We had to have an invitation from
the South Vietnamese government.

And it was known
that the people in power at the time

had some reservations
that if foreign governments were,

you know, would come in and have
to fight their battles for them,

that this was going to be seen
as a sign of weakness,

as indeed it was on the part
of...by the Vietnamese people.

as indeed it was on the part
Now, Menzies claimed, of course,

Now, Menzies claimed, of course,

to have had...be in receipt

of a request from the government
of the Republic of Vietnam.

But I think the conventional wisdom
now amongst scholars

is that in fact the Americans
had generated that request

from the Republic of Vietnam
on Australia's behalf.

from the Republic of Vietnam
Rescue me, take me in your arms

Rescue me, take me in your arms

Rescue me...

On April 29th, 1965,

the Prime Minister
told the House of Representatives

that Australia would send a battalion
of combat troops to Vietnam.

Well, I think I suddenly felt
like I'd been kicked in the stomach

because I was the one
he was wanting to send there.

I was in my first year
at Duntroon then.

And indeed I remember
walking to Mess Parade at lunch

And indeed I remember
and I was just a little behind time

and I was just a little behind time

and there was this cheering
going on.

And that was because news
that Menzies had announced

And that was because news
the commitment had occurred.

the commitment had occurred.

So, we were rather pleased,
the commitment had occurred.

So, we were rather pleased,
as soldiers would be,

So, we were rather pleased,
that you had a war.

that you had a war.

I believed all the things
that the government was saying,

the communists coming down
through Malay Peninsula, you know,
I believed all the things
that the government was saying,

the communists coming down
through Malay Peninsula, you know,

over time, and then eventually
Australia, you know.

And I thought, "Oh, well, if we can
stop it there, well and good."

And I thought, "Oh, well, if we can
And that was part of the plan.

And that was part of the plan.

And that was part of the plan.
Would you both like
to go to Vietnam?

Would you both like
to go to Vietnam?

I would.
Why is that?

Well, I think
there's a lot of benefits

to be got out of it, really,
and experience.

And when you come back,
it's a pretty good possibility.

A lot of benefits.

And yourself?

No. I don't want to go,
but if I have to go, I'll go.

Well, it's not a matter
of liking to go, but I would go.

I realise that I'm in the army.
I've got to go with it.

But if it was a choice
between deciding to go,

But if it was a choice
volunteering or staying,

volunteering or staying,

I'd stay, I wouldn't volunteer.

I didn't think it was a good idea.
However, I did my duty.

I didn't think it was a good idea.
I was a professional officer.

I was a professional officer.

And, you know, I was spoken for
and I had to do my duty

regardless
of what I thought personally.

The military is conditioned,
I guess, is the term to use

to believe in the sorts of politics
that the government believes in.

So, the thought
to be able to go

and fight in somebody else's
backyard

instead of waiting until
we had to fight in our own backyard,
and fight in somebody else's
backyard

instead of waiting until
we had to fight in our own backyard,

you know, it was positive for us.

I must say that in those days
I felt wonderful.

You know, it's like
if you've got racehorses,

you've got to give them a run.

you've got to give them a run.
I don't think Menzies had any idea

I don't think Menzies had any idea

of the kind of war
he was getting into,

nor really do I think
the chiefs of staff did.

But in relation to Menzies,
it wasn't...it wasn't his area.

I mean, he was a lawyer,
he was a politician

and he dealt with
strategic and political matters

and he didn't think in specifically,
in military terms.

Gross ignorance
probably best sums it up.

ALL: (CHANT) One, two, three, four,
we don't want war.

Five, six, seven, eight,
stop the war, negotiate.

Well, I think the Americans
shouldn't be interfering

Well, I think the Americans
as much as they are in Vietnam,

as much as they are in Vietnam,

and they should leave Vietnam
as much as they are in Vietnam,

and they should leave Vietnam
to a certain extent

and they should leave Vietnam
to decide its own troubles.

to decide its own troubles.

What use is it if we take Vietnam?

If Vietnam is lost,
are they any closer to us or not?

No. They're no closer.
MAN: (SHOUTS) Commies!

They're just as close
whether Vietnam is lost or not.

They're just as close
That's right.

That's right.

So why send a quarter
of our Australians to Vietnam?

What use does it serve? None.

Can we make
any, any appreciable difference?

Australia's alliance with America?
It indicates nothing.

What about it?
It's a boob...

..doesn't believe in US policy
in Vietnam

is living in a fool's paradise.

Oh, don't be silly, man.

What use is it if our blokes
get killed? It's a token.

It's a useless token.
It's 800 men shot for nothing.

Why is it a useless token?

And they're just as dangerous
whether they're lost or won.

Look, if we lose Vietnam, we lose
Australia. We've got to have...

If we lose Vietnam,
they're just as close.

If we lose Vietnam,
We're not. We're not.

We're not. We're not.

McKAY: It wasn't until
you were personally involved

that you started
to take an interest, you know?

19-, 20-year-old men
full of testosterone,

playing footy, rowing boats,
19-, 20-year-old men
full of testosterone,

playing footy, rowing boats,

surf clubs, dances on weekends,
girls,

beer, all of that sort of thing
took priority

beer, all of that sort of thing
took priority
before geopolitical matters.

before geopolitical matters.

THOMPSON: I liked cars and trucks
and all the boy stuff.

THOMPSON: I liked cars and trucks
And I lived near a council yard

And I lived near a council yard

and all their heavy equipment
was parked there.

And we had a family friend
who worked on the wharves
and all their heavy equipment
was parked there.

And we had a family friend
who worked on the wharves

in Melbourne, crane operator.

And he happened to say to me,
"Look, if you want to do that,

"get into the army and they'll
teach you how to drive it."

"get into the army and they'll
teach you how to drive it."
So I made my inquiries

So I made my inquiries

and discovered I had to join
the Corps of Engineers

and with a view
to becoming a plant operator.

And so I took
all the appropriate steps.

And so I took
When I was about...

When I was about...

I was about 18.5 at the time

and joined the army

and don't regret a day of it.

I remember the day that this photo
was taken, and that was in about...

I remember the day that this photo
..19...

..19...

..69.

Well, there's a young boy,
a very young lad,

that looks out of place
in an army uniform.

Mmm.

EKINS: In this initial stage,
one Australian battalion

being attached
to an American brigade
EKINS: In this initial stage,
one Australian battalion

being attached
to an American brigade

was not going to make
an enormous difference

to the outcome
of the war in Vietnam.

to the outcome
of the war in Vietnam.
Remember I was a boy from
the western suburbs of Sydney.

Remember I was a boy from
the western suburbs of Sydney.

We didn't know too much
about guns, mate,

or when I was conscripted, yeah,
that...

Troops from First Battalion
Royal Australian Regiment, 1RAR,

all regular army,
arrived in Vietnam in June 1965.

That's when I get the shakes
all over me...

EKINS: They were well trained,
well prepared,

EKINS: They were well trained,
very experienced in the main.

very experienced in the main.

They had really done lots of work
in counter-insurgency.

Counter-revolutionary warfare
was one of the standard doctrines

in the Australian arsenal,
if you like.

What they weren't prepared for was
the scale and nature of the war.

BORGER: We arrived at Saigon
at Tan Son Nhat Airport

and saw all these planes
and jets taking off.

And it was just, "Jeez, this
is...this is what a war looks like."

The Australians
were terribly equipped.

They had outmoded uniforms, boots,
equipment of all kinds,

very little
in the way of mechanical aids.

DR LOCKHART: They couldn't work out
what they were supposed to do,

and the early troops anyway,
couldn't get the supplies

and equipment
that they felt they needed.

You know, their shirts,
their uniforms, their tents

were sort of rotting in the monsoon
and so on.

Some officers from the battalion
did was got in a jeep

with a trailer on it,

went down to an American base
at Vung Tau
with a trailer on it,

went down to an American base
at Vung Tau

and said, "We're here to pick up
the Australian stores."

and said, "We're here to pick up
the Australian stores."
And so they flogged five 50 calibre
machine guns and a water truck.

And so they flogged five 50 calibre
machine guns and a water truck.

Now, I understand, I don't know
if this story is apocryphal or not,

but that the Americans
opened fire on them.

But they got back to base.

Meanwhile, the signals officer
had taken a load of slouch hats

and shower buckets to Saigon

to barter for field telephones
and communications equipment

so they could communicate around
the perimeter of the task force base

In this dirty old part
of the city...

NEWSREEL: Australian soldiers
on patrol in Vietnam.

Two minutes ago,
there were five shots

Two minutes ago,
about 300 yards away in the jungle.

about 300 yards away in the jungle.

Friendly or enemy?

We gotta get out
of this place...

We gotta get out
We had to defend that whole area

We had to defend that whole area

where they intended to put
the task force in.

Not only was it mentally tough,
it was physically tough.

And when we were,
in establishing our footprint,

the only way we could defend
ourselves was patrol.

the only way we could defend
Patrol. Patrol. Patrol.

Patrol. Patrol. Patrol.

Girl, there's a better life
for me and you.

REPORTER: Sir Robert Menzies
bows out

REPORTER: Sir Robert Menzies
of the Australian political scene.

of the Australian political scene.

This is how it was today,

as Sir Robert Menzies
arrived at Parliament House

to attend a meeting
of the government parties

to tell them
of his intention to resign.

Robert Menzies finally stepped down
as Prime Minister in January 1966.

Harold Holt was elected unopposed
to succeed him.

MAN: When Menzies retired,
he was 70 years old.

And he'd been prime minister
for 16 years

and the government had become
more and more moribund
And he'd been prime minister
for 16 years

and the government had become
more and more moribund

and Menzies had become less and less
interested in new challenges.

One becomes tired, one becomes
not quite 100% in efficiency.

And I have an old-fashioned belief

that the Prime Minister of this
country ought to be 100% efficient.

CURRAN: There was a sense
that Menzies was tired,

CURRAN: There was a sense
that it was time for him to go,

that it was time for him to go,

that the Coalition needed

a fresher, younger style
of leadership,

and they certainly got that
in Harold Holt.
a fresher, younger style
of leadership,

and they certainly got that
in Harold Holt.

Harold Holt essentially continued,

if not increased
Australia's commitment to Vietnam.

if not increased
Australia's commitment to Vietnam.
The need for Australian
participation in Vietnam

The need for Australian
participation in Vietnam

The need for Australian
is, I believe, well understood

is, I believe, well understood

by an overwhelming majority
is, I believe, well understood

by an overwhelming majority
of Australians

by an overwhelming majority
and supported by them.

and supported by them.

Holt came in with great enthusiasm
for the commitment.

He seemed to be initiating
increases in the commitment,

which surprised
even his closest advisers.

which surprised
He didn't seem to realise

He didn't seem to realise

that the policy
was not an unlimited commitment,

that it was a matter
of committing sufficient forces

to have credibility
with the Americans.
that it was a matter
of committing sufficient forces

to have credibility
with the Americans.

But keeping that commitment
as low as we conveniently could.

But keeping that commitment
as low as we conveniently could.
With the new Prime Minister
came a new approach,

With the new Prime Minister
came a new approach,

a separate base
of operations for Australian troops.

A major rethink came about
through senior commanders

A major rethink came about
like General John Wilton,

like General John Wilton,

who had been resisting all along
the use of the Australians

in any form of mobile warfare
with American units.

The proposal was to insert another
two battalions into a task force

with its own
independent area of operations.

This took a lot of discussion
and consideration.

This took a lot of discussion
In the end, what Wilton settled on

In the end, what Wilton settled on

was the province of Phuoc Tuy,

which had advantages
was the province of Phuoc Tuy,

which had advantages
of various kinds.

It had a seaport
for ready access through Vung Tau.

The selection of Phuoc Tuy province
is interesting

because I think the government
didn't want Australians

to go up into the north,
for example,

where there would have been
bigger battles

where there would have been
and, therefore, greater casualties.

and, therefore, greater casualties.

The Australians, because of
the national service component,

were extremely worried about
casualties

and so they wanted a province
they thought was relatively quiet.

And Phuoc Tuy
seemed to fit the bill.

It was possible to build a base

right in the centre
of this province,

right in the centre
which became the fixation, almost,

which became the fixation, almost,

that there would be a base
around a hill known as Nui Dat,

Dirt Hill, right in the middle
of the province.

It would allow the Australians
to operate independently

and practise their own form
of counter-insurgency operations.

and practise their own form
That was the basis of this change.

That was the basis of this change.

It would require a vast amount
of work before it came into being.

The operation to clear the area
was dubbed 'Hardihood'.

Operation Hardihood commenced
possibly 10 days after we arrived.

Two townships, two small villages
had to be destroyed

Two townships, two small villages
and the displaced people relocated.

and the displaced people relocated.

That became a thorn in the side
of the task force

for the next five, six years.

The two villages of Long Tan
and Long Phuoc,

The two villages of Long Tan
they were razed to the ground.

they were razed to the ground.

The people and their gardens and
vegetables and farms were destroyed.

So, you had a population
of about 5,000 dispossessed people,

So, you had a population
very discontented,

very discontented,

still trying to get back to their
original ancestral areas

where the,
traditionally in Vietnamese culture,

these places had a reverence for,

the ancestors' bones would be buried
in the hearth of the village,

the ancestors' bones would be buried
houses and so on,

houses and so on,

and they were denied access
to these areas.

McKAY: It was pretty tough.

But it was something
that had to be done.

This was very, very ill considered

you have to concede.

And it left a stain really

on the Australian involvement
And it left a stain really

on the Australian involvement
at that stage.

As the soldiers settled in
in Vietnam

back home, other young men
were taking a different path.
As the soldiers settled in
in Vietnam

back home, other young men
were taking a different path.

back home, other young men
were taking a different path.
(READS) "I ask you,
as your commanding officer,

(READS) "I ask you,
as your commanding officer,

"to consider your position carefully
and to report as ordered

"so as to avoid becoming liable
to the quite severe punishments

"so as to avoid becoming liable
"which the law provides

"which the law provides

"for infringements
of military discipline."

Mr White, does the telegram
at all change your plans now?

No. I have made it clear
from July 18th,

when I was dismissed
from my teaching position

that I do not intend
to comply with the call-up notice,

and I do not intend to present
myself to the military

or to obey
any orders of a military nature.

William White was a conscientious
objector and a teacher.

William White's birthday was drawn
in the first conscription ballot

held in March 1965.

He was the first Australian
to fight his call-up notice.

After refusing
to report for training,

After refusing
he was sacked from his teaching job

he was sacked from his teaching job

and then arrested and incarcerated
at Holsworthy Army Base.

He believed he would qualify
as a conscientious objector

He believed he would qualify
opposed to all use of violence,

opposed to all use of violence,

and he was unsuccessful
in his conscientious objection case.

I ain't gonna go

Ain't gonna go

Hell no

Hell no...

His conscientious objection
was not on religious grounds,

but on the immorality
of the Vietnam War.

but on the immorality
of the Vietnam War.
So this, again, to me

So this, again, to me

was one of the great injustices
of conscription.

The more rational and intelligent
and well-founded your objection was,

the less likely it was
to be listened to.

After protracted legal battles,

Bill White eventually won the right

to be recognised
Bill White eventually won the right

to be recognised
as a conscientious objector.

His stand inspired thousands
of others around the country.

The lasting legacy of the stand
he took

are the visuals,
are the photos that remain.

The photos that were
on the front pages of newspapers

which showed a schoolteacher,
a schoolteacher of all professions,

being carried away by police
and arresting

for ostensibly refusing to fight,
refusing to join the army.

That showed you
what the state could do.
for ostensibly refusing to fight,
refusing to join the army.

That showed you
what the state could do.

And that sort of, you know,
that showed you the extent to which

they could act
in a blatantly repressive way.

SPEAKER: The proposition
that I have put to you...

ALL: (CHANT) Release Bill White.
Release Bill White.

ALL: (CHANT) Release Bill White.

Release Bill White.
Release Bill White.

There are opponents
of the government

who are quite afraid to hear
what the government has to say

on national policies
of this country.

The government didn't want trouble.
on national policies
of this country.

The government didn't want trouble.

The government didn't anticipate
an anti-war movement.

And the government wanted to fight
a war, not an anti-war movement.

The government
didn't want to be seen

The government
didn't want to be seen
to be manhandling teachers out of
a schoolhouse into a jailhouse.

to be manhandling teachers out of
a schoolhouse into a jailhouse.

You know,
they were horrible pictures.

And it's worth remembering
what a brave stand it was

for someone like Bill White.

What an unusual stand.

How far away from
the Australian mainstream

those early anti-war campaigners
were.

I mean, people
thought they were mad.

The first national serviceman to be
killed in Vietnam was Errol Noack.

Errol Noack was conscripted in
the same March 1965 birthday ballot

as Bill White.

Errol Noack was a young man

who lived on Kangaroo Island,
South Australia.

who lived on Kangaroo Island,
He was a fisherman, farmer.

He was a fisherman, farmer.

He was
a churchgoing young Lutheran boy

He was
who took his church seriously.

who took his church seriously.

He was dispatched

along with many other
young Nashos in 5RAR.

After his basic military training

he joined 5th Battalion, 5RAR,
54th Royal Australian Regiment

he joined 5th Battalion, 5RAR,
and went to Vietnam

and went to Vietnam

and played a part
in building the base in Vung Tau,

which at the time was just a beach.

EKINS: He was on the first operation

where companies, in what is often
termed their shakedown operation,

familiarise themselves
with the area.

We hopped out of the helicopters

and, you know, and young soldiers
thinking this is pretty cool,

you know, out here patrolling
with live ammunition and weapons.

You know, we patrol with the weapon,
the bullets up the spout.

But safety catch on.

So, it was...it's the real thing.

Making their way through the scrub

outside Nui Dat,

still getting a feel
outside Nui Dat,

still getting a feel
for the local landscape.

Stopped
to refill their water bottles.

I came back with that water
Stopped
to refill their water bottles.

I came back with that water

and distributed the water
amongst our section.

and distributed the water
amongst our section.
Errol Noack, I'd walked over to him
and dropped his water off,

Errol Noack, I'd walked over to him
and dropped his water off,

and he said to me, "Borge,"
that was my nickname,

he said, "What do you do
with these purifying tablets?"

As I was explaining it to him,
John, who was on the machine gun,

As I was explaining it to him,
called out to me.

called out to me.

He said, "Hit the deck, Borge."

At that instant,
there was just a roar and a thud.

Errol got thrown back behind me.

Distance would have been
at least three metres, I would say,

Distance would have been
maybe even more.

maybe even more.

But I actually heard the thud

and I dived the other way
alongside John.

and I dived the other way
I was the number two on the gun

I was the number two on the gun

and we started to return fire.

Not knowing what to expect,

I was thinking that all of a sudden

the screaming hordes
would come out in front of us

the screaming hordes
and run right over the top of us.

and run right over the top of us.

And I thought, "Jeez, this might
and run right over the top of us.

And I thought, "Jeez, this might
be the end of me right here."

My Section Commander,
George Gilbert,

he stood up and started yelling out,
"We're Australians."

With that, everything stopped.

Errol was laying behind us.

I looked at him.

He was grey. He was a sickly grey.

And he was...

He was calling out to God.
He was saying he was dying and...

He was quickly evacuated,

as quickly as they could get
an evacuation helicopter in nearby.

as quickly as they could get
But died on board the helicopter.

But died on board the helicopter.

Initially the government, the army,

said that it was a skirmish
Initially the government, the army,

said that it was a skirmish
with the Viet Cong.

In fact, it turned out to be another
unit of Australian infantry

In fact, it turned out to be another
had fired on Errol's patrol.

had fired on Errol's patrol.

This was deliberately covered up.

It was said that the reason
Errol had been shot

It was said that the reason
was that he stood up.

was that he stood up.

According to army doctrine,
you stay low.

Errol, the conscript, the man
who had not had the training,

the implication being
he didn't have the training.

He didn't have the dedication
of full-time professional soldiers.

Really? No. He was doing, you know,
stood up, got shot, his fault.

His comrades have since said
he did not stand up.

He did not...
That was not why he was shot.

It was not his fault.

Errol never got up.

They said he got up
after the contact was started.

They said he got up
Errol never had a chance.

Errol never had a chance.

He was hit, I would say,
by the first round,

first actual round that was fired.

That was...hit Errol.

Certainly would have had
significance to people back home.

The politicians
were certainly worried about it.

And I'm sure that when the news
got back to my mum,

she would have been horrified.

I don't...I never told mum that I,
when I was there

I don't...I never told mum that I,
that I was alongside Errol when...

that I was alongside Errol when...

I didn't want to cause her
that I was alongside Errol when...

I didn't want to cause her
any concern.

He was commemorated in two ways
after his death

in the task force
base that they were building,

the first Nasho was commemorated
in Noack Avenue.

That was...a sign was set up.

They had to build street signs
into this base

that was getting bigger and bigger
all the time.

that was getting bigger and bigger
all the time.
And in Adelaide, the Cross
of Sacrifice at The Australian...

And in Adelaide, the Cross
of Sacrifice at The Australian...

The South Australian War Memorial
on North Terrace in Adelaide

was defaced by graffiti
by protesters who wrote...

"Errol Wayne Noack,"

"Errol Wayne Noack,"
and a date,

and a date,

"His was not to reason why."
and a date,

"His was not to reason why."

DR CAHILL: Down where I live,

there's a major memorial
to the Vietnam War

with the list of all the people
on it who died.

with the list of all the people
And he's on it.

And he's on it.

And I look at that,
and all of the other names,

and that almost
makes me weep when I see him there.

BORGER: Yeah,
I shed a lot of tears now,

and I wouldn't have been
the only one.

and I wouldn't have been
I didn't express it to anyone.

I didn't express it to anyone.

It was something of my own,
I didn't express it to anyone.

It was something of my own,
you know,

there by yourself in a harbour,
you know, in a defensive position,

there by yourself in a harbour,
you know, and it's pouring rain

you know, and it's pouring rain

and you're living
like a mongrel dog.

You're missing home.
You're missing your parents.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you know that the next day
you get up, it all starts again.

Met his father,
devastated about it all,

but he couldn't accept that his son
should say he was killed...

..by friendly fire. So...

One day in Vietnam or one day
in an operation and he's dead.

One day in Vietnam or one day
Why wouldn't he be bitter?

Why wouldn't he be bitter?

He wanted to feel proud
about his son,

and he should be proud about his son
because he done nothing wrong.

NEWSREEL: The Sydney sailed
in April

with 400 men
of the first task force.

They replace the 1st Battalion,
who came home in June.

When 1RAR sailed back to Australia
in June 1966

When 1RAR sailed back to Australia
after its one-year deployment,

after its one-year deployment,

the unit
returned to a hero's welcome.

Over 300,000 people turned out
to greet them in Sydney.

It's a reminder that, one,
that the war was very popular

and two, that soldiers, I think,
still have that central position

and two, that soldiers, I think,
in Australian sort of cultural life

in Australian sort of cultural life

and the sort of centrality
of the Anzac and things like that.

WOMAN: We had television on
for the news, as we always did,

and there was this great marching
column of soldiers through Sydney

and this woman on her own
just stepping out of the crowd.

NEWSREEL: Only one incident
marred the proceedings.

A young typist daubed with red paint
grabbed at the march leader,

Lieutenant Colonel Preece,
smearing his uniform.

Then she ran, clawing among
the first two ranks of soldiers

until she was dragged away
by a senior police officer.

Later fined
and put on a good behaviour bond,

she explained she had wanted to show

that some disagreed
with the war in Vietnam.

I was just transfixed
by this bravery and...

..metaphorical power of this action.

Uh, I thought it was wonderful.

She had on her own
decided this war was really immoral

She had on her own
and wanted to do something

and wanted to do something

and had planned this action
and wanted to do something

and had planned this action
completely alone.

I've never heard of anything
so brave.

Nadine Jensen
was not part of any organisation

Nadine Jensen
and when she was taken to court,

and when she was taken to court,

bedraggled and covered in red paint,

the judge just assumed she was mad.

The judge thought
she needed mental treatment.

Why would anyone do this?
They couldn't understand.

Obviously, Jensen's point,
Nadine's point,

was to show the blood

that was on the hands, in her mind,
of the Australian military.

But to, perhaps ordinary
conservative Australians,

there's a mad woman covered in
red paint running at some soldiers.

Nadine Jensen's lone protest

has had a lasting impact
in our cultural memory.

MAN: The issues that I had
when we came back from Vietnam,

the 7th Battalion, we marched up
George Street, come past Town Hall,

and it was this hairy under-armed,
bloody hippie sheila.
the 7th Battalion, we marched up
George Street, come past Town Hall,

and it was this hairy under-armed,
bloody hippie sheila.

She ran out with a can of red paint
and threw it on me

She ran out with a can of red paint
and a couple of mates.

and a couple of mates.

and a couple of mates.
She called us murderers,
child killers and rapists.

She called us murderers,
child killers and rapists.

You know, to come home
to something like that...

For someone in my country
saying that to us,

"murderers, child killers
and rapists," we didn't do that.

And we didn't deserve
someone like that to say it to us.

MAN: The hangover from Vietnam went
on for years and years and years.

It's just the way we were treated
when we came home.

It's just the way we were treated
We were treated just like dirt.

We were treated just like dirt.

Some of our fellows
We were treated just like dirt.

Some of our fellows
were drenched with red paint,

spat at, abused, you know.
Some of our fellows
were drenched with red paint,

spat at, abused, you know.

I remember a couple of drunken women
screaming at us

as we marched past a pub in,
not far from Garden Island.

It was just...just very, you know,
just really disappointing.

These sorts of stories
of anti-war abuse.

These have been circulating
in the broader community
These sorts of stories
of anti-war abuse.

These have been circulating
in the broader community

and in pop culture for decades now.

And they seem to represent
very real feelings

And they seem to represent
of alienation and exclusion.

of alienation and exclusion.

This sort of goes back
to the Anzac legend.

There was this expectation

that soldiers would be treated
as the pinnacle of masculinity,

that soldiers would be treated
that they would be celebrated.

that they would be celebrated.

And it sets up this expectation
when you speak about war in abstract

And it sets up this expectation
as this beautiful, heroic thing.

as this beautiful, heroic thing.

The reality when soldiers
as this beautiful, heroic thing.

The reality when soldiers
have been through something

The reality when soldiers
that they suffered through,

that they suffered through,

that was a struggle for them
and they come home

and they feel like the public's
not completely with them,

it's understandable
that they feel really let down.

Mmm.

DAPIN: Many, many veterans now talk
of being smeared with blood.

They say,
"We were smeared with blood.

They say,
"We were smeared with red paint."

"We were smeared with red paint."

When veterans speak of 'we' or 'I',

they are often speaking
of a kind of collective there.

They're speaking...they're speaking
both from a collective memory

and with a kind
of collective consciousness.

So, a lot of veterans might say,
you know,

So, a lot of veterans might say,
"I had red paint thrown on me."

"I had red paint thrown on me."

They don't mean
that they specifically

had red paint thrown on me.

They believe that their service
was doused in red paint.

They believe that their service
was doused in blood.

They believe that their service
was subject to a blood libel.

It's interesting as well,

although I suspect
just a coincidence

although I suspect
that it happened to be a woman,

that it happened to be a woman,

because if you look at the stories

that veterans tell about
the responses they get

when they got home,

it's often a woman
who's spitting on them.

It's often a woman
who's sneering at them.

It's often a woman
who's denigrating their service.

And that woman,
I've come to believe,

is often an imaginary
reiteration of Nadine Jensen.

They knew that if they called
on an Australian artillery,

they got them
where they wanted them.

You yell, we shell.

So developed the Battle of Long Tan.

So developed the Battle of Long Tan.
WOMAN: It was very obvious
that the war was wrong,

WOMAN: It was very obvious
that the war was wrong,

If you had taken an interest in it.
And I had.
WOMAN: It was very obvious
that the war was wrong,

If you had taken an interest in it.
And I had.

If you had taken an interest in it.
And I had.
They survived simply through
bravery. And sheer luck.

They survived simply through
bravery. And sheer luck.

They survived simply through
And they all knew it.

And they all knew it.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright
Australian Broadcasting Corporation