All language subtitles for our.vietnam.war2 [eztv.re]

Eyes have seen the glory...

..through the realisation
of the American dream!

..through the realisation
NARRATOR: On April 5, 1968,

NARRATOR: On April 5, 1968,

Staff Sergeant Peter Gollagher
is on his first operation in Vietnam,

a search-and-destroy mission
through the Long Hai Hills.

Across the dateline,
in Memphis, Tennessee,

Martin Luther King Jr readies himself
to venture out for dinner.

At 32, Gollagher is a little older
than most of the men in his unit.

He has a wife and four children
back home.

While on patrol,
his unit discovers a tunnel complex

While on patrol,
built by opposing forces.

built by opposing forces.

As Sergeant Gollagher descends
underground,

Martin Luther King steps
onto the balcony of his room.

(GUNSHOT)

Both men are fatally shot.

King's murder is a tragedy
felt around the world,

symbolic of the escalating turmoil
of the 1960s.

Peter Gollagher is just
one more casualty of war,

leaving behind
another devastated family.

FILE FOOTAGE: Now is the time
to really break loose

from the oldies.

WOMAN: Australia in
the mid to late 1960s

was becoming a more questioning,
more culturally challenging place.

We're seeing the emergence
of a growing sense

We're seeing the emergence
of social critique.

of social critique.

Activism on issues
around Indigenous rights.

Australia was becoming
a little less inward-looking

and more globally focused

and more willing to question the
norms of their parents' generation.

MAN: I can remember
we flew over to Vietnam in 707s.

They do quite a rapid descent
into Tan Son Nhat airport.
MAN: I can remember
we flew over to Vietnam in 707s.

They do quite a rapid descent
into Tan Son Nhat airport.

And I didn't realise
just how big that airport was.

MAN 2: We arrived at the airport
in Saigon

and very hot, noisy, crowded, busy,
military vehicles everywhere.

Armoured jeeps
with machine gun belts.
and very hot, noisy, crowded, busy,
military vehicles everywhere.

Armoured jeeps
with machine gun belts.

We knew we were in a war zone.

MAN 3: There were two Australian
bases in Vietnam,

the forward base at Nui Dat,
where the infantry was stationed

and support troops were based

in Vung Tau.

The logistics base was set up
at Vung Tau,
in Vung Tau.

The logistics base was set up
at Vung Tau,

The logistics base was set up
virtually in the sandhills.

virtually in the sandhills.

It would grow to be
a hideous monster.

It was a hub of activity
night and day.

Nothing prepared any of us

Nothing prepared any of us
for the conditions that we had
to work and live in.

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

Nothing.

We turned up to a Nissen hut
with no running water,
Nothing.

We turned up to a Nissen hut
with no running water,

We turned up to a Nissen hut
with no running water,
no air conditioning.

no air conditioning.

We had practically no equipment.

We were able to improvise.

FILE FOOTAGE: In South Vietnam,
the Australian's responsibility

FILE FOOTAGE: In South Vietnam,
is the province of Phuoc Tuy,

is the province of Phuoc Tuy,

only half an hour by plane
from Saigon.

MAN: We needed to have
an advanced camp

and that was Nui Dat,
which became the main base.

MAN 2: Nui Dat,
it was allegedly our home,

but I probably only spent, in the
six, seven months we were there,

I think I would've been lucky
to spend four weeks in Nui Dat.
but I probably only spent, in the
six, seven months we were there,

I think I would've been lucky
to spend four weeks in Nui Dat.

MAN 3: Well, our daily life
was spent outside the wire

MAN 3: Well, our daily life
by most of the infantry troops,

by most of the infantry troops,

outside the camp perimeter,
on patrols.
by most of the infantry troops,

outside the camp perimeter,
on patrols.

Some of those might last
up to six weeks.

(CHUCKLES) When we were patrolling,
Some of those might last
up to six weeks.

(CHUCKLES) When we were patrolling,

there was always something
that was attacking us.

there was always something
that was attacking us.
Green ants were top of the list.

Green ants were top of the list.

Miserable little mongrels that used
to give us a terribly hard time.

Especially if you're carrying
a radio

'cause you brush against these trees
with your antenna

and you get a load of ants down
your back, and they used to bite.

(CHUCKLES) You try and squash 'em
against a tree

and you couldn't get the gear off.
You just had to let 'em bite.

In the jungle,
it's just a sea of leeches.

If you sit down for more than
a few minutes, they're on you.

And they were huge, these...
You know.

McKAY: I once had a leech that
had inserted itself with one foot

McKAY: I once had a leech that
on the head of my penis

on the head of my penis

and the other foot
on the head of my penis

and the other foot
down the urethra tube,

which was...quite unpleasant and...

..prompted some rather nasty
ribald comments from my diggers

..prompted some rather nasty
who saw me bleeding from the groin.

who saw me bleeding from the groin.

Along with leeches,
bugs and beasties,

the list of things trying to kill
the Australians

the list of things trying to kill
included the Viet Cong.

included the Viet Cong.

The enemy would've known that
the base defences

had still not been completed

in the couple of months that they'd
had since setting up the base.

The Viet Cong quickly took advantage
of this vulnerability.

The Viet Cong quickly took advantage
And on the 17th of August, 1966,

And on the 17th of August, 1966,

very early in the morning,

enemy forces fired mortars and
very early in the morning,

enemy forces fired mortars and
rockets into the task force base.

enemy forces fired mortars and
Explosions detonating in the base.

Explosions detonating in the base.

A number of men wounded.

When daylight broke, D Company
were sent out to begin searching

for the locations
the enemy had been in.

MAN: We got the word
that we would be going out.

The mood I think was, "We'll just go
for a little walk into the bush
MAN: We got the word
that we would be going out.

The mood I think was, "We'll just go
for a little walk into the bush

The mood I think was, "We'll just go
"and nothing will happen."

"and nothing will happen."

GRAHAM SMITH: We set out
with two platoons forward

spread out over a fair area,
and then a platoon in the rear.

spread out over a fair area,
and then a platoon in the rear.
And it wasn't too long before
11 Platoon, they were fired on.

And it wasn't too long before
11 Platoon, they were fired on.

11 Platoon were able
to become separated.

They had put on
a couple of hundred metres

between the rest of the company
and themselves.

between the rest of the company
The other two platoons at this stage

The other two platoons at this stage

were trying to link up
with 11 Platoon.

The position that the platoons
of D company found themselves in

was right on the edge
of a disused rubber plantation,

a very difficult place
to search for an enemy.

When the enemy first opened up,
it was horrendous.

Reports initially that we might
have been facing a platoon,

then it was company strength
and then higher than that.

There was a lot of enemy
in the area, about 2,000

There was a lot of enemy
so developed the Battle of Long Tan.

so developed the Battle of Long Tan.

so developed the Battle of Long Tan.
D company had really gone into this,
what was now an extended firefight,

D company had really gone into this,
what was now an extended firefight,

at perfect range for the artillery
back at Nui Dat, at the base,

at perfect range for the artillery
to bring in its force.

to bring in its force.

MAN: The D Company guys,

they knew that if they call
on Australian artillery,

they got them
where they wanted them.

they got them
You yell, we shell.

You yell, we shell.

HARRY SMITH: Artillery fired
from behind us,

HARRY SMITH: Artillery fired
over the top of our heads,

over the top of our heads,

to about 50 metres in front
of our soldiers

into the rubber plantation
where the enemy were.

Gradually, it was ordered,
"Danger close."

That means we're just about
dropping it on top of our troops.

That means we're just about
They could be killed.

They could be killed.

Not long after we started firing,
the heavens opened.

As the rain hit the ground,
it raised this mist of mud

As the rain hit the ground,
about 30 centimetres.

about 30 centimetres.

Might have silhouetted the enemy
about 30 centimetres.

Might have silhouetted the enemy
if they were close enough,

Might have silhouetted the enemy
but it also hid us.

but it also hid us.

So 11 Platoon were being attacked

from at least three sides
at that time.

Eventually we did get the survivors
of 11 Platoon back to us.

Eventually we did get the survivors
We went into all-around defence.

We went into all-around defence.

So, the bullets were flying
thick and fast.

You'd be firing at them,
and you'd see them drop

and you'd think,
oh, you've got them.

After a while another assault
would come in

and then they'd jump up
and join that wave.

They were reinforcing themselves
on their way in.

They had trumpets,
they were blowing trumpets

and that put the fear of God
into us.

It was tenuous at that point.

When I heard the bugles
I thought, "There is a lot.

"You're running out rounds
and we're not running out of enemy."

I'd done a couple of laps
around the rosary beads.

We realised that we needed
ammunition resupply,

which the battalion headquarters
started to prepare.

How it was going to get out there
was on helicopters.

However, the officer that was
at Nui Dat said,

"This breaches our flying rules,
so they can't go."

MAN: Delta Company were surrounded
by many, many enemy.

They had the sense
they were gonna be overrun,

the task force
was about to be attacked.

the task force
was about to be attacked.
NARRATOR: Bob's captain was
Flight Lieutenant Frank Riley.

NARRATOR: Bob's captain was
Flight Lieutenant Frank Riley.

Frank, just being the sort of
very gung-ho guy, just said,

"Well, I don't care, I'm going.
My helicopter, I'm going."

I said, "What the hell are you
doing, Frank? This is suicide."

As we lifted up
out of the helicopter pad,

As we lifted up
there was this huge thunderstorm

there was this huge thunderstorm

that was over the top of Long Tan.

It was a time of apprehension.

My image was we would be shot
out of the sky.

DRINKWATER: While the actual
battle's on,

you're scared but you're still
getting on with what you have to do

you're scared but you're still
or it's all over, red-rover.

or it's all over, red-rover.

We couldn't move very quickly.

The windscreen wipers
on the front of the helicopter

were going flat out but you couldn't
see anything through them.

However, there's a Perspex panel
beneath the feet of the pilot

and so I could look down
between my feet and navigate.

You throw smoke
where the helicopters see the smoke

You throw smoke
and then they drop.

and then they drop.

I was talking to Frank Riley's
and then they drop.

I was talking to Frank Riley's
aircraft on my radio,

then he flew in
and hovered momentarily,

dropped the ammunition
through the rubber canopy

and I said, "You bloody beauty,
right on target."

In the meantime, a relief company
had been sent out from the base,

mounted in armoured
personnel carriers.

When the armoured personnel carriers
arrive,

the firing stopped
and it was completely quiet.

There wasn't a shot fired
after that.

There wasn't a shot fired
And this was right on dusk.

And this was right on dusk.

I can remember coming back
to Nui Dat after it's all over

and Harry says, "Well, I was
gonna get rid of you, Smithy."

He said,
"But now you're welcome to stay."

And the reason
he was gonna get rid of me

is because I was a bit prickly
myself at times and...

is because I was a bit prickly
..a bit free with my fists.

..a bit free with my fists.

As the battle had died down,
each helicopter had gone out

and picked up the wounded
and taken them straight back

and picked up the wounded
to the Vung Tau Hospital.

to the Vung Tau Hospital.

EKINS: One individual having
survived the night

EKINS: One individual having
on this devastated battlefield,

on this devastated battlefield,

been there all night
as the fire was coming in,

said to his Australian mates
as they came,

"You took your fucking time."

Two men survived
on the battlefield overnight.

I know now that task force commander
Brigadier Jackson

had been given intelligence
from two Australian sources,

that there was a large enemy force

working its way towards Nui Dat.

DRINKWATER: The brigadier knew
and he sent a company out.

Not a very good idea,
I don't think.

Not a very good idea,
But we didn't know that.

But we didn't know that.

Yeah, we were babes in the woods.

Other than the training
that we'd been given,

we would have perished,
no doubt about it.

It was the way in which my soldiers
fought the enemy.

They were young.

They did a wonderful job.

VASSELLA: Harry has always been
a professional soldier.

He seemed to know how fit
we needed to be.

He seemed to know how fit
He trained us like a level above

He trained us like a level above

what the rest of the battalion
was being trained at.

what the rest of the battalion
People were just disciplined

People were just disciplined

and they did their jobs
and they looked after their mates.

And I'm just very proud
of how the company worked that day.

Very proud of the boys.

They did what they were supposed
to do and they did it well.

EKINS: The Long Tan cross
became an emblem

that veterans would always use
and still do today.

Coming back from operations,

it's customary for Australians
to sit around and consume beers

and share stories.

Needing to set the tone down a bit

and to go over the emotional
distress of losses on operations.

McKAY: We wouldn't have
our big barbecue

until the second or third night
back.

You'd been off alcohol,
your stomach had shrunk

You'd been off alcohol,
'cause you're eating hard rations.

'cause you're eating hard rations.

Honestly, you'd drink two beers and
'cause you're eating hard rations.

Honestly, you'd drink two beers and
you'd be silly as a two-bob watch.

Honestly, you'd drink two beers and
The bulk of the guys are 20.

The bulk of the guys are 20.

They're not taking any prisoners.
They'd go for it.

ARROW: There were a lot of
Australian and American entertainers

who did go to entertain troops
in Vietnam.

They thought that the troops
deserved the right

to have some entertainment,
to have some down time.

ANGELL: There was the pathos,
but there were happy times,

ANGELL: There was the pathos,
and we'd party. (CHUCKLES)

and we'd party. (CHUCKLES)

Singing and dancing
and what have you.

If you didn't do that,
then I don't think we would survive.

NARRATOR: Australian command
recognised the importance

NARRATOR: Australian command
of maintaining troop morale

of maintaining troop morale

and no-one was more aware of this
than Prime Minister Harold Holt.

FILE FOOTAGE: I've just returned
from Vung Tau

some 40 miles away from Saigon

where the Australian
Prime Minister Mr Holt

has been visiting the RAAF Caribou
squadron serving in Vietnam.

MAN: Harold Holt, he visits the
troops in Vietnam and they mob him.

One of his recipes for success
MAN: Harold Holt, he visits the
troops in Vietnam and they mob him.

One of his recipes for success

was to, in a way,
embody the American alliance,

and to embody the vigorous youthful
nation he wanted Australia to be.

and to embody the vigorous youthful
nation he wanted Australia to be.
But Holt's unwavering support
for the American strategy

But Holt's unwavering support
for the American strategy

would soon make him an outlier.

FILE FOOTAGE: In the skies over
North Vietnam, a new struggle began.

Operation Rolling Thunder,
the bombing of the north,

saw American power
being heavily committed

in the hope of forcing Hanoi
to capitulate.

By '66, people all around the world
were criticising the Americans
in the hope of forcing Hanoi
to capitulate.

By '66, people all around the world
were criticising the Americans

By '66, people all around the world
for what they were doing.

for what they were doing.

for what they were doing.
The bombing campaign was
particularly widely criticised,

The bombing campaign was
particularly widely criticised,

including by Britain.

America's prestige and credibility
is on the line.

And for the Americans,
it's important to remember
America's prestige and credibility
is on the line.

And for the Americans,
it's important to remember

that their national prestige
and credibility

is treated like virginity.

is treated like virginity.
Once it's given up,
it can never be recovered.

Once it's given up,
it can never be recovered.

Once it's given up,
A vital factor for President Johnson

A vital factor for President Johnson

is to gain more public support
for his Vietnam policies.

Recent public opinion polls show
that his popularity

is the lowest for any president
in 15 years.

It was planned that Holt
would visit Washington.

It was not planned
as a high-profile event.

Then Holt came and said, "Well, we
actually support what you are doing,

"we see no fault in American policy."

Johnson then elevated what had been
a low-key working visit

into a full-scale, official visit.

(PLAY FANFARE)

FILE FOOTAGE: Throughout
the morning, news of the bombings

had brought the expected cries
of escalation.

Against this background of criticism
and uncertain developments,

Prime Minister Holt gave vent
to the feelings of his country.

In the lonelier and perhaps even
more disheartening moments

which come to any national leader,

I hope there will be a corner
of your mind and heart

which takes cheer from the fact
that you have an admiring friend,

a staunch friend,
that will be all the way with LBJ.

I started a joke

I started a joke

Which started the whole world
crying...

CURRAN: Obviously, Harold Holt's
visit to Washington in 1966

CURRAN: Obviously, Harold Holt's
is most remembered for his statement

is most remembered for his statement

that Australia would be
all the way with LBJ.

That of course, has gone down
in Australian history as sycophantic.

Our policy was not to be
all the way with LBJ.

We were giving sufficient support
to the Americans

We were giving sufficient support
to maintain our credibility,

to maintain our credibility,

but no more than that.

So, Holt's enthusiasm
for the commitment

seemed excessive to many
of those who were involved.

LBJ comes to Australia
six weeks before the 1966 election,

just before the campaign begins.

I think the first sitting American
president to visit Australia.

Australians, they turn out
in huge numbers to see him,
I think the first sitting American
president to visit Australia.

Australians, they turn out
in huge numbers to see him,

Australians, they turn out
almost like a royal tour.

almost like a royal tour.

almost like a royal tour.
I

I

I'm hooked on a feeling

High on believing...

WOMAN: We wanted to have
this president come and visit us.

It really reflected a very strong
sense of identity and affiliation.
WOMAN: We wanted to have
this president come and visit us.

It really reflected a very strong
sense of identity and affiliation.

It's a shift, I think, between
Australia's allegiance to Britain,

sort of marking a shift
towards American leadership

and the American alliance
in that period.

But although there were massive
crowds turning out support him,

there was the small
but growing anti-war movement.

FILE FOOTAGE: As the motorcade
loomed into sight,

scuffling broke out
between demonstrators and police.

We start to see small numbers
of young people

protesting LBJ's presence,
protesting the war.

It's a much more confrontational
kind of protest,

aggressive, dangerous kinds
of protests

that happened during that tour.

Famously, a group of people

over the other side of the road
from where I was,

laid down on the road
in front of the car.
over the other side of the road
from where I was,

laid down on the road
in front of the car.

They got flung out of the way,
of course, and arrested.

They got flung out of the way,
of course, and arrested.
FILE FOOTAGE: The clash was brief.

FILE FOOTAGE: The clash was brief.

Police bundled the demonstrators
back into the crowd

with little ceremony
and the motorcade moved on.

with little ceremony
There was a real sense of polarity

There was a real sense of polarity

between some of the anti-war
There was a real sense of polarity

between some of the anti-war
protesters

versus the much bigger majority that
was supportive of the US alliance,

versus the much bigger majority that
supportive of the war in Vietnam.

supportive of the war in Vietnam.

The shouts of the demonstrators
was drowned by roars of cheering

The shouts of the demonstrators
from the crowd.

from the crowd.

MAN: We were determined to show
that the Australian people

were not totally united
behind this war.
MAN: We were determined to show
that the Australian people

were not totally united
behind this war.

We were planning to have sit downs
in front of the cavalcade.

We were planning to have sit downs
in front of the cavalcade.
And the New South Wales premier
Robert Askin says to his driver,

And the New South Wales premier
Robert Askin says to his driver,

And the New South Wales premier
"Run over the bastards!"

"Run over the bastards!"

Run, run, run the bastards over

Run, run, run
the bastards over...

At that point, there is still not a
long tradition of radical protests.

The idea that people would lay down
on a road

was sort of seen as a bit
embarrassing too, I think.

was sort of seen as a bit
"How dare they do this

"How dare they do this

"when we've got the leader
of the free world here."

So, not popular. Really unpopular
amongst most Australians.

So, not popular. Really unpopular
Run, run, run the bastards over

Run, run, run the bastards over

Run, run, run the bastards over
Run, run, run the bastards over

Run, run, run the bastards over

Run, run, run the bastards over
As I said to LBJ.

As I said to LBJ.

In 1966 publicly,
the big issue was Vietnam.

And we call it the Vietnam election.

It's very unusual for Australia
to fight general elections

on foreign and defence policies.

FILE FOOTAGE: Fist fights broke
out all over the hall.

Sir Wilfred Kent Hughes ripped
anti-conscription signs

Sir Wilfred Kent Hughes ripped
from the hands of demonstrators.

from the hands of demonstrators.

Holt fought the 1966 election
on the policies of conscription.

By doing so, he won a bigger majority

than any previous government had won
in Australia's electoral history

than any previous government had won
up until that time.

up until that time.

CURRAN: The reaction
of the Australian people

was very much a cultural impulse

stirred by having a culturally
related great power here,

protecting Australia
from the Asian threat.

FILE FOOTAGE: Alternative
governments might weaken

FILE FOOTAGE: Alternative
our alliances abroad,

our alliances abroad,

particularly with the United States,

which means so much
to the continuing security

which means so much
of our nation and our people.

of our nation and our people.

MAN: Australia back then was still
suffering from this idea

of the Asian hordes from the North.
MAN: Australia back then was still
suffering from this idea

of the Asian hordes from the North.

Australia had the White Australia
Policy, for goodness sake.

EDWARDS: By this time, we'd
increased the initial commitment

EDWARDS: By this time, we'd
to two battalions.

to two battalions.

But there was a lot of internal
to two battalions.

But there was a lot of internal
debate about the war.

But there was a lot of internal
Holt, by 1967,

Holt, by 1967,

his attitude had totally changed.

He too couldn't see a way out.

There was a lot of pressure
He too couldn't see a way out.

There was a lot of pressure
from the Americans

There was a lot of pressure
to raise that to a third battalion.

to raise that to a third battalion.

Holt agreed to the Third Battalion,
but he said to the Americans,

"We cannot do anything more
than this.

"We cannot do anything more
"This is the absolute limit."

"This is the absolute limit."

NARRATOR: A cap
"This is the absolute limit."

NARRATOR: A cap
on our military commitment

wasn't enough for a growing number
of Australians

who didn't want anything to do
with the war.

When I was a young man,
in our family we were brought up
who didn't want anything to do
with the war.

When I was a young man,
in our family we were brought up

to think for ourselves.

Anything could be discussed,
without rancour.

I felt deeply disturbed about
the nature of the war in Vietnam.

It was very obvious
that the war was wrong,
I felt deeply disturbed about
the nature of the war in Vietnam.

It was very obvious
that the war was wrong,

if you had taken an interest,
and I had.

See the pyramids along the Nile

Watch the sun rise
from a tropic isle...

One reason why I started protesting
in 1969

was because bombing in civilian
areas and the use of napalm,

how could this possibly be helping
in the war against communism?

I was shocked that our government
had agreed to become involved.

You

Belong to

Me.

But the thing that moved me quickest
was the conscription.

MAN: Conscription,
if it was good for the nation

then bung it on for everybody.

But no, 1 in 12.

Who decided, cynically, to target
those group of people,

19, 20, without the right to vote?
Right.
Who decided, cynically, to target
those group of people,

19, 20, without the right to vote?
Right.

And to think that you could palm
that off

onto the Australian population
unquestioned?

onto the Australian population
unquestioned?
C'mon, hells bells!

C'mon, hells bells!

Look, you got kids at school,
final year of school...

And you think they're going to sit
on their bums and take that quietly?

We felt an absolute urgency
to stop the war.

The urgency of doing something and
the urgency of getting mass support.

ARROW: Australians
were overwhelmingly

still in support of the war.

Left a lot of dissenting voices

disillusioned
with political solutions

to this issue of how does Australia
get out of the war?

And it kind of, I think, led
to the radicalisation of protest

and pushed a lot of people
further to the left.

We're gonna have to think about
reaching people another way.

Oh, no. I don't think so.

I think younger people were
obviously at the '66 election,

they were trusting the government.

It's just that the trust
was misplaced.

It was a totally wrong
and unjust war.

FILE FOOTAGE: It's been
a long haul now

for the anti-conscription movement.

Ever since the Harold Holt victory
in 1966,

Ever since the Harold Holt victory
there's been turmoil in the streets.

there's been turmoil in the streets.

We were inspired
by the civil disobedience

and the Civil Rights Movement
in America,

Martin Luther King's
use of civil disobedience,

Martin Luther King's
sit-ins, that kind of thing.

sit-ins, that kind of thing.

WILTON: By 1969, there was very
active draft resistance movement.

We led quite a small demonstration
to Parliament House

where I burnt my draft papers.

I got some letters in the mail,
telling me that I was despicable

I got some letters in the mail,
and criticised me,

and criticised me,

more in terms of how painful
this was going to be for my father.

Because my father was running
the war,

he'd organised the move
into Phuoc Tuy Province,

he'd organised the move
he was the head of the army.

he was the head of the army.

I see there's a few photos here
of me. (CHUCKLES)

I was burning my draft card

and that was a very important
symbolic act.
I was burning my draft card

and that was a very important
symbolic act.

Many of us did it at the time.
symbolic act.

Many of us did it at the time.

Conscription itself is the tool
by which governments can in fact

wage unpopular or unjust wars.

Mm.

(CLUCKS TONGUE)

Many returned soldiers told me
how horrific the war was.

Bombs and helicopters
and horrendous, they told me.

That...

..is B Company, seven row.

And we were just off to the left
here for the next chopper lift out.

McKAY: There's an old Italian
proverb that goes,

McKAY: There's an old Italian
"Generals die in bed.

"Generals die in bed.

"It's the young men that perish
on the battlefield."

A group of women had started an
anti-conscription group in Melbourne

and called it Save Our Sons.

And this is just one of our
many small demonstrations

And this is just one of our
with our banner.

with our banner.

Conscription was the driving force.

I would never support conscription.

We were handing out leaflets
at the Commonwealth offices,

We were handing out leaflets
where you had to go and register.

where you had to go and register.

We were arrested
where you had to go and register.

We were arrested
and we had to go to court.

We were arrested
The magistrate said,

The magistrate said,

"Obviously the government takes
this very, very seriously.

"Obviously the government takes
"It's straight to jail."

"It's straight to jail."

And this was a bit of a shock.

Just the city was covered in,
"Let these women go."

We had two weeks jail
and we were there for 10 days.

(CROWD CHANTS)

Demonstrations work.

I just think it was necessary
at the time.

FILE FOOTAGE: Police believe they
can control the demonstrations...

FILE FOOTAGE: Police believe they
We were incredibly successful

We were incredibly successful

because it was a movement
from no protest

because it was a movement
to getting what we did accepted.

to getting what we did accepted.

Do you think this is a student riot?
I think that's what they want!

Students at the Australian National
University

have been demonstrating
week on week.

What are you prepared to do here
today?

What are you prepared to do here
Anything.

Anything.

What have you done so far?
Nothing!

ARROW: I imagine that some
of the women who were part of SOS,

may well have ended up
embracing a version of feminism.

Because I think being part
of a social movement,

it educates you in how to be
a protester, how to agitate,

it educates you in how to be
how to push for change.

how to push for change.

But there was also this kind
of cross-fertilisation

and kind of radicalisation happening
in different spheres of politics.

and kind of radicalisation happening
This past week, Aboriginal leaders

This past week, Aboriginal leaders

from all over Australia
This past week, Aboriginal leaders

from all over Australia
have been meeting in Canberra.

Do you think that Aborigines
are becoming more militant?

I think they are

but not as militant
as they could possibly become.

All I'm askin'

Is for a little respect...

FILE FOOTAGE: Can see Charles
giving a speech

FILE FOOTAGE: Can see Charles
outside the Walgett RSL Club.

outside the Walgett RSL Club.

An Aborigine was denied entry.

The Freedom Rides with
Charles Perkins,

exposing the kind of de facto
apartheid system

exposing the kind of de facto
within Australian country towns.

within Australian country towns.

Things like Aboriginal people
couldn't go to the RSL club,

they couldn't go
to local swimming pools.

MAN: I'm a part of this nation,
this great Australia.

For me personally and for my family,
it was very hard
MAN: I'm a part of this nation,
this great Australia.

For me personally and for my family,
it was very hard

because when we were going
to school,

we were not learning
anything about Australia,

about Australian Aboriginal
or anything.

about Australian Aboriginal
or anything.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Mrs Faith Bandler.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Mrs Faith Bandler.

FAITH: The Referendum
is on Saturday.

And it's important that we should
have the maximum vote
FAITH: The Referendum
is on Saturday.

And it's important that we should
have the maximum vote

because the eyes of the world
are on Australia.

because the eyes of the world
are on Australia.
Give me my propers
when you get home...

Give me my propers
when you get home...

Give me my propers
BURNS: Aboriginal people,

BURNS: Aboriginal people,

for centuries, they haven't been
BURNS: Aboriginal people,

for centuries, they haven't been
living their own lives sort of thing.

There was someone
from another country

telling them what they can
and can't do.

What will it mean
if the referendum is passed?

It will be of tremendous advantage
to the Indigenous Australian.

We've been here for 60,000 years
and this is our country.

We've been here for 60,000 years
FILE FOOTAGE: ..foreign policy

FILE FOOTAGE: ..foreign policy

which is not only wrong and unjust!

NARRATOR: Before the 1967 referendum,

Indigenous men were actively excluded
from conscription.

I don't think it'll be
ever fully known

how many Aboriginal people served
in Vietnam,

because a lot of those who signed up
didn't say they were Aboriginal.

In the army, we all wore
the green skin

In the army, we all wore
and we were all there for each other.

and we were all there for each other.

Doesn't matter who you are
or what colour or whatever,

when you've been in the navy, army,
or air force,

when you've been in the navy, army,
you feel you are a part of a family.

you feel you are a part of a family.

As long as you do the right thing,

Australians will do the right thing
by you.

For me, that was one of the main
motivations to get over there.

In Vung Tau, I met a few Americans.

Americans don't know much
about Australia.

"Hey, hey, man,
what's Australia like?"

They were a different sort of soldier
than what we were.

They were out on patrol with their
rifles over their shoulders,

chewing gum and smoking.

And I thought,
"No wonder they're getting killed."

Every now and then
when you were on operations

Every now and then
and you'd be out in the jungle,

and you'd be out in the jungle,

you'd hear these, what sounded
like monstrous firefights.
and you'd be out in the jungle,

you'd hear these, what sounded
like monstrous firefights.

And it turned out that these were

what the Americans called
mad minutes.

They'd fire every weapon
around a platoon perimeter,
what the Americans called
mad minutes.

They'd fire every weapon
around a platoon perimeter,

just let it rip for five minutes
or something.

And Australians generally thought
that was rubbish,

any decent Viet Cong
would simply lie down,

and the bullets would go
whistling overhead.

and the bullets would go
It was a waste of time

It was a waste of time

and probably gave the Americans
a sense of security

and probably gave the Americans
that wasn't deserved.

that wasn't deserved.

They did everything with gusto.
They were the noisiest.

But we didn't want to be
within cooee of them.

The Americans were there
to fight and destroy.

The Australians were there
to control and suppress.

NARRATOR: Their work in the tunnels
showed just how different

the Australian's approach was
to their American counterparts.

The Australians didn't follow
the usual American practice

The Australians didn't follow
of simply destroying the tunnels.

of simply destroying the tunnels.

The Australians explored them
in detail, mapped them

as they worked out
what an immense network it was.

BURNS: You know the tunnel systems
that they dug were amazing.

Tunnels going everywhere,
hospitals built underground.

The Australians also came to
appreciate the Viet Cong's ingenuity

The Australians also came to
and their perseverance.

and their perseverance.

Their will to win
and their perseverance.

Their will to win
and win at all costs

is something everybody
underestimated.

This vast tunnel network
was a defining characteristic

This vast tunnel network
of the Viet Cong's approach,

of the Viet Cong's approach,

giving them an enormous
tactical advantage

that needed to be neutralised.

The sappers and engineers who were
sent down into these tunnels,

terribly confusing to work
your way through in the dark,

never knowing whether
you'll encounter an enemy

or perhaps a trap door
with punji stakes.

There were many encounters
with Viet Cong underground.

Quite a few Australians
lost their lives as well.

The commander of the sappers
and engineers

later said
that he was just surprised

that these men had received
no formal training

that these men had received
rose to the challenge.

rose to the challenge.

With only a small task force
available,

Australian command needed to mitigate
insufficient troop numbers

to keep opposing forces at bay.

LOCKHART: In 1967,
the second task force

Commander Brigadier Stewart Graham,
he is faced with the problem

that there's this vast area
out into the west

which he doesn't have the troops
to cover properly.

And so he wants to extend
the barrier function of the base

And so he wants to extend
by establishing a minefield,

by establishing a minefield,

which is 11 kilometres long
with about 20,000 M16 mines.
by establishing a minefield,

which is 11 kilometres long
with about 20,000 M16 mines.

I understand he did this against
the advice of senior engineers

who knew a lot about minefields.

who knew a lot about minefields.
Mine laying is one of the many
tasks that sappers would have to do.

Mine laying is one of the many
tasks that sappers would have to do.

Mine laying is one of the many
tasks that sappers would have to do.
We would work as a section.

We would work as a section.

Collectively, we were putting
about 400 mines in each day.

Five clusters.
Everything's done so slowly.

You tiptoe around,

you're very careful about putting
it in, taking out the pins.

When we had completed our five,
we stepped out, to the safe tape.

Then the powers that be decided
we weren't laying enough mines.

He was giving me a hard time and I
was starting to get a bit agitated.

And I spotted my partner over there.

So, I just walked to him.

All of a sudden there was
So, I just walked to him.

All of a sudden there was
this great movement, rush of air...

..and I feel I'm up in the air,
thump on the ground.

..and I feel I'm up in the air,
My hands are just blood pouring out.

My hands are just blood pouring out.

I was mesmerised by the flutter...

Shhhhh.
..like confetti coming down over me.

The mine has a killing radius
of about 25 metres,

The mine has a killing radius
and I knew nothing about the deaths

and I knew nothing about the deaths

until my sister told me
and I knew nothing about the deaths

until my sister told me
in the hospital

until my sister told me
that they were people that I knew.

that they were people that I knew.

That's when the rot set in with me,

aggression, moody, I copped it all.

But then this middle-aged couple,
they walked in.

But then this middle-aged couple,
They said, "John Thompson, yes?"

They said, "John Thompson, yes?"

They said, "We're Mr and Mrs Brooks,
Dennis's parents."

Well, did I sink under
the bed clothes then.

I thought they'd come to tear strips
off me for killing their son.

Bray Brooks, Mr Brooks, he said,
"We know it was an accident.

Bray Brooks, Mr Brooks, he said,
"You did not do it on purpose."

"You did not do it on purpose."

And after that,
I started to lift again.

I know I was not well-trained
for that role.

But at the end of the day,
it was my fault.

I'm responsible
for these two deaths.

And I decided that the only thing
I can do

And I decided that the only thing
is whatever I do, it'll be good.

is whatever I do, it'll be good.

I'll do something good,

for the people who have looked
after me.

I've never forgotten that moment.

And I like to think I still live
by that value.

Before they finished
laying the minefield,

one of the troop commanders,
he saw 45 holes started to appear

in the field with no mines in them.
So, they'd been taken.

One of the crucial bits
of information

One of the crucial bits
in relation to minefields

in relation to minefields

is that they must be covered
by observation and fire.

And that was the failing
in Vietnam.

The Viet Cong,
sneaking in of a night,

plundered the mines as quickly
as they were being laid.

The bravery of the people.

I believe they lost in the vicinity
The bravery of the people.

I believe they lost in the vicinity
of 30 to 40 people,

trying to work out
how to remove them.

But once they worked it out,
then it was a free-for-all.

They took hundreds of them out
and put them everywhere.

Now, what the Vietnamese did
was to plant them ahead of

and use them something like
artillery, which they didn't have.

and use them something like
Offensive use of mines,

Offensive use of mines,

which is almost unheard of
to Australians in Vietnam.

EKINS: They learned to lay them
in patterns,

knowing that if you laid one mine,

you only kill the Australian
who detonated that.

But if you laid several,
when one went off,

the others would rush to his aid
and of course you could kill more.

It was devastating to the morale
of the men...

..but there was no way
of striking back

against the people who'd done it.

GRAHAM EDWARDS: It had a great
psychological effect.

This fear, it's at the back
of your head all the time.

This fear, it's at the back
Was my next step gonna be my last?

Was my next step gonna be my last?

Blokes were really deadset scared
of them.

When we were patrolling one day
out of a base called the Horseshoe,

our CO was flying overhead
in a chopper, directing us.

We were all aware that we were
entering an area

that contained indiscriminately
laid mines.

I felt pretty good
because on top of an APC,

and there's a lot of metal
between me and the ground.

The CO, however,
he ordered us off the APCs.

I wasn't too happy about that, I can
tell you, nor were any of my mates.

As I jumped off,
started to walk off,

there was just this incredible bang
and dust went everywhere.

there was just this incredible bang
My ears were ringing with the noise.

My ears were ringing with the noise.

I collapsed on the ground.

Felt an incredible sense of peace
and tranquillity

and I just started to drift off
up into the blue sky.

and I just started to drift off
It was just so peaceful.

It was just so peaceful.

Within milliseconds, I think,
that feeling evaporated

and these incredibly powerful waves
of pain

just started to break over me
and rack through my body.

My legs were shattered
and blood pouring everywhere.

One of my mates started to rush
towards me

and I heard everyone call out
to him, "Stop, stop."

So, eventually they got to me
and they gave me first aid.

Pretty soon, I think the most
comforting sound I've ever heard

Pretty soon, I think the most
was that whop whop whop.

was that whop whop whop.

That sound overpowered the sound
of the CO flying overhead.

And I felt this intense...

..powerful anger towards him
being up there in the safety

and not being down there,
sharing the danger

of the blokes on the ground that
he'd ordered into this minefield.

NARRATOR: Between 1969 and 1970,

more than half the casualties

suffered by the Australian task force
were from their own mines.

PETER EDWARDS: Brigadier Graham was
promoted to deputy chief of army.

PETER EDWARDS: Brigadier Graham was
promoted to deputy chief of army.
The minefield did become political,

The minefield did become political,

which made the war
increasingly unpopular
The minefield did become political,

which made the war
increasingly unpopular

and just gave the general impression
that it was being badly handled.

and just gave the general impression
that it was being badly handled.
FILE FOOTAGE: It is sometimes easy
to forget what happens to men

FILE FOOTAGE: It is sometimes easy
to forget what happens to men

when a war is being fought.

Holt was trying to work
out what to do,

Holt was trying to work
but it seemed an impossible dilemma.

but it seemed an impossible dilemma.

Holt has been Prime Minister
for about 18 months,

and he's not had such a good
political year in '67,

and he's not had such a good
political year in '67,
but things are still going well
for him.

but things are still going well
for him.

There's certainly no challenges
in the Liberal Party to him.

So I would've been 17,
I saw a newsflash

interrupt normal programming
on television.

"It is feared that the
Prime Minister has drowned.

A great search is being made
for Mr Holt off Portsea, Victoria.

From Canberra,
Mrs Holt flew to the search area,

not far actually from
the Holt's holiday home.

Knowing the Prime Minister
to be a keen swimmer,

the nation hoped that somehow
he might have survived.

the nation hoped that somehow
But with the hours, hope faded

But with the hours, hope faded

and Harold Holt, the Prime Minister
But with the hours, hope faded

and Harold Holt, the Prime Minister
of Australia was never seen again.

This was the first Prime Minister
to die in office since John Curtin.

This created a whole sense of shock
through the nation.

FILE FOOTAGE: The shock waves
from Holt's sudden disappearance

FILE FOOTAGE: The shock waves
were felt in Washington.

were felt in Washington.

In Washington,
where Secret Service men

keep the President
under strict surveillance,

there was surprise that a
Prime Minster was allowed to swim

without being closely watched.

A White House official said
the President was most upset

because there was no leader
in the world

for whom he had more respect
and affection than Mr Holt.

CURRAN: I think the Australian people
were genuinely flabbergasted

Lyndon Johnson returned
for the funeral.

It did seem to indicate
a real bond there

and I think that relationship between
Harold Holt and Lyndon Johnson
It did seem to indicate
a real bond there

and I think that relationship between
Harold Holt and Lyndon Johnson

was certainly the closest that any
Australian prime minister had

with an American president
to that time.

with an American president
to that time.
FILE FOOTAGE: The President now
pulling up outside the cathedral.

FILE FOOTAGE: The President now
pulling up outside the cathedral.

A gesture I think probably
didn't go unnoticed was the fact

that the president's car was flying
not only the Stars and Stripes

but also the Australian flag
as well.

NARRATOR: Holt's funeral was followed
by a power struggle

NARRATOR: Holt's funeral was followed
in the Liberal Party.

in the Liberal Party.

About a month later,
to everyone's surprise,

John Gorton, then Senator John
Gorton, became Prime Minister.

CURRAN: Gorton was an unknown
quantity to the Americans.

He was a bit more brash.
He was a bit more assertive.

He was a bit more
of an Australian nationalist

and he was asking some pretty
uncomfortable questions, I think,

and he was asking some pretty
about the Vietnam commitment.

about the Vietnam commitment.

You, Mr President,
bore the lonely weight of decision

to continue to resist force
with force.

Gorton was profoundly sceptical
of the Vietnam War
to continue to resist force
with force.

Gorton was profoundly sceptical
of the Vietnam War

and he was more sceptical of the US
and its rationale.

and he was more sceptical of the US
Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.
NARRATOR: Just months into
his leadership, events in Vietnam

NARRATOR: Just months into
his leadership, events in Vietnam

cemented Gorton's doubts
about the war.

EKINS: Tet, it's the annual
Lunar New Year Festival in Vietnam.

The communist command had agreed
to make this a truce

with the South Vietnamese
government.

Military installations went
into a more relaxed mode.

But everywhere from Saigon to the
northern demilitarised zone areas,

But everywhere from Saigon to the
there were attacks.

there were attacks.

In the first Tet offensive,

Tens of thousands
of North Vietnamese

had been secretly transported
into South Vietnam.

Attacks were launched simultaneously
on up to 50 installations.

FILE FOOTAGE: Savage Viet Cong
attacks gave them temporary control

FILE FOOTAGE: Savage Viet Cong
of much of Hue and Saigon.

of much of Hue and Saigon.

They even seized and held part
of much of Hue and Saigon.

They even seized and held part
of the American embassy itself.

SIMPSON: In our neck of the woods,

we were fighting not only the local
Viet Cong, local guerilla soldiers,

but the professionals
from North Vietnam.

They were excellent soldiers.
They'd stand and fight you.

HOBBS: It really felt like a step
back for the allied forces

because they were forced
into this urban fighting
HOBBS: It really felt like a step
back for the allied forces

because they were forced
into this urban fighting

because they were forced
that they hadn't been used to,

that they hadn't been used to,

and it sort of felt
like they were cornered back in.

MAN: The Tet Offensive in '68
was a real wake-up call

MAN: The Tet Offensive in '68
for a lot of urban Vietnamese.

for a lot of urban Vietnamese.

As much as the war was present
for a lot of urban Vietnamese.

As much as the war was present
in their lives,

As much as the war was present
they were a little bit insulated.

they were a little bit insulated.

But that changed in Tet '68
and came with a realisation

that even with America
and Australia,

that there was a chance, a good
chance that they weren't gonna win.
that even with America
and Australia,

that there was a chance, a good
chance that they weren't gonna win.

The South Vietnamese forces
recovered, fought their way back.

The invading or attacking
North Vietnamese and Viet Cong

suffered a resounding
military defeat.

But the communists won something
they hadn't intended.

They won a resounding
propaganda victory.

On seeing the scenes of sheer chaos,

highly trusted reporter
Walter Cronkite

speaking to the American public

saying that it appears
more and more likely

that this war is now going to end
in stalemate,

not in the victory
that we've been promised.

President Johnson, watching,
said, "That's the end.

"If I've lost Watler Cronkite,
I've lost Mr and Mrs America."

The turning point was Tet,
led to America now seeking

a long-term strategy
of de-escalation.

We ask that talks begin promptly.

That they be serious talks

on the substance of peace.

We assume that during those talks,

Hanoi will not take advantage
of our restraint.

NARRATOR: As peace talks commenced
in Paris,

North Vietnamese forces prepared
to again attack Saigon.

The Australians have established
themselves in Phoc Tuy,

but they've been called in
to go in and occupy

in an enemy-dominated area
to the north of Saigon.

The Australians were setting up
artillery bases

to provide fire support for ground
troops ordered out of Phuoc Tuy.

SMITH: Coral and Balmoral
were two fire support bases.

So they had moved the artillery
out of Nui Dat
SMITH: Coral and Balmoral
were two fire support bases.

So they had moved the artillery
out of Nui Dat

So they had moved the artillery
to these new locations.

to these new locations.

I think there was
a great deal of confusion

over how the base
was to be established.

This straggling piecemeal fly-in

brought in artillery,
brought in troops,

mislocated many of them
in the wrong places.

This had all happened
under the watchful eye

of the NVA divisional command.

The operation
should have been aborted.

The decision to forge on
had deadly consequences.

The decision to forge on
BURNS: Something unheard of,

BURNS: Something unheard of,

ground forces attacking
an artillery unit.

Now, normally the guns are back here

and you've got the infantry up
moving forward.

In this particular case,
we were attacked.

As soon as I heard the pop, pop,
I knew what it was. You know?

Mortars are terrifying things.

You can hear the hiss, the wind
Mortars are terrifying things.

You can hear the hiss, the wind
going through the tail fins.

And you'll swear in the dark
that they're right above you.

The Viet Cong,
I could hear them talking.

They're gonna come over
and try to take my gun.

There was the thought
running through my mind,

"Please let me get one
of these rounds off."

They then launched massive human
waves of soldiers. Waves of troops.

Great bravery by the men
on the ground

Great bravery by the men
to try and hold their positions.

to try and hold their positions.

When I got the order to fire
Splintex, little darts,

they're about an inch long, metal.

When it comes out of the muzzle,
the fuse detonates

When it comes out of the muzzle,
and it blows about 5,000 darts.

and it blows about 5,000 darts.

The further they go,
they spread out.

If you're in front of them,
you got no chance.

But the enemy wasn't finished.

They launched another attack
on Coral two days later,

and then one on the base
of Balmoral.

The episode became one of the most
traumatic since Long Tan.

Probably as near as Australians
had come

Probably as near as Australians
from being entirely annihilated.

from being entirely annihilated.

They survived simply through
bravery and sheer luck.

They survived simply through
And they all knew it.

And they all knew it.

The battle of Coral Balmoral
was Australia's longest

and bloodiest engagement
in Vietnam.

As the battle drew to an end,

our ally, the United States,

was in the grip of social
and political upheaval.

FILE FOOTAGE: Race riots rocked
New Jersey's largest city...

Snipers make the streets...
..at least 24 persons are killed.

Snipers make the streets...
..augmented by national guardsmen...

..augmented by national guardsmen...

..Looters and racial bitterness

spreads to four nearby
suburban towns.

CURRAN: There's a sense in which,
in Australia,

that some of the gloss, the shine

is coming off this great power.

And therefore,
this will surely affect

how Australia is going about
its own commitment to Vietnam.

In 1969, Nixon comes to power
early in the year,

he wants to withdraw
American troops.

In the previous administration,
we Americanised the war in Vietnam.

In this administration,

we are Vietnamising
the search for peace.

PETER EDWARDS: For Nixon,
Vietnamisation meant

that he would be bringing out
American troops

that he would be bringing out
to the extent that he could

to the extent that he could

and handing over as much as possible
to the extent that he could

and handing over as much as possible
to the South Vietnamese forces.

So, the Americans having shunted
the Australian battalions

out of the province,
now shunt them back in.

And the Australians,
having returned to Phuoc Tuy

discovered one local village
had drastically changed.

A normal, routine movement
of a couple of armoured vehicles

A normal, routine movement
drove past Binh Ba.

drove past Binh Ba.

They had no idea that the village
had been occupied.

The first hint that there was
something afoot in Binh Ba

was when a tank came under fire.

What had been a very friendly
village was now hostile.

FILE FOOTAGE: The Australian Fifth
Battalion sent in four tanks

backed by helicopters.

By the time the engagement in the
rubber plantation hamlet was over,

91 Vietnamese described as Viet Cong
were dead

91 Vietnamese described as Viet Cong
and 11 taken prisoners.

and 11 taken prisoners.

The enemy fought to the bitter end.

Operation Hammer was an excellent
name for what had happened.

The Australians finally left
a very badly damaged village,

no longer really recognisable
from what it had been.

The village itself was rebuilt
mainly by the task force,

and several months later,
it was declared restored.

and several months later,
It wasn't of course,

It wasn't of course,

it was rebuilt
It wasn't of course,

it was rebuilt
in the Australian style

it was rebuilt
with tin roofs and... (CHUCKLES)

with tin roofs and... (CHUCKLES)

No longer the old beautiful,
tiled roofs

and the old Vietnamese pattern
had gone, probably forever.

Like a long lonely stream

I keep running
towards a dream...

As the Australians persevered
with their mission

to suppress the communist insurgency
in Phuoc Tuy,

they left an indelible mark
on the province.

What we know is that people
in Phuoc Tuy province

What we know is that people
liked the Australian character.

liked the Australian character.

We cared for them,
liked the Australian character.

We cared for them,
we weren't arrogant

and the province actually operated
relatively peaceful.

My father said of the Australian
presence in Vietnam,

My father said of the Australian
managing the province of Phuoc Tuy,

managing the province of Phuoc Tuy,

managing the province of Phuoc Tuy,
they managed that very well.

they managed that very well.

They were considered to be fair,

and in that sense they left a
positive imprint in South Vietnam.

Gotta run

I know there's a place
Gotta run

I know there's a place
in the sun...

NARRATOR: While our troops left
a complicated legacy in Vietnam,

the war, and specifically
the Battle of Long Tan,

still cast a shadow over
the tiny town of Coolah.

We came to Coolah when I was 5.

Paul was about 3.5.
And you were only a little bubba.

I was only a baby.
You were only little.

He was the only boy.

Very, very much loved.

And he was a dear brother
to all of us. He loved us all.

Because of the conscription,
his number was pulled out.

And that knocked us around somewhat.

I don't think we all knew
where Vietnam was, of course,

in those days you know,
a little town like this.

He was good, always writing little
letters and notes to us,

which helped us along the way,
didn't it?

I remember one,
they were out in the jungle,

I remember one,
he was bitten by a scorpion.

he was bitten by a scorpion.

When the helicopter came
he was bitten by a scorpion.

When the helicopter came
to get him out,

he yelled out,
"Thank God for the flying doctor."

It was a Saturday morning.

I remember Mum being at the kitchen
It was a Saturday morning.

I remember Mum being at the kitchen
sink, peeling vegetables,

I remember Mum being at the kitchen
I was at the kitchen table.

I was at the kitchen table.

I heard a noise at the front

so I just looked out

and there was a policeman,
standing there holding my dad up.

And as I walked out,
he handed me a telegram.

And I knew,
I didn't need to read the telegram.

Total devastation.
Total devastation.

DRINKWATER: Paul was the last man
to die on that night

DRINKWATER: Paul was the last man
at the Battle of Long Tan.

at the Battle of Long Tan.

Within 10, 15 minutes
of the last shot being fired,

he was just laying prone,
firing at the enemy

and...bang.
he was just laying prone,
firing at the enemy

and...bang.

Right between the eyes.

The trees were planted on the day
of Paul's funeral

by the local Lions Club.

And there's 18 of them.

One for every young soldier
that was killed at Long Tan.

So, they just decided that get
these beautiful flowering gums

So, they just decided that get
and make an avenue for the young men

and make an avenue for the young men

that gave their lives for all of us.

It was a beautiful way
of saying thank you,

It was a beautiful way
especially when they're in flower.

especially when they're in flower.

They're just lovely.

His mother used to live
across the road,

and she used to come over and water
this special one,

and she used to come over and water
Paul's one, every day.

Paul's one, every day.

It's the tallest tree on the avenue.

It definitely is...

..enormous compared to the others.
Yeah.

CURRAN: They dropped more bombs on
those two cities in a 12-day period

than the allies dropped
on the entire European continent

than the allies dropped
during the Second World War.

during the Second World War.

during the Second World War.
This decision really haunted him
for the rest of his life.

This decision really haunted him
for the rest of his life.

This decision really haunted him
All these people were abandoned.

All these people were abandoned.

What did these men die for?

What did any of those die for?

I thought, "Get real, you bastards.

"We figured it out
when we were 19, 20, 21!"

"We figured it out
Captions by Red Bee Media

Captions by Red Bee Media