Any conscripted Vietnam veterans here? Somethings right up my nose.

**workingonit** · 12th March 2019, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by 4bee

Assume he was RtB.

No sure what RtB stands for.

His only comment on Korea, more as a jovial observation, was on leave (holidays) taken locally in Korea. Reckons laconically. that the enemy went to the same holiday spots. You would be bobbing up and down in the surf and swear the Korean not far away, in the same surf, was shooting at you the week before.

In Vietnam, heard you could go to the US on the body bag plane, provided you stayed in uniform. Turned out to be true. What they didn't tell him was when he got there he couldn't leave the base. A few days wasted leave he said.

In Sydney went AWOL to get married. Spent time in Holesworthy in some sort of detention room (prison?) as a result, spending many a long hour holding a full kit bag above his head as additional punishment.

I saw him off into retirement at 65 from his civilian job, and died not many years later I heard. Was a chronic alcoholic after leaving the forces. When i worked with him he was a teatotaler, with some short term memory problems. Other men i worked with, who had also served at the same time but in different places, confirmed his military service - they helped him get civilian employment - apparently he didn't have a birth certificate or passport at the time and couldn't get a government position despite his time in the forces - was also an orphan by the sounds of it as he didn't know his parents.

Was a nice guy when I met him, but was probably a rascal when young, barrel chested and formidable i would say.

He had a few other brief stories, about a potential run in with SAS in a rice field; one significant battle against the Viet Cong; becoming a sergeant almost by default; his destruction of a restaurant.

Anyway, this guys life is just an aside to the main topic raised by bob10

It's the history research programs and books, personal testimonies etc that start to give you some other insights as to what went on. Dodgers like Bush who was enrolled to train as a fighter pilot in the hope the war would be over by the time he qualified, although he apparently rarely turned up for training. Using poor whites and particularly poor blacks as cannon fodder until the statistics on the ethnicity of casualties could no longer be ignored.

Viet Cong general said after kicking out the French they wrote to the US State Department(?), admiring US Republic and could they help finance rebuilding of their country. US focus on middle east, so no consideration. China is giving away free money so they took it. US then bombs the north because the Chinese will take over. Viet General says they had been successfully fighting the Chinese for 1,000 years after breaking from China and weren't about to let them walk back in.

**bob10** · 12th March 2019, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by workingonit

Missed conscription by a couple of years.

Often wondered why we conscript our youth. Having raised my kids to young adults I would much rather take their place as the first line of defence - which of course means retirees should have an 'open' firearms permit for any weapon of choice for practice down the local range.

Given the audience, some levity. Often wondered if I should recount this story (one of many stories) told to me by 'Harry', who had served in both Korea and Vietnam. Could this ever have been true, was a movie plot, or pulling my leg. Does anyone know him!!???

In a nut shell.

The setting is Vietnam.

Private Harry is told by commanding officer the sergeant is drunk and I want you to stand in for him at a sergeants meeting. Customary to park rifle in corridor with 'one up the spout'. Meeting is had. Sergeants mess is opened at the end of the meeting for one drink. Drunk sergeant turns up, abuses Harry, both reaching for their firearms. For their actions commanding officer confines both of them to their bunks.

Drunk sergeant turns up at Harry's barracks and continues to abuse Harry in his bunk. Both agree to a duel at the perimeter where no one can see them!

Harry knows the sergeant only has an inaccurate service pistol. Harry had swapped steel splined Australian boots with a Yank for a long nosed six shooter revolver with tied down holster, and had practiced drawing a lot.

At the perimeter Harry let the sergeant draw first. While the sergeant was fumbling to draw Harry had him 'dead to rights'. The sergeant '...don't shoot Harry, don't shoot...you win!' Harry thought thank goodness, because all he could see in his chambers was blue sky - he'd forgotten to put bullets in!

The MPs had watched these two from a tower and so they were promptly arrested.

it doesn't end.

As punishment Harry got a triple shift on the radio.

Patrols were to voice in at given intervals. One patrol leader, a Kiwi, was know to morse.

Come time for the Kiwi led group to voice in all that was heard was morse. Harry 'voice in, over' - clickity click - 'voice in, over' - clickity click - 'voice in, over' - clickity click. Harry, on another switch, artillery please shell the following coordinates! Kiwi, 'call them off Harry, it's us, for C's sake call them off!'. Harry calls off the artillery.

Harry didn't tell me what happened after that.

Sorry, Harry was a bull****ter. No offence.

**4bee** · 12th March 2019, 07:06 PM

RtB

Returned to Barracks. Recruit Training Battalion, Returned to Battalion, either or for a much needed Refresher Course.

As most Asians to us look alike, it is no wonder he thought that was the case. Just swapped a pointy hat for a Budgie Smuggler.

**workingonit** · 15th March 2019, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by 4bee

RtB

Seemed like a regular - would RtB apply?

If I've got the right bloke the Nominal Roll Korea shows over 1 years service as a private, the Nominal Roll Vietnam show similar as a sergeant. Medical Corp, 1st and 2nd Battalion.

Mind, he claims he was made a sergeant while being punished for being AWOL. Complained to his gaoler that 'It wasn't fair' - what? - 'serving for so long in two wars and not getting any recognition'. Finally on his release he was told you can go now 'sergeant!'.

**4bee** · 15th March 2019, 04:26 PM

Seemed like a regular - would RtB apply

I dunno, I haven't a copy of 'Queens Regulations' but I used to have a copy of KR&R. Once.

**bob10** · 15th March 2019, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by workingonit

Seemed like a regular - would RtB apply?

If I've got the right bloke the Nominal Roll Korea shows over 1 years service as a private, the Nominal Roll Vietnam show similar as a sergeant. Medical Corp, 1st and 2nd Battalion.

Mind, he claims he was made a sergeant while being punished for being AWOL. Complained to his gaoler that 'It wasn't fair' - what? - 'serving for so long in two wars and not getting any recognition'. Finally on his release he was told you can go now 'sergeant!'.

I assume you have his name on enlistment and official number and unit. I can definitely confirm his story, if you wish.

**workingonit** · 15th March 2019, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by bob10

I can definitely confirm his story, if you wish.

It would be interesting to firm up details. I would not want to post his real details publicly, not having his name rubbished even if stories turn out to be bull****. You meet many people who have great yarns to tell, and his were up there!! I was his 'boss' for about a year.

I believe I have found his death notice, public service retirement notice, Korea and Vietnam roll details with consistent service number. I would be stunned to find it was someone else entirely, but with same name. PM you if you are willing to keep names confidential?

**bob10** · 16th March 2019, 09:53 AM

PM sent

Thread: Any conscripted Vietnam veterans here? Somethings right up my nose.

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