Photos Aussies and Kiwi's in Vietnam

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AATTV HQ SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM 25th
Mar 1970. The AATTV HQ building was situated within the Free World HQ Compound. Photo by Bernie McGurgan, R.I.P.

 

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WO2 A. H. "Bert" Franks, 2/5th ARVN Bn checking out AK-47's and 75 mm RCL captured by his Bn in Quang Tin Province mid 1970! Bert also served with AATTV in 1965. Photo by Bernie McGurgan, R.I.P.

 

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WO2 Peter Conway AATTV swiftly traversing the
"Monkey Bridge" into the "Y" RF Coy compound
Cho Gao District ( near My Tho) around Oct 70.

 

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Regt HQ 5th ARVN Regt ,Hill 29, Tam Ky taken ANZAC Day 1970. Left to Right: WO2 Keith (Yorky) Joyce AATTV, 4/5th ARVN Bn, WO2 George Heath AATTV, (1/5th ARVN Bn), WO2 Bert Franks AATTV, (2/5th ARVN Bn) and WO2 Don Rolph AATTV, (3/5th ARVN BN)

 

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WO2 Gordon Winzar AATTV annointing his legs, Cho Gao compound Nov 1970. Photo by Bernie McGurgan, R.I.P. Bernie McGurgan RAINF, AATTV passed away in St Vincent's hospital, Brisbane, Queensland on 26th April 2013. 216493 Capt Bernard (Bernie) F. McGurgan RAINF served with AATTV in South Vietnam from 25 Mar 1970 to Aug 70 with 1/51 ARVN, Quang Ngai, Hill 55, near Dai Loc, and from Sep – Dec 70 as OC, NOTT and NOAT Dong Tam, Dinh Tuong and from Jan – Mar 71, OC, Night Advisory Team, Bac Lieu. Foreign awards for his service in South Vietnam include US Bronze Star for Service, US Army Commendation for Service and the Republic of Vietnam Fouragere of Military Merit Medal.

 

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WO2 Alan Jones AATTV (Can Tho), Sub Lt Andy
Perry (EMU Sqn-US Army 135 AHC), WO2 Gary
Sutherland AATTV ( NOTT) and WO2 Bill Butler
AATTV (NOAT) at Dong Tam Bar Sep 70.

Centre Bar at Uc House Danang May 1970.

 

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WO2 Dave Dermody AATTV (2/51st ARVN Bn) and Capt Bernie McGurgan AATTV and Lt Mike Boyer (US Army) bothe from (1/51st ARVN Bn). Photo taken at UcHouse APR/MAY 70.

 

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"WO2 Anthony P. Siggers first served in Korea in the Australian Army and upon his return to Australia was discharged and joined the CMF (Citizens Military Forces) and rose through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class 2 serving in the 17th RNSWR. He volunteered for service in South Vietnam early in 1966 and was accepted and granted CMF (Full Time Duty) status. Together with John Stone, Barry Rust and Bruce Prosper, Tony attended the Advisor's courses at the School of Intelligence and Jungle Warfare Centre; and together, they were all posted as advisers to South Vietnam on 7th September, 1966. On arrival, they were seconded to Company C, 5th Special Forces Group Airborne) (US Green Berets) and became Platoon Commanders in Det.A-100 Mike Force and MGF 768 (Mobile Guerilla Force). Tony Siggers, along with John Stone and Bruce Prosper, commanded platoons of Koho Montagnards, while Barry Rust had a platoon of Rhade Montagnards. All were involved in combat operations together and when time allowed had their R&R together. In early February 1967, they volunteered for a US Parachute School, for which they all qualified. Their job now was to retrain their Montagnards in guerilla warfare and afterwards carried out that role with a lot of success. During this time, John Stone was killed in action during an 8 hour battle with North Vietanmese troops. On their return to camp, they were stood down and enjoyed some R&R on Okinawa. Upon their return they were split up. Barry Rust went further south, Bruce Prosper stayed with Special Forces, and Tony Siggers was posted down to Quang Ngai province in MRI (Military Region) and was at either Chu Nai, Hoi An or Lam Ky when NVA units attacked the District/Sector HQ, including the airfield. WO2 Tony Siggers was is an aircraft taking off from Tam Ky when it was hit by enemy ground fire, crashed and all aboard were KIA. Tony Siggers was identified by his dog tags and returned to Australia and buried with full miliary honours.

 

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ARVN soldiers under instruction of WOII Pat McGrellis.WO2 (later WO1) P.B. McGRELLIS - RAINF AATTV 1965-1966. "WO2 Patrick (Pat) Brian McGrellis enlisted in the Australian Army in July 1950 at the age of 18 years. Pat was posted to Japan as a reinforcement for 3 RAR in 1951 and then to Korea after undergoing training in Japan. Pat was promoted to Sergeant during this tour of duty and as a result of a number of skirmishes with the enemy was also wounded in action. Prior to service in South Vietnam, Pat's service included a stint at Maralinga atomic testing site, Papua New Guinea and Western Command. On advice of posting to South Vietnam in 1965, Pat underwent training at Jungle Warfare Centre - Canungra. WO2 Pat McGrellis commenced his tour with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in June1965. On arrival in South Vietnam, WO2 McGrellis was posted to 1st Bn, 3 Regt ARVN, a posting which he held for 6 months. His battalion commander was an ex-North Vietnames officer who had fought against the French at Dien Bien Phu. This battalion initially had a reputation for breaking under fire, but with the aggressive direction of the Battalion Commander and staff, the battalion conducted many successful search and destroy missions in over seven provinces. An unusual direction by this commander was that helmets were to be painted red, blue and yellow. This was very unsettling for Pat and although he did not paint his helmet, the commander believed that it would make his men fight harder as they would know the enemy could see them easily. He wanted his men to make contact and fight. Some of the provinces, WO2 McGrellis operated in were, Quang Tri, Thua Thien, Quang Nam, Quang Tin and QuangNgai this being due to the reputation of aggressiveness the battalion held. One contact of interest was a contact with a NVA battalion near/or on theLaotian border. This firefight lasted a few days and help was sought from the 11th Marine Bn at Phu Bai, the ARVN battalion had suffered heavy losses and the intervention of the marines saved the day. The team to which WO2 Pat McGellis was attached consisted of an US Army Captain, US Army Lieutenant and a US Army Master Sergeant (Signaller). This team was split into two smaller teams and Pat worked with the US Army Lieutenant later Capt Konnie Lubavs. (See photographs below). Naturally under these circumstances, a strong bond of friendship existed between these men. Pat McGrellis was relieved after six months with this battalion by WO2 James 'Jim' A. MacDonald - RAE -AATTV and both he and Capt Konnie Lubavs were killed in action on 7th February1966. Konnie Lubavs had only six weeks of his tour of duty remaining. Pat McGrellis had lost a great mate and his memory remains with him for the rest of his days.
WO2 Pat McGrellis was then posted to an outpost training camp in Thua Thien province situated approximately 35 kms South of Hue. Although remote, this outpost was used to train South Vietnamese regulars. These soldiers once trained were posted on to South Vietnamese battalions and a new batch would arrive. Although a number of probes against this outpost were made by the enemy, Pat McGrellis saw his initial six month posting with the regular ARVN battalion as the highlight of his tour. On his return flight to Australia on 16 May 1966 , Pat counted his blessings.

 

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Some of the weaponary and ammunition captured as a result of a successful Aussie digger ambush which saw 31 enemy killed in action (confirmed kills)and numerous blood
trails which indicated further enemy losses.
Friendly casualties amounted to one man being wounded
in action.

 

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Some pics of Diggers in Vietnam, unfortunately I don't have no captions.

 

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Dave Sabben receives a Mentioned-in-Despatches rosette from the former Commander of the 1st Australian Task Force, Brigadier O. D. Jackson.

 

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Major Harry Smith, far left, holds a briefing in the field shortly before his company return to the Long Tan battlefield. Second Lieutenant Dave Sabben is next to him.

 

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Standing in front of his platoon on parade, Second Lieutenant Dave Sabben salutes at a memorial service for comrades of D Company who lost their lives during the battalion's tour of duty.

 

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Second Lieutenant Dave Sabben reads at a memorial service for comrades of D Company who lost their lives during the battalion's tour of duty. An important part of the ceremony involved the laying and dedication of a plaque inscribed with the names of the fallen, including those killed at the battle of Long Tan.

 

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Second Lieutenant Dave Sabben advances cautiously through the rubber plantation the day after the battle.

 

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Second Lieutenant David Sabben with his damaged Armalite rifle after the battle of Long Tan.

 

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Private First Class Ricardo King, 19 (Savannah, Georgia), of the 81mm mortar platoon, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines [3/1], carefully cleans his M-16 aboard the helicopter assault ship USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) while part of the Special Landing Force along the coast of Vietnam (official USMC photo by Corporal M. J. Coates)."

Original description and photo sourced from: The Jonathan F. Abel Collection (COLL/3611) at the Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division

 

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Machine-gunner Private ‘Jimmy” Duff of 12 Platoon, D Company, 4RAR/NZ, fills his water bottle in August 1971. One month later he was killed at the Battle of Nui Le. (Fighting to the Finish / Australian War Memorial).

 

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'Who bloody gave me the bloody M60 to carry?' Alan Sherris with a machine gun on patrol with V5 Company, 1971.