Ah, the ladies...

Amen, Brother.

 

Better days

 

A flower child. I’m glad the girl I married from Cambridge, Maryland in 1968 was not one of them. And the War was in the back of my mind.

 

Immediately thought that was Susan Dey in The Partridge Family there.
Only discovered a few years ago it was based on the Cowsill's.

 

In Australia we had a mini series called “Vietnam” in 1987 (i was 16) - It showed the shit that was Vietnam and what it did to our Australian Sons…especially the ‘Nashos’ - Men had to register for national service…and birth dates were drawn out on tv like a lottery…if your number came up, you had to present yourself for service in Vietnam…
This starred a very young Nicole Kidman who idolised her older brother who was called up. Needless to say it destroyed their close relationship. It also took the opportunity to showcase the fashions in Australia in the late 60s…Everyone my age remembers the mini series.

 

I knew what was going on as I was in at the height of the war. I heard about some of it from other guys. I just didn’t pay much attention to it. I had access to a tv with so much shore duty. In the last years I have watched videos and read books, The Cat From Hue and Dispatches being among my favorites.

 

They covered this film on RiffTrax and it is hilarious.

 

I'm surprised; thinking of WWII, I thought Australia's policy was to send only volunteers overseas, at least to distant theaters like the Middle East. And of course their commitment in Vietnam was on a considerably smaller scale.

 

“In Australia, 15,300 men were conscripted into the Australian Army during the Vietnam conflict. More than 200 died and at least 1,200 were wounded on active duty. Most 20-year-old Australian men had to register for national service between 1965 and 1972.”

 

About 45 000 enlisted men went to Vietnam plus the 15 000 conscripts…by my calculation.

 

There's a good Aussie movie called The odd angry shot about the Anzac SAS in 'Nam. Another good one is Danger Close- the battle of Long Tan.
Both emphasise the role of conscripts.

 

"Conscripted men were required to serve 5 years in the Army – 2 years full-time service followed by 3 years part-time service in the Army Reserve. More than 15,300 national servicemen served in the Vietnam War."

 

I was all ready to join the Marines in ‘65 until my father talked me into the Navy. He was in the infantry in World War II.

 

I cannot even try to think of the debt you owe your father...Sliding door moment. He was wise...and so were you for taking his advice.

 

No foot slogging in the mud, sleeping in the snow, shu mines, sheer terror of combat,
USN: dry bunk, hot chow, dry feet.