Vietnam Veterans Day took on even more significance at the weekend, especially for members of Royal Australian Navy Flight Vietnam, who were presented with a unit citation.
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The contribution of 196 RAN members as part of a combined Australian and United States helicopter unit during the Vietnam War was recognised at the ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
The helicopter pilots, gunners, aircrew and support staff were part of Helicopter Flight Vietnam, from 723 Squadron at HMAS Albatross. They integrated with the US Army's 135th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) flying helicopters in both utility and gunship configurations.
Known as the EMUs, they transported around 250,000 troops per year into and out of battle over a four year period.
The presentation was conducted by the Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove along with Minister for Defence Personnel, Darren Chester and Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, representing the Chief of Navy.
A number of high level honours had previously been awarded to individual RANHFV members, with the decision to award the Unit Citation for Gallantry made after a formal review by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal in 2017.
Deployed to South Vietnam between October 1967 and June 1971, the month the 135th Assault Helicopter Company was declared operational, the company flew 3,182 hours, carried 17,203 troops and had only one stand-down day that whole month.
Five navy personnel died while serving with the RANHFV and 22 were wounded in action.
For Commanding Officer RANHFV Flight 1, Rear Admiral Neil Ralph the weekend’s award was a proud moment and “put the last touch on the historic event.”
A unit citation sees the whole group/team involved recognised. It’s all well to have the individual honours, but a unit citation sees everyone recognised. And that’s what it was - it was a huge team effort from everyone. The unit citation represents that beautifully.
- Commanding Officer RANHFV Flight 1, Rear Admiral Neil Ralph
“I’m pretty damn proud,” he said “the unit citation just put the last touch that needed to be put on the whole thing. Flight Vietnam was a history making operation. And it is great to see everyone recognised.”
RADM Ralph said the unit citation presentation was a great event.
“It [the presentation] all went off well and it was great the War Memorial made the aircraft hall available to us for the ceremony,” he said “while the aircraft were not relevant to ours, it was just the place to hold such an event.
“It was great to see many of my old colleagues there - they might have been in a bit different shape and their hair was a bit longer but it was great to see them there.
“Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Rear Admiral Barrett both spoke well in our favour which was nice.
“And everyone got a badge to represent the Unit Citation for Gallantry.
“The unit citation is so fitting – the Americans always had unit citations and I thought it was the way to go.
“A unit citation sees the whole group/team involved recognised. It’s all well to have the individual honours, but a unit citation sees everyone recognised.
“And that’s what it was - it was a huge team effort from everyone. The unit citation represents that beautifully.
“And it represents the type of work we were doing and how risky it was. This fitted the bill nicely.
“And being Vietnam Veterans’ Day, it could not have come at a better time.”
The unit citation represents the type of work we were doing and how risky it was. This fitted the bill nicely.
- Commanding Officer RANHFV Flight 1, Rear Admiral Neil Ralph
RADM Ralph urged those in power not to dismiss the significance of the operation, the joining of Australian and US troops, and said if the need arose again in the future such joint operations should be continued.
“The Americans were easy to work with,” he said “and in the future if something like this is needed, they shouldn't hesitate to do what happened there [in Vietnam] - they are a good organisation and have enough resources to do the job.
“This was a good model for the future.”
VADM Barrett said the standard set by the first flight was followed for the next four years.
“The heroic work undertaken by the Helicopter Flight Vietnam men is not well known, or understood, by the Australian people. Their operations with the 135th were not widely publicised in Australia, nor even known widely by the other Australians in Vietnam,” VADM Barrett said.
The heroic work undertaken by the Helicopter Flight Vietnam men is not well known, or understood, by the Australian people. Their operations with the 135th were not widely publicised in Australia, nor even known widely by the other Australians in Vietnam.
- Vice Admiral Tim Barrett
“It was not just the pilots, observers and aircrew who were courageous; the unsung heroes of the Helicopter Flight Vietnam were the technicians and support staff.
“They faced the same danger as aircrew, in their role as door gunners, and also faced danger as convoy drivers and perimeter guards.
“We honour the service and sacrifice of those men who served in the Helicopter Flight Vietnam. We hope you remember your service with a sense of pride and achievement. You deserve to be counted alongside all those whose selfless courage has contributed to shaping our national character.”
It was not just the pilots, observers and aircrew who were courageous; the unsung heroes of the Helicopter Flight Vietnam were the technicians and support staff. They faced the same danger as aircrew, in their role as door gunners, and also faced danger as convoy drivers and perimeter guards.
- Vice Admiral Tim Barrett
Mr Chester said the outstanding service of the personnel of RANHFV was worthy of the citation and paid tribute to the members and their descendants, thanking them for their courage, dedication and service.
“I was proud to be part of the ceremony to acknowledge all those who served and it is appropriate that on our national day of remembrance we recognise the contribution of the RANHFV,” he said.
Mr Chester said the motto of RANHFV “get the bloody job done” personified the nature of the Australian service personnel both then and today.
RANHFV's motto “get the bloody job done” personified the nature of the Australian service personnel both then and today.
- Minister for Defence Personnel, Darren Chester
“This attitude is evident in service men and women I met in the Australian Defence Force including the navy’s modern Fleet Air Arm.
“We acknowledge the bravery and courage shown by the members of Helicopter Flight Vietnam, and the critical role families and loved ones played in these events of our past.
“Your bravery during the battle, your care and support upon their return, your never-fading memories of those who didn’t return and those who did but are not longer with us, will never be forgotten.
“The extraordinary courage displayed by RAN personnel in Vietnam in adapting to offensive helicopter operations in the field in both a joint and coalition force environment was unique in our history at the time and a forerunner to the adaptability and attitude of the Fleet Air Arm today.”