The Vietnam War

Share your recollections of days gone by....before they fade from our collective memories and are lost forever.
Neville Briggs
Posts: 6946
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:08 pm
Location: Here

Re: The Vietnam War

Post by Neville Briggs » Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:08 pm

That's right Vic. One of the radical protesters was Frank Walker. he became the NSW Attorney General and retired as a Supreme Court Judge. He became famous or infamous depending on your view , being blamed for beginning a trend of softening the traditional intolerance for public disorderly behaviour.

It was quite astonishing for police officers to stand by while large crowds chanted Ho.. Ho ...Ho Chi Minh, Victory to the VietCong, while our troops were in combat with these people being lauded.
One of my mates was absolutely flabbergasted on the biggest " moratorium " day when thousands of people blocked the roads in Sydney and Melbourne in the main CBDs and all chanted loudly ..1,2,3,4, we dont want your f#*+ing war.
Last edited by Neville Briggs on Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

Neville Briggs
Posts: 6946
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:08 pm
Location: Here

Re: The Vietnam War

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:17 pm

I think I know what you mean Marty.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

william williams

Re: The Vietnam War

Post by william williams » Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:52 pm

VIC, NEVILLE, MARTY, BOB, and others

Bloody hell I would estimate that 30% of our population would not have the guts to stand up and be counted. YES I did my Nasho training and I was lucky there was no overseas at that time. And I was annoyed that I had to do my time. Why me I thought why not some one else.
During demonstrations it was dam noticeable that people were like mobs of sheep or cattle easily swayed or should I say conned into believing what they were told instead of stopping and thinking about the situation. Very noticeable are the modern so called leaders who have never stood shoulder to shoulder and been practical instead going on about hypothetical features that have often been proven wrong yet many people, ?
Praise them for what? Is it because they do not know better or is it because their judgement is clouded.
Nasho it was where I learnt self control, and to think, and be a man, take orders, and help my fellow man. And not be a pussy whimp like many kids and adults are today, that hide behind a knife or gun or words that are sprouted with out the true meaning and feelings
about the hard reality of life and how to roll with the problems with out the need of greed

Make no mistake WAR is, or can be pure hell. Would you, as men like to see your women folk raped, some of your children slaughtered and you work your guts out for very little.
Women, does the cry of hunger of your children worry you, or do you wish for hordes
of people enveloping our country and turning it like Somalia or Bangladesh or like other country’s of Asia and or would you enjoy the likes of problems that surround the Middle East, dictatorship and greed.

Many of you will condemn what I have written and some will agree.
But I all wish for is that people would stop being idiots

Bill Williams

David J Delaney

Re: The Vietnam War

Post by David J Delaney » Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:41 pm

Medically Unfit

You’ve done your country proud,
and, we know how you fought the fight,
deserving of all accolades,
for you have earned this right.

And knowing many died,
we honour them each ANZAC day.
For freedoms we all now enjoy,
a debt we can’t repay.

So here’s a story now,
of hopefuls who were all declined.
A certain group of people, who
have feelings they’ve confined.

See, I know how they felt
at the recruiting house so cold,
when standing naked in that group
and doing as you’re told.

All orders are obeyed,
I want to serve my country proud,
and, side by side with all my mates,
as soon as I’m allowed.

Excitement, how it builds
as one by one our names are called,
until it was my time to go,
now feeling all enthralled.

I’m in the doctors room,
devoid of any city views,
he looks me sternly in the eyes,
then says he has bad news.

All joy, drains from my face,
now devastation’s infinite,
there stamped on my assessment form —
Medically unfit.

Was hard to tell my mates,
I could not join them in the fight,
and how my disappointment showed,
when they said ‘it’s not right’.

I’m fit as any man
but, a small problem through the years
left over from my childhood days —
my troubled inner ears.

The old vets where I worked
all said, that they had to admit,
hard to believe that I was classed,
Medically unfit.

I often felt ashamed,
at times was physically sick.
Deprived to serve my country proud,
to go and do my bit.

But that was in the past,
another place, another time,
now honouring all veterans
with tributes in my rhyme.

Though one thing always haunts,
a vision that will never quit,
the bold red stamp upon my form —

Medically unfit.


David J Delaney
09/07/2010 ©

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