Vietnam War: The Australian perspective

The Vietnam War was different to any other war Australia had been involved with in the past. Many factors made the war different as it involved many players between other countries, politicians, the military and civilians back home in Australia. The primary concern in Australia was not just about communism, but the withdrawal of old colonial powers and England not being able to defend Australia through conflicts if they occurred. Australia during the 1950s had formed an alliance with America called the ANZUS treaty. In military terms the involvement in Vietnam was the longest conflict Australia had been involved with in their military history. Australia’s involvement began in 1962 and ended in 1975. Australia began by sending of a training team to Vietnam in 1962, but combat troops were not sent until 1965 when Sir Robert Menzies made his announcement to parliament. The involvement was viewed as taking care of the communist threat that would have a military threat to Australia. The myth of the ANZAC, which had been built up from the ashes of the two precious wars were broken down by the Vietnam War when people were able to access direct images through television. Vietnam would live in the memories of those who had fought long after they had left and provided many people with unique perspectives to the war both at home and abroad.

Australia’s involvement in Vietnam was different to other wars of the past as Australia was allied with the United States of America while other military involvements were traditionally with the motherland that was England. In the past Australia had followed England with their declaration of war. The war in Vietnam was part of a treaty with America that was called the ANZUS treaty that could be viewed as being one sided, ANZUS was seen to America as something they could use for their own gain. The war in Vietnam ended up being one of the longest conflicts involving Australia and was one that divided many back home. Soldiers who had served in Vietnam did receive mixed reactions after returning home and did have greater awareness of the effects of war on Australian soldiers. Australia has not fought major wars on Australian soil, which had impacted the civilian population unlike the United States. Involvement in the conflict began with advisors who were unarmed and trained the military in Vietnam. The group was known as the AATTV (Australian Army Training Team Vietnam) and their role was to train the Vietnamese soldiers.

Australia was one party of the ANZUS treaty signed in 1951, the others included New Zealand and the United States of America. Australia thought along with New Zealand thought that they would need protection in case of invasion; the treaty was called the ANZUS treaty. Both Australia and New Zealand were isolated from the rest of the world and did not have large defence forces to defend themselves against foreign forces.The ANZUS treaty was something which would work in America’s favour as they were able to use the treaty to their gain, although it was seen as some sort of safety net for Australia. Australia was willingly jumped aboard to help during the Vietnam War as they felt an alliance with America was required, although the views were different in regards to their main ally both politically and through the military. America wanted to be seen as having several other flags in Vietnam so the war would be justified in the eyes of other nations. Australia did look upon the alliance as something, which would help the country economically as old trade alliances such as England were moving away from Australian products. Australia was also afraid of the Asian hordes attacking from Indonesia after the Netherlands had withdrawn their sovereignty of Papua New Guinea.

The first battalion to leave for Vietnam was loaded and put aboard the ship in the early hours of the morning in almost secrecy without anyone knowing, although families were present to watch the soldiers sail out during 1963. Amongst the soldiers in Vietnam there was no standard within the military experience as it differed depending on those who served in the country. Australia operated differently to America in regards to dealing with the local population and how they patrolled. The differences were noticed by many American soldiers and the media representatives. National service began in 1964 and was directed towards young men who turned twenty within six month period of January and June each year. Numbers were drawn out of a barrel and people who were of aboriginal decent or against war were not chosen for service. The lottery was to increase the national servicemen ranks known as the ‘Nashos’. There was 16 lottery draws between 1965 and 1972. Soldiers were conscripted through ballots and they could object to the service on certain grounds like being against war in general or through religion. Many advances in technology that was available in Vietnam were not available in previous wars especially with medical help. Soldiers could receive help in short time periods with the use of mobility like helicopters. The effectiveness of the troops in Vietnam became apparent when equipment had not been released in full like tents without poles and other logistical problems. 

The Vietnam War promoted mass demonstrations back home and other antiwar ideas, which began in America and ended in Australia. The protests in Australia against the war in Vietnam were not of the scale in America. There were many issues, which were being protested about like against conscription of soldiers and debates about the war in general at the universities. The Australian protests could be viewed differently in three ways through photographic images. These were the protests against US President, Lyndon Johnson in Sydney in 1966, the mass peaceful protest known as the Moratorium in 1970 and thirdly the protestors who approach returned soldiers through harassment. All these have been captured by photography and all tell a story about experiences from the war and how memories of events are influenced. The protest movement in Australia during the war could have impacted on what happened during the soldiers being withdrawn from Vietnam. During 1966 there was a welcome home parade in Sydney for the soldiers who had served in Vietnam that could have washed away the stigma from the demonstrations and protests against the war.

Australia’s involvement in Vietnam was not well understood. The political parties were in disarray as both sides did not want to appear as being un-American to America about the withdrawal of troops even though they had jumped at the chance to enter Vietnam. Television was a new concept for the media to use within the war in Vietnam and at first did help sell the war to the Australian public and the current Prime Minister at the time, Sir Robert Menzies knew how to play towards the camera to great effect. Politically Australia was helping America even though the war was not popular with the public after the war had progressed several years. Australians did not really debate why they were in Vietnam, but knew they had a job to do and they wanted to do the job properly. The soldiers also had around six months of jungle training before being sent overseas. America welcomed the presence of Australia as the war was not sanctioned by the UN. America was the first to propose the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, Australia was slow in committing their forces to leave the country. After the war conscription had been cancelled after the Australian Labor Party took office and Gough Whitlam became Prime Minister and the soldiers who were left in Vietnam were sent home.

Vietnam was the first war that was near completely televised and broadcast into people’s living room within hours of being filmed. The war was known by different names like the ‘Television War’ and the uncensored war. The media representatives in Vietnam did need to have accreditation and their roles did change after Vietnam through restrictions. The media did notice differences between American forces and Australian and their use of the media. The views from America of the war could have impacted on the Australian Veterans through the use of the media and popular culture of the time. American stories dominated the Vietnam War as the press had freedom to go where they liked with the American military than they did with Australian soldiers. Very few journalists covered the Australian involvement as the Australian military did impose restrictions. Popular culture showed soldiers in a different light to what had occurred, but the views were burned into the public minds. Earlier wars were usually reported by print media and radio. Much of the imagery was American so gave an ever lasting impression to viewers back in Australia. Newspapers played with the war and gave their point of views across to everyone. Towards the end of the war in Vietnam, the media had mostly changed tact and became critical of the government’s involvement by reporting what was going badly with the war.

Vietnam was a very different war as there was no frontline and the enemy was rarely seen. Friends and foe alike were indistinguishable as was the case when people and soldiers alike were hit by friendly fire. The enemy were cunning in the way they operated. Tunnel war fare was one of the tricks of the Vietcong that they used on the soldiers who were fighting against them. There were some elaborate tunnels constructed and only parts of that were found during the war. The Viet Cong also known as Charlie to Americans had the ability to vanish once they attacked. They were skilled in the weaponry they used and were very rarely seen in the area of combat. Some of the weaponry like mines were used against the Australian soldiers. They also used the environment against the soldiers by using series of traps to capture and kill Australian soldiers. The conditions in Vietnam also attributed to health problems in soldiers like Malaria and other tropical diseases. The country they fought in was tropical and would have caused many problems than a physical enemy. These did end with the soldier being sent to hospital for treatment. Not all problems ended after the soldiers returned home as many were plagued by mental illness.

Australian experiences during the Vietnam were different to other wars which Australian soldiers had served. Not everyone were military personnel who had to serve and there were Australian civilians who worked in the country as well. Women were also involved within the war and served many different roles from nurses, entertainers and office workers who all experienced the Vietnam War in different ways. Some had seen the war from both the American and Australian points of view. Some had observed the differences between both countries through their attitudes. Women in war zones are seen under a different light, although not being part of war or particularly violent. Nurses during Vietnam were seen as healers and comfort for the soldiers who were wounded in the hospital. No matter the conditions the nurses tried to keep up appearances with their uniforms. Entertainers to Vietnam were always a welcome sight for Australian soldiers and it helped ease the homesickness. The entertainers were not immune to the dangers of the war and were caught up in trouble between the American soldiers and at one stage by an enemy sniper. The women who were located in Vietnam did suffer from PTSD like the men who served, but they were not recognised and had to fight to be.

            There were misconceptions that Australian soldiers who served in Vietnam never received welcome home parades by the public. Soldiers who returned home by ship as one group were well received, while the last groups leaving Vietnam did not return as one group. Vietnam Veterans received their national memorial in Canberra around 1992 for those who had served. The veterans had fought hard to be recognised and for a memorial too. The memorial is unique as names are immortalised of all who served, although women are missing from the list. The memorial was erected during 1992 on the anniversary of the 1987 Welcome Home marches in Sydney. The soldiers who were in Vietnam felt they were ignored at home in regards to their military experiences especially to the point where they formed their own association when the RSL ignored them. There is plenty of literature today about the Vietnam War. Much of the material balances both sides of the war from the involvement and even the protest movements both in Australia and overseas. Popular culture has also bore the brunt of the Vietnam War from movies to comic books.  The experiences of the soldiers that they had suffered had not been recognised until later especially when they suffered from the effects of the war.

The Vietnam War was one place, which changed Australia’s place in the world and was controversial. With the shrinking of old colonial powers, Australia felt she was isolated from the rest of the world and jumped at the chance for an alliance with America thinking the country would help if Australia was invaded. Along with New Zealand, the two countries signed a treaty that was known as the ANZUS treaty. America played on the fears of communism and invasion from Asia for Australia to join them for war in Vietnam. The war was different from previous wars as Television showed images of the conflict and resulted in mass protests. The public could not distinguish between Australian or American soldiers shown on the television. The public image of the ANZAC from previous wars had been shattered. Conscription was widely used as one way for soldiers to be sent overseas and later cancelled after Vietnam. The soldiers learned they were fighting an enemy, which were different from any other and mainly guerrilla warfare in jungle. Australia stuck with America until the end, although they wanted to withdraw, but did not want to be seen as jumping the gun. The Vietnam War has provided Australia with plenty of information during the time period. As time passed many Australians became aware of many problems the soldiers had when adjusting to home life and other issues including the veterans being provided with a national memorial.

Primary Sources

Australian War Memorial ‘Vietnam War 1962 – 1975’, War History, http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/vietnam.asp, accessed 11 July 2013.

Biedermann, Narelle ‘Don’t forget your cotton underwear girls. Femininity and Australian Army nurses in the Vietnam War (1967 – 1971)’, Contemporary Nurse, 16, 2004, pp. 228 – 233.

Davies, Bruce Vietnam: The complete story of the Vietnam War, Crows Nest, Allen and Unwin, 2012.

Grey, Jeffrey ‘Vietnam, ANZAC and the veteran’, Vietnam Days: Australia and the Impact of Vietnam, Ringwood, Penguin, 1991.

Secondary

Brown, Malcolm MacGladrie, Stuart and Sutton, Candace You’re Leaving Tomorrow: Conscripts and correspondents caught up in the Vietnam War, North Sydney, Random House, 2007.

Curthoys, Ann ‘Anti-war movements’, Vietnam: War, Myth and memory: Comparative perspectives on Australia’s war in Vietnam, St Leonards, Allen and Unwin, 1992.

Doyle, Jeff ‘Short-timers’ Endless monuments: Comparative readings of the Australian Vietnam veterans national memorial and the American Vietnam veterans memorial’, Vietnam: War, Myth and memory: Comparative perspectives on Australia’s war in Vietnam, St Leonards, Allen and Unwin, 1992.

Ham, Paul Vietnam The Australian War, Sydney, Harpers Collins Publishers, 2008.

Inglis, K.S. Sacred Places, Carlton South, Melbourne University Press, 1999.

McGibbon, Ian New Zealand’s Vietnam War, Auckland, Exisle Publishing, 2010.

McHugh, Siobhan Minefields and miniskirts, South Melbourne, Lothian books, 2005.

Payne, Trish War and words: The Australian Press and the Vietnam War, Carlton, Melbourne University Press, 2007.

Ross, Jane ‘Australian soldiers in Vietnam: Product and performance’, Australia’s Vietnam: Australia in the second Indo-China war, George Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1983.

Ville, Simon and Siminski, Peter ‘A fair and equitable method of recruitment? Conscription by ballot into the Australian army during the Vietnam War.’, Australian Economic history review, 51, 2011, pp. 277 - 296.