Some of those who attended the Vietnam Veterans’ Day service in Shepparton.
“I think we did our duty and I think we did it well.”
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Those were the words of Jeff Swain to the gathered crowd at the Vietnam Veterans’ Day commemoration service in Shepparton on Sunday, August 18.
A Vietnam veteran himself, Mr Swain spoke about his service with the 6th battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, including being there for the erecting of the memorial cross at Long Tan on August 18, 1969 — three years after Australia’s biggest Vietnam War battle there.
“I first became aware of the Long Tan battle as a high school student at school,” he said.
Goulburn Valley Vietnam Veterans’ Association vice-president Jeff Swain speaks at the service, while watched by president Trevor Begley and secretary Peter Dealy.
“It never occurred to me I would be there … on the battlefield three years later when the cross was erected.”
Mr Swain told those veterans who were gathered with their families to never be ashamed of their service in Vietnam.
Goulburn Valley Vietnam Veterans’ Association president Trevor Begley said Vietnam Veterans’ Day served to remember the 521 Australians who died, and to honour those who had suffered and continued to do so.
Ron Mason, Peter Dealy and Kevin Heenan all served in the same unit in Vietnam, albeit in different years.
Of the 55,000 defence force personnel who served in Vietnam, more than 18,000 have died since the withdrawal of troops.
Four crosses formed a cenotaph guard during the service.
Three contained the names of soldiers from the Goulburn Valley who died in action in Vietnam.
They are Lance Corporal Ron Coxon, Corporal Donald Aylett and Private Stuart Barnes.
Jeff Swain spoke about some of his experiences in Vietnam, including being present when the memorial cross was erected at Long Tan, three years after the battle there.
The fourth cross was remembering all other Australian servicemen who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Sunday’s service also included a wreath-laying ceremony, with several wreaths laid, including ones by Goulburn Valley Vietnam Veterans’ Association patron Sharman Stone, Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali.
A number of wreaths were laid as part of the Vietnam Veterans’ Day service.
The day was also a chance for the veterans to get together afterwards at a lunch at the Shepparton RSL and talk to people who understood their experiences.
“Most of those who went to Vietnam don’t talk about it to others but will talk about it with each other,” Mr Begley said.
“I had a lot of friends who were killed. Most of us did.
“It (the Vietnam War) doesn’t seem that long ago.”
Wreaths at the Vietnam War memorial in Shepparton.
Vietnam veteran Jeff Swain was the guest speaker at the Shepparton Vietnam Veterans’ Day service.
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