UPDATE: On this Vietnam Veterans Day, urgent calls are being made for the recognition of 2,500 Australian veterans who served in the Vietnam War but were excluded from receiving the Vietnam Campaign Medal. The Vietnam Veterans Association and the Returned and Services League (RSL) are demanding that the federal government rectify this oversight, especially as we mark the 50th anniversary of the war’s end.
This year’s observance highlights a long-standing issue for veterans who served between 1962 and 1975. Many, like Navy veteran Bob Braithwaite, were sent home before reaching the 181-day threshold required for medal eligibility. Braithwaite, who finally received his medal last week after years of applications and rejections, expressed the emotional toll of this exclusion. “It’s very hard…you weren’t recognised as a full veteran in my books,” he told AAP from his home in Adelaide.
The veterans, conscripted into service during a deeply unpopular war, completed at least 60 days in Vietnam but returned home due to injuries or the end of their national service obligations. This has left many feeling undervalued and stigmatized as “short-timers.”
Braithwaite, who battles PTSD, reflects on the social stigma he faced: “You’d go to a hotel on ANZAC Day…and the guys with the full medals would kind of look at you a bit funny.” However, he notes a gradual shift in public perception, stating, “the older we get, the fewer we get, to get more appreciation for what we’ve done.”
The NSW President Ray James, also a Vietnam War veteran, delivered a formal apology on this significant day, acknowledging the lack of support and recognition for returning veterans. The community failed to welcome them back, adding to their struggles.
As Australia commemorates the end of its longest military engagement on Monday, coinciding with the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, services will be held throughout the nation, including a major gathering in Sydney’s Martin Place. This gathering serves as a reminder of the 3,000 Australians wounded and 524 who died during or as a result of their service in Vietnam.
The call for recognition is more urgent than ever, with many veterans still feeling the weight of their unacknowledged service. As the nation reflects on their sacrifice, the hope is that the federal government will take immediate action to honor these veterans.
For those struggling with the emotional aftermath of their service, resources like Lifeline at 13 11 14 and Open Arms at 1800 011 046 are available for support.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops and the community rallies for the recognition that these veterans rightfully deserve.
