Each year on 18 August, Australia commemorates Vietnam Veterans’ Day and honours the courage, sacrifice and service of the Australians who served during the Vietnam War.
The date marks the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, fought in a rubber plantation near Nui Dat on 18 August 1966. It was one of the fiercest battles involving Australian troops during the war.
Almost 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, more than 3,000 were wounded and 524 died during their service or as a result of it.
Source: Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Vietnam veteran and longtime RFTTE member Jim Olive has shared some incredible photos with the RFTTE Facebook community over the years, including several from his time “in country” during the Vietnam War.
I particularly love the photo above, showing one of the soldiers attempting to ride a contraption they called “Big Red”.
Many RFTTE members will recognise it as a version of a drum bull, an old bull-riding training technique involving a 44-gallon drum suspended by ropes between several trees. A few willing helpers would pull the ropes in every direction, giving the rider some practice before the weekend rodeo.
The major difference for Jim and the boys was that they were doing it in South Vietnam, close to the perimeter wire and with the ever-present threat of an enemy attack.
“Some of the blokes from 2 Platoon, Fifth Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at Nui Dat, South Vietnam, trying to ride ‘Big Red’ in June 1969, not far from the perimeter wire.
“On the base, there were two towers manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 373 days by two men on each, with SLRs, Armalites, grenades, an M60 machine gun on one and a .50 calibre on the other.
“There were five days of R&R and about three lots of 36 hours R&C off during those 373 days.
“Four ropes were attached to the drum and four young, fit infantry soldiers pulled them up and down and any which way, simulating a bull or bronc ride.
“2 Platoon had a few rodeo blokes, including a bull rider, saddle bronc rider and bareback rider, as well as a bloke who became a stock contractor years later.”
It is a remarkable photo capturing a brief moment of humour, mateship and normality in circumstances most of us could never fully comprehend.
On behalf of everyone at RFTTE, thank you to Jim Olive, his mates and every Australian man and woman who served in Vietnam.
We also remember those who never returned, those who came home wounded or carrying unseen scars, and the families whose lives were forever affected by their service.
By Simon Cheatham | Founder RFTTE Pty Ltd
