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Dear Charlie
Company Members & Friends, As
always I am playing around with design
features. If you can't read HTML e-mail,
then please let me know and I will send
it in plain text. Why has the name
changed? ... Because I found this really
neat logo, and I wanted to use it... no
other reason. In this issue we have a
call for help from a NSW South Coast
Veteran (see News),
lots of interest in our website from
other Veterans and The National Library (Pandora)
and a request for photos from
Doc Forbes for the Adopt-A-Digger
Project.
The Vietnam War never seems to end. At
my uncle's funeral last Friday I was
approached by an old bloke who wanted to
know what sort of Legacy Badge that was
on my coat lapel ... the laurel wreath
and the bayonet. I explained the Infantry
Combat Badge to him, but the only
response was that we we had become
Americans and that in his time it was not
called combat (they were In Action) and
they didn't have a Tour Of Duty, they had
to stay there until it was finished. I
asked him what Unit he was with ... turns
out he was in Signals Corp and stayed
back in camp listening to a radio ... I
advised him of another Americanism ...
"Garra-trooper" ... and left it
at that ... years ago I would have
stopped wearing the ICB, just to avoid
the conflict ... but these days, I have
had enough of justifying Vietnam ... If
you don't like us, well just leave us
alone.
"Yours
Faithfully"
Bob "Woody"
Wood
7 (The Goon) Platoon
Charlie Company
3 RAR, SVN 1971
http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~bobw/index.htm
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3 RAR ASSOCIATION NEWS
- Application
forms for joining the association can be
obtained by sending an email to the
President, Ron Perkins <[email protected]>.
Annual subs are now $22. I know that most
of us joined in 1992, but if you are like
me and let your membership lapse ... then
it is about time we got behind the
Association. The Korean Vets were almost
as badly done by as us. They may not have
copped the abuse ... they were just
forgotten.
- There is a
good range of merchandise eg caps,
shirts, jackets, ties. Info about these
can be obtained from Ron Perkins. Ron and
June are interstate at the moment so it
may be a week or so before they get to
their emails.
- Pat
Cannard <[email protected]>
is the
editor of the journal and would be
interested in receiving any stories,
info, copies of newsletters etc.
They can be sent via email.
She would also appreciate a story on our
version of the reunion - it can be a
whole page or just a few sentences.
They need more Vietnam stories in the
journal. Would appreciate info on
your website for C Coy also. Ron
Perkins has the complete email list for
the Association and they put new contacts
in each issue of the journal. (If no-one has
any problems I will send them our e-mail
contact list and request a copy of theirs
for the 1971 Tour ... in case there are
any more of our blokes out there, that we
don't have contact with ....I have sent
Pat info on our website)
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10TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE DEDICATION OF THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL
5 &
A Wakey
- The Vietnam Veterans Association of
Australia is organising the above
reunion. If you would like to find
out more you can phone the President
Peter McCann 02 6258 9924 or the
Secretary Rod Tier 02 6231 6246, Email
address for Peter is [email protected]
as advised by Ron Perkins Prseident 3 RAR
Association ... there is no 3 RAR
Re-union organised.
- RENDEZVOUS
- At this stage, if we meet at Olims on
Friday night for drinks at 1900 hours
(Mickey's Big Hand is pointing straight
up and his little hand is on Minnie's
right knee), then we can sort out our own
arrangements from there. For those who
can't make that rendevous point the next
ones are:
- 0600 - "Stand
To" Service will be
conducted on the Memorial Parade
Ground in front of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
- 0730 - Gunfire
Breakfast at Reid Oval following
the Stand To service.
- 1100 - Form up at
AWM and march to Vietnam Memorial
(800 metres)
- 1145 -
Re-dedication Service at the
Vietnam Memorial.
- Until then as Dogs would
say "Saddle Up, 15 paces
between men, watch your arcs and
Woody stay awake"
Acceptances
- Wood, Bob "Woody"
<[email protected]>
- Cox, Tony
"TC"
<[email protected]>
- Davis, Garry
"Davo" <[email protected]>
- Kearney, Bob
"Dogs" <[email protected]>
- Crowe, Bill "Crowey"
; <[email protected]>
- This is c/- of his daughter
Kristen Arbery
- Heberle, Ian
"Bones"
<[email protected]>
- Doran, Maurie
"Mozza"
<[email protected]>
- Frank "Pappy" Papworth
<[email protected]>
- Reg
French
< [email protected] >
- Whelan, Bob
"Wheels"
<[email protected]>
- Elemes, Trevor "Darky"
Apologies
Received
- Dicks, Daryl
"Dixie"
<[email protected]>
... rang me tonight ... today was
his first day off in 3 months,
with mares foaling and checking
cattle. He might be up in
Canberra at the end of October.
- Mackie,
Graham - Sorry mate but I
will not be able to make it this
time, we are in the middle of
selling our farm and maybe moving
then so I'll have to catch you
all next time.
- Doc Lean - Sorry I
can't be there for this
Anniversary, lots going on in the
life of the old
"Doc". Please
pass on my regards to one
and all and for God's sake, some
one keep an eye on Dogs!
Come to think of it, you all
probably need to keep an eye on
each other. I'll be
thinking of ya!
- Gouldy
- Give
my best to all.
- Scott, Peter <[email protected]>
- Forbes, Peter "Doc"
<[email protected]> -
"Best
wishes to everybody".
- Langy - he is saving up for a
trip to Gallipoli next year.
- Lewis, Bob "Bomber"
- Stenchion, Bernie - "Hope
everyone has a great time."
- McClaren, Noel <[email protected]>
- Gottwaltz, Junior <[email protected]>
- Insull, John <[email protected]>
- Cross, Martin
"Crossy" - taking
the kids on School Holidays
- Ginnivan, John LT
"Ginna"
- Digby, John
"Digby"
- Webb, Neil
"Webbie"
- Collins,
Arthur "Butch"
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NEWS
& MOVEMENTS
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Suzie Dicks sent us
a photo of GOON
PLATOON's colours
- Charlie Coy Green.
Goon Platoon had it's first run at Wagga
a few weeks back ... no luck there,
although it was nice to hear the call,
with Goon Platoon featuring in the
finish. |
- Crowey & Davo, have
been on the move from the South heading
north. At Dubbo Davo was having a beer
(unusual) and commented to a complete
stranger "You look like a bloke that
I served with in Vietnam". The
stranger said "That would be Trevor
Elemes" ... Buggar me, it was
Darky's cousin ... small world isn't it.
- Crowey has finally
caught up with some blokes that he hasn't
seen in 30 years. In Queensland he had
luch with Crossy at Redcliffe and then
went to Bribie Island and had lunch at
the local RSL with Davo, Webby,
and Ginna. After lunch they rang
up Digby and met up with
him at the local wharf. Crowey
will be down in Canberra for the October
weekend ... a good chance for him to
catch up with other mates that he hasn't
seen for 30 years.
- I am still looking for Charlie Coy
Diggers photos to put up on the VVnW AU
Website at <vvnw-au.org> at the
AdoptaDigger section. So far we have had
David Lean and a couple of others,
however we need more photo's.
Also remember the VVnW send out Military
Support Packages to Australian and US
military serving overseas so have a look
at the VVnW US website at
<vvnw.org> to see the Military
Support Package. If you have someone in
your family or that you know someone
serving overseas in the Military, let us
know their postal details and we will
send them a package.
Try and get me some photo's for the
website.
Yours in Brotherhood
Peter Forbes(Doc)
- Tony Cox has been under
the surgeons knife recently and been
doing some home refurbishing, with a
complete change of floors throughout, new
front entrance and all walls painted and
wood polished.
- "Can You Hear Australia's
Heroes Marching?", a song
by Peter Barnes. You can find the lyrics,
read about the song and download a mp3
audio file at http://www.users.on.net/revelation/heroes.htm.
I will post a link to the site and the
lyrics on our site (as soon as I can).
- Plaque at commemorative walk,
Shellharbour District, NSW. A
request for help was received from Don
Tate, who served with 4th Battalion;
D&E Platoon; 9th Battalion and
1A.R.U. He was wounded in action on 19th
July, 1969. Hospitalised for more than
two years afterwards. Remains badly
disabled. Appearing on Channel 9's
"R.P.A." show from October 10th
after attempted hip recostruction of the
damage done by Viet Cong machine-gun
fire. Unfortunately Don didn't give us
the council's e-mail address. The short
story is that Don and fellow veteran's
planted some trees for a Commerorative
Walk, but the council won't let them put
a plaque up, because they are going to
have an official
memorial in the centre of town ... as
usual officials know what is best for
Vietnam Veterans. You can read about
Don's fight at http://members.tripod.com/warvet_69
or email Don at [email protected].
I will log a link into our website, when
time permits.
- 3 RAR Assualt Pioneer
Platoon 2ND TOUR REUNION EASTER 2003
- there is no email address, but if you
were in the Assault Pioneers (or know
someone who was), then contact either Ray Laidlaw 07 5423 0129
or Barbara Jones 08 8843 9005 for
details.
- One of the searches on the website last
month was for Snowy Wright.
Dogs writes
"Woody,
Snowy Wright was a good mate
of mine. I'm sad to say he died about 10
years ago and is buried in the Seymour
Cemetery in Victoria.
Lest We Forget
Dogs"
- Not
The Army News A satirical
web site has been created at http://www.notthearmynews.com
It is basically is a cynical version of
the Australian Army Newspaper. Go and
have a laugh before the fun police shut
it down.....Click on Edition 1 ... there
is only one edition.
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'Force Teach you
will I'
We interview the latest member of the
Combined Arms Training Centre team about
where the 800 year old freakish dwarf
sees the use of 'Jedi mind tricks' in the
Army of Tomorrow
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WEBSITE
http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/~bobw/index.htm
PANDORA ARCHIVE
- Exciting news from The National Library
of Australia who has asked (and been
granted ) permission to copy our Website
into the Archive and to provide public
access to it via the Web. The National
Library of Australia aims to build a
comprehensive collection of Australian
publications to ensure that Australians
have access to their documentary heritage
now and in the future. The Library
has traditionally collected items in
print, but it is also committed to
preserving electronic publications of
lasting cultural value.
- The PANDORA (Preserving and Accessing
Networked Documentary Resources of
Australia) Archive was set up by the
Library in 1996 to enable the archiving
and provision of long-term access to
online Australian
publications. Since then we
have been identifying online publications
and archiving those that we consider have
national significance.
- The Library will take the necessary
preservation action to keep your
publication accessible as hardware and
software changes over time. The
Library will catalogue your publication
and add the record to the National
Bibliographic Database (a database of
catalogue records shared by over 1,100
Australian libraries, as well as to our
own online catalogue.
- Access to the PANDORA Archive is provided
via the Library's online public access
catalogue <http://www.nla.gov.au/webpac/>.
In addition to access via the catalogue,
titles are also accessible from subject
and title lists that are maintained on
the PANDORA Home Page <http://pandora.nla.gov.au/index.html>.
- I will put these links on our own website
... when time permits.
CONTACTS
- Ray Payne, President and
Webmaster for Charlie Company 1RAR
Association, has put a link for our site
on the 1 RAR site. Their site caters for
all former members of C COY 1RAR up to
and including current serving members.
Ray is also National President of the
1RAR Association. Their website is www.geocities.com/ccoy1rar and I will get a
reciprocal link as time permits.
- Gary Dawson,
<[email protected]> 6 Platoon, Bravo Coy, 3
RAR, SVN 1971, checked in with "Great to hear
from a fellow ''71 tour member after all
this time. Had a squiz at your site-you
blokes have really put an effort into
it-good stuff. As far as I know I'm the
only 6 Platoon bloke in W.A. but I have been to a
couple of B Coy reunions in the Eastern
States. I'll put your site on my
favourites."
- Bob Freshfield <[email protected]> is the webmaster
for the Vietnam Veterans Federation www.vvfagranvile.org.au. He writes " I checked out
your site and found it a worthwhile place
to browse. I was a 'Nasho" doing
time at 1ARU during 1971. I got sent to,
but not posted, 3RAR during "Briar
Patch", "Overlord",
"Iron Fox", then to 4RAR (not
posted) for "Hermit Park",
"North Ward" and
"Ivanhoe". Shifted around among
3RAR BCoy and 4RAR CCoy and the Kiwi Coy
as well. A lot of forward scout work too!
- I will put a link
on our site, as soon as time permits.
- Mike (Dicko) Dickson
<[email protected]>
signed The Company Guest Book with "Great work...very
professional. I was with 6 Platoon but I
can remember plenty of the faces of the
Goons in the photos.... 6 Platoon is
having a reunion April 25th 2003 at
Queenbeyan. Any of you guys in the area
or passing by are welcome.....".
Dicko has a photo site at http://www.fujicolor.com.au/mdicko
... worthwhile checking out, when you get
time. I will put a link on our site ...
when I get time.
- Eddie Thompson <[email protected]>
from Brussels, Belgium signed The Company
Guest Book with "An excellent site and
many thanks for it.
Lest We Forget"
- Leon "Junior" Harrison
<[email protected]>
who has a website at http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/juni0r/
signed The Company Guest Book with "I'd just got a email from
Peter Haran, and a few from 'Dogs' before
that regarding 'Crossfire'. Came in off
their book site and thought I should come
and check out these jokers in the Goon
Platoon. Got to get out and track down a
copy of 'Trackers' asap.
Keep yah powder dry and all the best eh.
Leon "Junior" Harrison
the Kiwi Scribbler
"Onward"
Another link to add ... as soon as
time permits.
SEARCHES
- Dogs - people love the
old Sarge
- Victor Charlie - yep
remember those guys
- Zipper - have no idea
what that search was about - I always
kept mine done up.
- Bob Kovach
- Holzum
- Alpha
- Knight
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PHOTO
ALBUM PROJECT
- A nice e-mail from Ron Williams
<[email protected]>
It has to be one of the very
best I have visited with regards to
Australian soldiers in Vietnam. The photo
album section is easily the best of
any site, (Australian or US), that I
have seen and it really gives a real
insight into the day to day life of the
soldiers.I would recommend it to anyone
who wants to find out what the 'aussie'
Vietnam experience was like.
Ron also corrected one of my errors - we
sailed from Outer Harbour
- not Victor Harbour, that's where we
used to get wet on the inside.
- Tony
Cox is coming down to Canberra
for the Re-Dedication and has sent a
reminder about Photos ..."Please
remind all to bring their slides and
photographs so that I can do some
scanning. Things have been very
slow lately in that department."
- Bob "Bomber" Lewis advised
that "I'm
currently working a a CD for you
containing all the photos I've got
here. Should be with you soon but,
it's fairly timer consuming so don't hold
your breath....... I haven't
stopped though!"
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