TACTICAL PATROLS ORDNANCE AT THE ORDNANCE AT T SHARP END TECHNICAL PARTS HE SHARP END ORDNANCE FIELD PARK NUI DAT SOUTH VIETNAM 1966-72 Historical accounts and experiences from the by R.J. (Bob) Nash BUILDING IN THE VILLAGES men who served with OFP Compiled by R.J. (Bob) Nash UP FRONT WITH THE SHOWER TRUCK KEEPING HEADS DOWN AT FIRE SUPPORT BASES. OUR BOOK Our book is full of stories Of when we done our bit The good times, trials and memories When we were young and fit It’s not for fame and fortune Or laurels, or praise it seeks It gives us inspiration For times when next we meet The winds of life are blowing As they carry us along But age will not discourage us With our book of memories strong Lawrie O’Neill 6 OFP (Det) 1967-68 Printed by Shannon Books Australia Pty Ltd 4 Melrich Road, Bayswater Vic. 3153 With assistance from The author wishes to acknowledge the support of the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which provided a grant to assist publication under the Australian Government’s commemorations program, Saluting their Service. The Department has not participated in the research or production or exercised editorial control over the work’s contents, and the views expressed and conclusions reached herein do not necessarily represent those of the Commonwealth, which expressly disclaims any responsibility for the content or accuracy of the work. and 67 Gower St., Preston Vic. 3072 This book is printed on Sovereign A2, Silk: Cover – 130gsm, Text – 113gsm. The paper to print this book was kindly donated by Ken Doggett of K.W. Doggett Fine Paper. K.W. Doggett is a leading independent paper merchant committed to providing exceptional customer service and creative paper solutions to the print and design industry. Published - March 2006 © Robert John Nash 2006 ISBN: 0-646-45541-9 Book Cover Designed by – Julian Coutts Outside Cover Photos Tactical Patrols –Darryl Shaw Technical Parts – Ken Hussell Building in the Villages – Bill Dobson Up front with the Shower Truck – Lee Davidson Keeping heads down a Fire Support Bases – Kevin Evorall Background Rubber Trees – Jim Golding Inside Cover Photos Dining out with the Locals – Kevin Evorall OFP Bunker - Lawrie O’Neill Trench Full Rain – Les Wilkinson Ready for TAOR Patrol – Richard Smith 2 OORRDDNNAANNCCEE AATT TTHHEE SSHHAARRPP EENNDD ORDNANCE FIELD PARK NUI DAT SOUTH VIETNAM 1966 - 1972 Historical accounts and experiences from the men who served with the OFP Compiled by R.J. (Bob) Nash Printing Co-ordinated by W.J. (Bill) Dobson 3 THE ORDNANCE FIELD PARK IN VIETNAM 1 Ordnance Field Park (Detachment) 1966-1967 6 Ordnance Field Park (Detachment) 1967-1968 1 Ordnance Field Park 1968-1972 This book has been compiled to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the arrival of the Ordnance Field Park in Vietnam in April - May 1966 4 Contents Acknowledgements………………………………….….….. 7 Introduction…………………………………………..…..….11 The Corps - Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps......15 The Ordnance Field Park in Vietnam..............................25 1 Ordnance Field Park (Detachment) 1966-67…….……39 6 Ordnance Field Park (Detachment) 1967-68…….……48 1 Ordnance Field Park 1968-72…………………….…….60 Profiles & Memories……………………..……….…..…….79 Absent Friends…………………………………….…..…..219 Memorabilia...................................................................233 Photo Album..................................................................257 Nominal Roll………………………………………...……..305 Glossary………………………………………………….…314 5 GGIIVVIINNGG SSEERRVVIICCEE OONN AACCTTIIVVEE SSEERRVVIICCEE THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL THE MEMBERS WHO SERVED WITH THE ORDNANCE FIELD PARK IN VIETNAM. THEY TOO, HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THIS CONFLICT. 6 Acknowledgements There are three people who are indirectly responsible for this book seeing the light of day. The first two are Tony Flanagan and Kathy Ault. Tony and Kathy were the driving force behind our first reunion in Wodonga in 1999 and subsequent reunions on the Gold Coast (2000), Alice Springs (2003), Cowra (2004) and Hobart (2006). I would like to take the opportunity of placing on record, in this book, the appreciation, gratitude and heartfelt thanks former OFP members have for their efforts in this regard. The third person is my old 6 OFP (Det) mate Ian (Neddy) McLean. If Ian hadn‟t badgered me and even threatened me into going to the first reunion at Wodonga, then I probably wouldn‟t have gone. The only reason I went was to keep an eye on him and to make sure he got back home safely to his wife Elaine. Well – that‟s my story! Since then I have attended every reunion. My wife Christine has accompanied me at the last three reunions. It became apparent to me that whilst the reunions were a great idea in bringing us back together again, to fight the war once more over a few beers, there were also other people who had become part of the Ordnance Field Park community; our wives and our children. I also realised that nearly every one of us had a very low sense of worth as to our role in the Vietnam conflict. I feel that this came about by the way Vietnam Vets were treated by the Government and the community in the years after Vietnam. To be welcomed back home some twenty odd years after we returned speaks for itself. At the reunions I often heard guys talking about the fact that most people out there in the community had never heard of the Ordnance Field Park being in Vietnam. This would also apply to the general Vietnam Veteran community. We weren‟t a large unit but we had our part to play in the support of Australia‟s effort in Vietnam. I had a feeling we needed to get the message out that; “We were there, We did our job, We needed to be recognised”, not only for ourselves, but also for our families. The time was right, I had retired as a DVA sponsored “burnt out digger”, and if this book was ever going to be compiled then I had better get started before there was no one left to provide me with feedback. When I first started this project my only knowledge of the OFP in Vietnam was during my period there from March 1967 until February 1968. Being a National Serviceman, I also had a very limited knowledge of the Army as an organisation. This history project has been a journey of discovery for me and I can now say that I have a much better appreciation of both the OFP in Vietnam and the Army as an organisation. I hope that this book will do the same for all the guys who served with the OFP whether they were Regs or Nashos. 7 In compiling the Unit History component of this book, I drew inspiration and information from the following books; “To the Warrior His Arms – A History of the Ordnance Services in the Australian Army” by Major John Tilbrook and “The History of the 1st Field Supply Company” by Sergeant Rod. O‟Donnell. I am particularly grateful to the 135 Veterans of the Ordnance Field Park in Vietnam who provided me with feedback to compile their Profiles and Memories, as well as assisting me with the Unit history chapters. Also, thanks to those who supplied me with photos and slides for this book. You know who you are; you‟ve got your page in the Profiles & Memories section of our book and acknowledgement for any photos used. I should also thank the many wives and partners who were instrumental in getting their man to put pen to paper, or getting him to phone me and provide me with the information I required. Without their support and encouragement I‟m sure this book would have been that much more difficult to compile. Thank you ladies! The cost of the production of this book was assisted by a grant of $3000 from the Department of Veterans‟ Affairs under the “Saluting Their Service Commemorations Grant”. I would like to thank another 6 OFP mate, Noel Peut, and the Cannon Hill District and Vietnam Services Sub-Branch of the RSL for their assistance with this application. The paper used in the production of this book was kindly donated by K.W. Doggett Fine Papers and I would like to thank Ken Doggett for his generous donation. Compiling a book is only part of the process of getting the completed product into your hands. We owe a very big thanks to Bill Dobson for his part in arranging and overseeing the printing of our book. I‟m sure you will agree that he has produced a very professional looking book which we can all be proud of. Bill also arranged for Julian Coutts to come up with a design for the cover of our book. Thanks to Julian for a very professional job. Thanks to my mate Ron (Bluey) Stoker for his help and advice in the initial stages of this book, and finally thanks to Noel Peut, Lawrie O‟Neill, Tony Flanagan and Ian McLean for proof reading our book and to Les Wilkinson, Colin Cross, John Galpin, Darryl Shaw and Garry Downs for their interest and support. There are some family members I would like to thank. I appreciate the assistance my brother Michael provided me, in allowing me the generous use of his photocopier to copy reams of paper for the mail-outs I had to undertake. My son John was always there to offer me advice and guidance on all things of a technical nature involving the PC and software programs – Thanks to you both. And last, but not least, my wife Christine, who, after being married to me for nearly forty years, is smart enough to realise that when I‟ve got something on my mind that I want to do, it‟s always best to leave me alone and let me get on with it.