Redgum - I Was Only 19 (US Soldier Reacts) **EMOTIONAL ANZAC DAY TRIBUTE
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- čas přidán 23. 04. 2024
- American Soldier reaction to Redgum - I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green) (Official Video).
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Where you said the names in the song were cities..No Puckapunyal is the main Australian army training facility for all who join the military, Canungra is in Townsville QLD and is Land Warfare Centre promotion courses for officer and NCO training and during WW2 was where troops were sent to train for jungle warfare before being sent to South Pacific.
Shoalwater is Shoalwater Bay in Queensland and is a big military exercise area. where parts of Talisman Sabre war games are held with USA and 13 other countries.
Man walking on the moon was in the song because after Frankie stood on the mine and the brother in law sat with him waiting for the evac helicopters to arrive, they were late and taking their time as were back at base busy watching the moon landing.
Everything in this song has truth and a meaning of the true story of his Brother in laws experience and stories he told.
Agent orange is a devastating after effect of that war, personally and sorry to say i love USA and Americans but i think your country should pony up and help pay for allied soldiers who were effected by it. was your war and your biological weapons you used.
America makes everyone pay a lend lease for them helping a country in war, proven in Ukraine now and you even charged Australia in WW2 and yet there is no proof you ever paid Australia for all the wars we joined you in.
Many stories of US pilots accidnetally dropping this chemical on Australian troops. your country needs to pay tribute.
It would be great if the US veterans help groups could be sent this.
This is such a powerful and meaningful song to us Aussies.
Highly recommend you listen to Hey Brother - Wolfe Brothers
@@bradlennon94 I will check it out, thanks!!
@@charlottethehousegoat5960 I agree
I'm an American Vietnam Veteran who after 9 years US Army with one combat tour (2/502 Inf, 101st Airborne Division) left the USA in 1979 and took up "permanent residence" as a teacher in Australia. I ended up with most friends here being Vietnam Veterans. I was at the "Sydney Entertainment Centre" with 7 close Australian Vets when "Red Gum" put on a private show. The people and Government here treated my brothers shamefully. The average life span of an Australian Vietnam Veteran was 57 years of age! I sat with them through the royal commission on Agent Orange in the early 80's. My brothers are now all DEAD, mostly from cancers, I just got lucky as my Doctor caught my cancer right after a blood test and 5 days later I was in treatment. Last week was ANZAC DAY and sadly just home (AGAIN) from the hospital with another medical issue from Dioxin Poison exposure.
airbushken5339, you would certainly understand the lyrics & the heart & meaning behind the words - thoughts & prayers with you as you battle your next medical condition. My parents were relieved when my brother missed the 'ball lottery' for National Service/Conscription, & therefore wasn't sent to Vietnam. Thank you for your service for another country
@@lisajessup6615 I was an Infantry Training NCO at Fort Polk after I graduated Leadership Academy ... the reality (which surprised me) was only 20 something percent of the American Forces in Vietnam were draftees and over 70% volunteered to go. I have many friends from that time who served in the US Military and only one I knew went to combat in VN, beside myself. Sadly, his health is failing do to his exposure to Dioxin (Agent Orange), I've just been lucky ... had to retire from teaching as I'm 100% disabled according to both the Australian and the USA Veterans administrations. You be safe...
I thank you for your service. I appreciate your sharing. I am sorry about your health and the loss of your friends and battle buddies .. Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙
hey legend, from one vet to another - thank you.
@@libatalklieb5793 I'm sorry, my team was on the DMZ and we spent just over 330 days in the jungle, as we had NO BASE CAMP that we worked out of. We would sometimes fly into Camp Eagle for 2 day stand downs; shots, clothing and new gear.
There were no Villages, villagers, rice paddies or roads ... just North Vietnamese Regulars crossing into South Vietnam. I only saw civilians on two trips through Hue. I did see the grave sites of the over 2,000 South Vietnamese civilians (men, women and children) the NVA killed during the Tet Offensive for not joining them in their assault.
The spraying program "Operation Ranch Hand" was started by JFK in 1961, the same year he started the Peace Corps. Over 400,000 Australian and American solders have died from Dioxin (Agent Orange) related health issues AFTER they came home. As a Sniper and also I walked Point most days, I remember every personal kill, every detail to this day. I just sign myself out of hospital after 4 weeks ... I was wounded in battle and 50 odd years later it was torn open in a fall. The hospital brought back all those memories/nightmares. Thank God I have a caring partner of 30 years who understands.
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget
Beautiful poem
Lest We Forget.
Lest we forget
Lest we forget
Lest we forget.
From a proud Australian Veterans Wife, THANK YOU for service. This song is probably our most important Australian song.
My respect to your spouse and to you. I know it can be hard life with a spouse in the military. Thanks for your support 💙
Im ex army too, but hate American government, they should be compensating our vets for the agent orange. America are quick to call war crimes on any country, but don't own up to their own war crimes. The definition of a bully. Wake up America u start wars then claim ur the saviour. U guys are absolute rats.
If it was hand to hand combat instead of ur hit em fr9m 100 miles away tactics , u would be flogged by most countries. U r pussies
I’m Australian and this song always brings me to tears. The Aussie accent and spirit shines through. The other song that has this affect on me is “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”, which about our soldiers at Gallipoli in WW1 and the devastation that they suffered. It was there that the term ANZAC was coined. It is the ANZAC legend that Redgum refers to in “I Was Only 19”.
Very emotional song. I do appreciate your insight. I will definitely check out that song. 💙
If you listen to "and the band played waltzing matilda" make sure you have some tissues close by you. It hits hard.
"waltzing matilda" is a song about a man who sleeps in a swag and moves around the outback of Australia.. In the old days if you were going "waltzing matilda" it meant you were one of many farm hands going from place to place looking for work (walking, often for days). The number of men looking for work would increase in the drought years and during the great depression. Often they were paid with just enough food to move to the next farm and would follow the harvest work around (waltzing) and their swag got the nickname "matilda" for some reason.
Waltzing matilda has become to symbolise "going bush", escaping the city life and government controls, living off the land, etc. Many returning veterans of the earlier wars were given a piece of land to live on called "a soldiers block/lot". Most soldiers blocks were mapped out by government officials that had never seen the land, many were not able to be farmed so the soldiers became homeless and had to travel to get enough food.
Whhen we look back at the "help" that has been offered to veterans it is most often a shameful attempt to support them. We have had soo much talk about what needs to be done but nothing is actually done.
We lose veterans every week from injuries, ptsd or self harm. We as a society, as a world need to honour our veterans with less words, more helpful actions.
One of my mates was injured years ago. He is still having operations and waiting for more operations and treatment to help with injuries sustained in his service. Red tape, political points and "value for money" seem to be more important than helping people who could to return to work.
Every year so much money is spent celebrating ANZAC DAY and remembrance day, etc but our veterans are left to suffer. It's not good enough.
Blessings from South Eastern Australia, Dot
You were the first person to really explain that. I do appreciate it. Yes. More needs to be done to help these veterans …May I ask: what is Dot?
Dot is her name. If you look at the top of the comment you will see it. It is short for Dorothy.
@@JustAnotherArmyVet Dot is a nickname if I am not mistaken. It's a shortened version of Dorothy. Forgive me @dotcassilles1488 for jumping in, if I am incorrect I do apologise. Your recommendation of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda was one I was going to add myself. I always cry when I hear it. John Williamson playing Waltzing Matilda on the harmonica in his live version adds another layer to the song too. :)
My father was a man's man, he was a bricklayer and a hard drinker and in his youth, a fighter. My mother came home one day and he was standing in the kitchen crying, she ran to him and cuddled him asking what's wrong, what's happened because clearly something terrible must have occurred for him to be in such a state. His response... I don't know.
He felt sick inside and didn't know what it was, it took years for him to get help here, and he was one of the first soldiers in Australia to get a TPI pension and gold card.
I'm so proud that he was willing to say something is wrong, when men were seen as weak for speaking out, his strength led the way for other's to say they needed help too.
I thank your father for a service. It does take a real man to admit that you need help. I’m glad that he is getting help now. And thank you for sharing.
@@JustAnotherArmyVet he's gone now sadly, but I think of him often, as do my sisters, he was a wonderful man and father.
@@marieantoinette1360 i’m sorry for your loss. 😢🙏💙
@@marieantoinette1360 he was clearly, to have such a compassionate wife and children. We owe so much to our serving members, whether they see action or not. They are among the very best of us. I worked as a civilian engineer, alongside crews in all services.
I'm so happy to read your father surrendered to the truth of how life was for him and leaned on your mother, that, takes strength. Bless him.
I’m a proud Aussie I never served but this song always brings me to tears
🇦🇺💙
same mate.
Absolutely, pal. Cheers.
Same Mate. The "Last Post" on ANZAC Dawn also brings me to tears thinking about what our Diggers went thru. Lest We Forget.
@@sinistra328 Diggers?
I'm an Australian ex-Army officer. I appreciate your feedback, JAAV. Your emotion is highly respected, Ma'am. Thank you. 🇦🇺🇺🇸
Thank you for your service and for your support! Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏
Please be reminded that it is ARMY and not Army
They sound the same but they are used in different contexts
ARMY is MILITARY
Army is is non-military group of people working together for
a cause - such as The Salvation Army / an Army of workers.
And it takes an AIR FORCE PILOT with a Law degree to teach it to you
In the same way AIR FORCE is MILITARY
Air Force is what comes out of your hair dryer
All CORPORATE legal names including Vessels ( SHIPS)
have the name in the ALL CAPS iteration
The word CORPORATION derives from the Latin ' CORPUS '
meaning CORPSE - DEAD - BODY
it is from there we also derive the term BODY CORPORATE
CORPORATIONS are DEAD ENTITIES that have ' Legal Status '
The ARMY word CORPS is also related to that
Pronouncing it are Core is a deliberate deception
In any case - I cannot teach you Law in five minutes - no more than
I could teach you to fly jet aircraft - it takes quite a few years -
minimum five years.
Now explain in your essay - why do you often see a name that
sounds like yours - except that it is written in ALL CAPS -
and under what conditions is it written as such - and other times
it is written in Mixed case Letters --
It all began in the year 1302 - being further expanded in the late
15th Century - and passed into WESTMINSTER Law - in 1666 -
during the False Flag Attack what was the Great Fire of London
-when the Law was rushed through Parliament.
It now stands as UCC - Uniform Commercial Code
@@andrew_koala2974 You're wrong. Etymology. From (1386) Middle English armee, borrowed from Old French armee (cf. modern French armée), from Medieval Latin armāta (“armed force”), a noun taken from the past participle of Latin armāre (“to arm”), itself related to arma (“tools, arms”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- (“to join, fit together”).
@@smeary10
Actually you are incorrect
You have yet to learn correct grammatical Legal English
Study Law as I have and you will be better educated.
The Etymology. is irrelevant
What is relevant is the way that it is written - The way
many of these words are written became relevant in the
late 15th century as a result of one fundamental aspect -
and that is ' commerce ' in respect to Law and vice-versa
Tell me : How many types of English are there ?
I am assuming that you understand the question
To become aware - one must first learn to pay attention
to detail. Start doing that first.
Make sure your brain sees exactly what your eyes are looking at.
@@andrew_koala2974 The moment you refer to your qualifications in a debate as to the reason why you are correct, you've just lost. I've served as an officer in the Australian Regular Army. That is how it is spelt and printed on everything except hardware like choppers where the single word ARMY is in capitals. I should know -0 I flew them. Capitals are used on the side of aircraft for a reason and are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They also project strength and boldness of a country and its armed forces. That is where it ends. I don't give two fucks about your law degree, boy. Go and get shot at and then come back see me. Until then, good day to you and your attitude and please, please go and annoy someone else.
I cry everytime I hear this. Message to all veterans: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a normal reaction to an extraordinary situation. Talk to someone. We all care
Well said! That’s a very important message
My brother-in-law [ BIL ] suffered from PTSD for many years -
and after serving in the ARMY for 12 years - he found it difficult
to settle into a civilian work environment.
MILITARY life is a life within a Life
@@andrew_koala2974 yes, it is.. I hope he is doing better
I also wanted to thank you for your support 💙
As an Aussie I want to thank you for your service. And thank you for your kind and honest reaction to this song. It truly means a lot to all Aussies and kiwis alike.
Lest We Forget.
You are welcome and thank you for your support. I will always have Australia in my heart, and my aunt is from New Zealand, so I feel a little connection there as well ❤️❤️
Yes, let's not forget our Kiwi cousins in ANZAC 🇦🇺🇳🇿
@@becounted763 exactly 👍
@@JustAnotherArmyVetthey were places where they trained troops before they sent them to Vietnam
@@JustAnotherArmyVetpuckapunyal is an army base in my home state Victoria
This right here is why Anzac Day is so important- an annual reminder for all of us to never forget. This song reminds us whenever we hear it, and does the same vital job as Anzac Day does.
A very important day and song 💙🙏🇦🇺🇳🇿
ANZAC not Anzac
it's an acronym not a word
make an effort to write it correctly
it's not difficult - s please pay attention to detail
Thank you for sharing your experience. This song had been part of my life and will always be a song that represents the pain still being felt by all our veterans. Thank you every one of you for your service. Without you we., The rest of the world would not have survived
@@Tully_23_32 are you serious???? They are trying to get rid of ANZAC day?? What steps are they taking to do that? Do you think they really might have a chance of it happening? 🤯🤯🤯
@@kathleenmills8272 thank you for your support! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴🙏💙
as an Australian in the ADF, I just wanted to say thank you for your words.
And I wanna thank you for your service!! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙
Thank you for your service and that of all your colleagues.
@@davidnelson7786 🙏💙
We have just had ANZAC Day in Australia and there is another song that was written for our returned soldiers called “ The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” it really rips at the heart strings. My family has a long history of military service and I’m grateful for what all service men and women sacrifice for their country. Thanks for showing this clip.🦋🙏🇦🇺
That song is on my list to check out. Thank you for your support. Love and respect from South Carolina. 🌴💙
@@JustAnotherArmyVet Check out " Dust of Uruzgan", "Derapet" and "Sappers Lullaby" all by Fred Smith
@@JustAnotherArmyVet Make sure you have a box of tissues ready, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda REALLY does get to you in a big way.
@@brigitmurray7793 yes, will do 💙
all gave some and what have you done for australia both written by col elliot himself a navy vet during the nam era
congratulations on your beautiful, honest emotional response to our important cultural song, i'm glad you've had the opportunity to listen to it on our commemorative day
Aw, thank you kindly. I really do appreciate your support. Let’s not forget the Anzacs on this important day. 🙏❤️
Lest we forget 🇦🇺💟🇳🇿
@@Granmabarb 💙
Thank you, from Australia 🇦🇺.
@@way2dumb thanks for watching and I love your user name BTW 🤣👍
We will remember them. ❤ From Australia.
❤️ from South Carolina!
"Their duty was to serve. Our duty is to remember them."
Dad was NZ Artillery in the Pacific, in support of the Marines. Recently found out I have a Grand Uncle who died at Gallipoli.
Both this song and "The Band Payed Waltzing Matilda", by Eric Bogle, stir the emotions like nothing else.
The ANZAC Parade, April 25th, is as well-attended, here in NZ, now as ever. Many of the kids and grand-kids of vets show up 0600hrs, wearing Grandpa's medals.
Your profound, honest reaction resonates strongly with the melancholy that always grips me when the flag lowers and the trumpet sounds "Last Post".
Our vets served out of loyalty, duty and courage, yet were sidelined without a thought, by those who sent them. And Australia dished out one of the worst treatments.
Is that price too high to pay? Not when brave men and women still deploy today.
And we will remember them.
I thank your family for Service. It is a shame how the Vietnam veterans were treated. I really do appreciate you taking the time to type all that. My respect and love from South Carolina!! 🌴💙🙏
@@JustAnotherArmyVet And, as a by-the-way, I was also ten years NZ Air Force.
It's an irony to me, that those with the highest discipline, morals, duty and dedication to service are used by those in office with questionable morals, sometimes the lowest ethics and no idea of service but to their own careers.
Only vets can care for vets.
@@TheLoneHaranger yes…. Thanks for your service! My aunt is actually a Kiwi 🙂
Great words all so true we will remember them
Aussie ex-serviceman here. Didn't go to war or serve overseas. This song tears me up .. every time. Just like now. Thank you for your meaningful comments and thank you for your service.
I thank you for your service and for watching! Respect and love from South Carolina. 🌴💙🙏
Lest we forget
🙏
Lest we forget. Amen.
Lest we forget
Lest we forget they will never be forgotten 😢
Lest we NEVER forget
Before I deployed to Iraq, we marched through the streets of Townsville, that morning, the soul of my boot peeled off, so I asked the Padre and he said, what size are ya Blue? 8 Padre. He said, give me a sec. Bang a new boot right on the spot, that wouldn't happen every day, but it happened for me and when I took the boot, I realised the Padre had given me his boot. They were high shines, like parade boots that we don't have to spit and polish like I used to do. I love this song, love this story and we're still fighting the government to give a shit.
When was that? And where do you deploy? That is a really memorable story. I really do appreciate you sharing that. 💙🙏
@@JustAnotherArmyVet That would have been 2007, I was a signaller (comms dude) attached to 2 RAR and we were AMTG 3. That's just one experience. Was either 07 or 08, I'm not sure these days lol
I Deployed as a combat medic ‘05-‘06
@@JustAnotherArmyVet I was at Almathana (probs spelt wrong) with the poms, it was called Camp Smitty, before we moved to Talil.
@@bluedog1052 about 80% of my unit deployed to Baghdad. And the other 25% actually deployed Talil. I was in Baghdad
I played this song for my dad in 2010. He is an American WWII vet.
He was silent, both during the song and afterward.
He had tears in his eyes and thanked me for it.
He never spoke another word about it since.
My respect and thanks to your father. I appreciate you sharing that. 💙🙏
I am one of the youngest firstborn of a WWII Vet. My father was on HMAS Australia, the first naval ship hit by Kamakazes. The ship was taken to Port Vila, where the Americans had a naval dock. The ship was repaired, and more modern US systems were installed (e.g. new Radar systems). When the ship returned, HMAS Australia, the Battleship of the fleet, was attached to the American 5th Fleet for the liberation of the Philippines. The Japanese once again attacked the ship, being hit by 5 Kamakeze over three days. It was in this secondary attack that my father was injured.
In the Adelaide Paper, he was recorded as being injured but not seriously.
There was no knowledge of PTSD at the time. Many Australian vets went bush. My father returned to the railways and immediately took a posting at the Bordertown station, quite a way from any city.
There is so much intergenerational PTSD in Australia. My grandfather (who died before I was born) was in WWI and on the second wave to Gallipoli, and he returned in not a good state, which caused my father trauma. He also serves in Australia in WWII. My father’s experience caused my mum and me significant trauma, and I tried to break the cycle with my kids, but I only partially succeeded.
The world can not have WWIII because of the current Israeli atrocities.
And Ukraine - lest the world forgets.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m sorry about all the trauma that your family‘s been been through. I’m glad that you are trying to break the cycle. I have a friend close to me that is also trying to break the cycle. When he feels like he’s about to burst, he just removes himself from the situation. Anyway, thank your family for service. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏
Israeli atrocities? You mean the attack on Israel by Hamas was warranted and they have no right of response, or that they should just accept continuous terrorist attacks until they manage to wipe Israel off the map? Not to forget that Hamas is deliberately putting its own people in direct line of fire and not letting them leave, using them as human shields? I agree any war is atrocious, the Palestinians or Israel don't deserve this, but Hamas, not Israel, is to blame.
My family also suffered from the effects of war. It was mainly my 2 uncles. My granddad went to WWI when his son was only 2.5 years old. He didn't return until the month that son turned 7. That uncle was jealous of his 2 younger brothers who both had their dad around for all their lives and sometimes treated them badly. He was also violent towards his own wife and children.
My other uncle volunteered for WWII and served in the bomber command who didn't get recognised for their service for many years after the war. He was shot down and was a POW for 18 months until the end of the war. He came home with ptsd and while he went to the Melbourne veteran's mental health hospital, they didn't know how to treat ptsd at that time. He suffered from depression all his life.
We do not want another world war! I hate to think what damage is being done to the soldiers in Ukraine and those in Gaza!
Having bad mental health is an awful thing!! Both for the person and those around them. It isn't well understood by the community at large and it is hard to describe to another.
@@fionamcwilliam8703 well said. Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry about your family trauma. 💙🙏
Thank you for looking after our boys in Iraq.
It was my honor to serve with them 🙏💙🇦🇺
Fantastic response to a song that most if not all Australians react emotionally to. Many thanks
You are welcome. Thank you for the kind words and support . #NeverForget
After half a century - this song still tugs the heart strings and brings a tear to my eyes --- Some experiences cannot be forgotten.
and no thanks to that sex-edict - womanizer - traitor LBJ
Every proud Aussie can shed a tear to this song, I'm not a military man and my father was lucky not to get drafted, but some of his mates weren't, hearing this song on the jukebox at the pub or RSL really changed the mood for afew minutes, you really have a sense of comradery and Aussie spirit
Your family was VERY lucky. Thank you so much for your support. Love and respect South Carolina. 🌴❤️🙏
Fellow Aussie here. Thank you for reviewing this wonderful song that still gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. I want to thank you for your service and wish you a happy healthy life ❤
You are so sweet. I wish the same for you as well. Thank you for your support!! 💙
Cunugra and Shoal water are jungle training centres, unlike the USA, Australia sent battalion units over to Vietnam not individuals on year tours. It means units train and serve with mates they trust and rely on, not untrained replacements.
Thank you for clarifying that. I wonder why the US sent soldiers over individually, instead of as whole battalions and units 🤔. Currently, that is how the US operates. But I just don’t know why they didn’t do that in Vietnam.
@@JustAnotherArmyVet I think it may have been a hangover from WW2 where US reinforcements came through replenishment depots to be assigned on an as-needed basis to front-line units that needed fresh troops. I think British Commonwealth forces learned in WW1 that it was better for overall unit morale to withdraw a whole unit after a preset time or casualty level had been reached for rebuilding and retraining. The US Army didn't make that change until after Vietnam as part of the switch to an all-volunteer force as best I can tell.
@@danwincen1 ahh okay. Thanks for your insight!
@@JustAnotherArmyVet I read also that US soldiers served fro 12 months (as part of the adhoc replacement policy) and officers served 6 months to expose as many young officers to combat as possible. The effect on respect for leadership and cohesion can be imagined. I'm very glad to see US Army has lifted its game big time since the low point of Vietnam.
@@waratahdavid696 I never heard that officers only had a six-month tour and soldiers had a 12 month tour. That may be the case though . I just never heard that. Maybe that was for the Air Force 🤔. I will have to do more research on that
My M dad was in WWII and he was caught by the Japanese when he was riding to pass on the info that Singapore had been invaded, he was hit by a sniper and ended up in a paddy field, then taken prisoner. When he came home he eventually married my mother and had my sisters and I, mum said he used to drink heavily and told her stories of what he saw and they were horrific, he was my dad and we loved him dearly, I remember many things from my childhood, but I was 5 yrs old when he died and it broke my heart. They buried him in a war cemetery and I visit his grave every year. He was an amazing man that still worked to provide for us but his demons were always there. I miss my dad everyday and I am now 60 yrs old, this brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing this.
I’m sorry you lost your dad so young. I know that must be hard. My respects out to him. I know life being a prisoner of war by the Japanese was 😢. But your father was strong and survived and he is a hero 💙🙏
My Grandfather was captured in Singapore too. He went home to his wife after he was fed after starving for 3 years. My Grandmother had my dad nine months laters. He became a bank manager in various places in Australia. He was a stoic fucker. He smoked at least 20 a day in his seventies. Based on raises in taxes, he quit....over night. never smoke again after just one night. I attribute this to his time in the camps, made him the man he was. For good and bad. He loved my grandmother and the past didn't make him bitter. For him it seemed to just be a thing that happened and it ended. He never spoke of it if not asked. He died aged 86.
married my mother ?
She was NOT your mother then
What you should have written :
he married the woman who became my mother
- You need to get it right and use correct English
and be accurate and specific.
Avoid ambiguity at all costs.
My father born in Kent County MI - served in the U.S. ARMY
and was based in England ( Cholesterol - in the county of Essex )
He went riding north on his INDIAN motorcycle when on R&R
He met a young Russian girl ( born in UKRAINE of Russian parents }
She was waiting at the Bus Terminus on the way home after finishing
work ( work days were then 10 hours )
knowing that young women like G.I. Joe - he approached her
and started a conversation -
The young girl - thinking - " What are you talking to me for " answered
him in Russian.
One problem there - He was taught Russian by the U.S. ARMY
school of languages - which if I remember correctly was in CA
and he answered her in Russian ---
The rest is history - and that is how this Russian girl (who spoke 8
languages ) became my mother. ( now deceased )
and I had learned 5 languages by age 5 - learning others since then.
I wish you Good luck and good bye
I am an Aussie. My Uncle was a Vietnam Vet. When he came home he was shunned by society like most and was unemployable. He couldn't go back to the army but needed something structured like the army. Years later he retired as an Inspector in the W. A. Police force. The police force kept him from falling apart after Vietnam.
My respect to your uncle and thank you for sharing. I’m glad that he was able to find a career that helped him.
I had the privilege of seeing John perform with his band 4 days ago. Amazing. His voice is hypnotic. When he sang this, there were tears throughout the venue.
That must’ve been a very memorable experience!!
What you said is correct. As I was thinking earlier, it is anti war. I do not support war unless it absolutely needed. However these people fought for us, died for us, suffered for us, so we can live free. They 100% deserve our respect and love and support. They are heroes, regardless of Government politics and the reason they are sent. They suffered tremendously for us.
🇦🇺🇳🇿 LEST WE FORGET! 🇦🇺🇳🇿
Well said!
To be honest, they were fighting for the preservation of US hegemony, Vietnam was no threat to Australia, as neither was Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. And neither is Russia, say no to US Imperialism, don’t be fooled again
You said you do not support war unless it is necessary.
How was the American invasion of Vietnam necessary ?
Please explain because my University Degree in Australian History & Politics didn't cover how or why it was necessary for us to send young men to fight, to die, to become incapacitated & to, in many documented cases, rape & kill innocent Vietnamese, to wipe out villages, homes, livelihoods. To make innocent people homeless.
To use Napalm on innocent men, women, children, babies.
How was all that necessary ?
What good did it do ?
How did our military in Vietnam fight for OUR freedom ?
How did they help OUR way of life ?
We lost the Vietnam Invasion/War.
That might be something you're unaware of.
We lost.
America lost.
The people of Vietnam lost.
Everyone lost.
All those lives lost & ruined were for NOTHING.
A big fat NOTHING.
Just like Iraq & Afghanistan.
The problem we all had with Vietnam is that it was WRONG.
We know it was wrong.
We knew then that it was wrong.
We still know it was wrong.
It was not our business to be there.
Conscription was WRONG & it was the only time Australia had it.
In 1915 Prime Minister Billy Hughes visited The Western Front & then tried to push Conscription.
The Australian people & his own Party rejected it overwhelmingly & it split the Australian Labor Party.
A major rift.
If you studied Australian Politics you'd know that was one of the 3 major splits of the Australian Labor Party. It was a major event in Australian History & Politics, the opposition to Conscription.
Australians rejected Conscription in 1915 & we rejected in again during the Vietnam invasion but it was forced on us.
No-one should be sent to war because their birthday came up in a raffle.
Our Defence Force should be professional & trained. Not Conscripts.
Conscription is wrong.
It always will be.
We don't disrespect the Conscripts who were forced to go, but we disrespect the concept of Conscription.
If we didn't agree to it in 1915 when there was perhaps just cause because extra forces were needed on The Western Front, why was it forced on us during the Vietnam invasion ?
What is important to remember is that it was the anti-war movement & Gough Whitlam's pledge to withdraw troops from Vietnam that saw the Labor Party win govt in 1972 after 23 years out of power.
The Australian people spoke, at the ballot box & they voted to withdraw from Vietnam. That was the sole reason for the 1972 win by Labor.
I have done tours of The Western Front, The Somme, Flandres, Fromelles, Pheasant Wood with a French historian who specialises in ANZAC history.
That is where we made a difference but still not for us or OUR way of life.
Our sacrifices in France, Belgium were purely to protect Great Britain but in doing so we freed France & Belgium & they have never forgotten. In places like Villers-Bretonneux you see more Australian flags than you see in Sydney. Our Commonwealth War Cemeteries are kept in pristine condition.
Those who fell in France & Belgium are remembered even if they have no known grave.
They have never forgotten what the real ANZACS did.
As an Australian I was respected everywhere I went in the north of France & Belgium because they have never forgotten what the ANZACs did for them.
That wasn't our war either. WWI didn't affect us.
Our lives & lifestyles were never at threat during WWI. We did that for Great Britain.
So we need to get over this idea that ANZACs fought for us.
They fought for the UK & to free occupied European countries..
Only in WWII when our military were in The Pacific did they fight to protect us.
My late father-in-law served in New Guinea & Darwin. He spoke to me about his time there & only after his death did I find out that I was the only one he ever talked to about it. He never talked to his own family about his service.
The two World Wars were different. We must never compare them to the invasions of Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan.
What good came out of the Vietnam invasion ?
Who won ?
No-one won.
Everyone lost especially the Vietnamese.
It is not that we disrespect veterans. We don't. The increasing attendance at ANZAC Day dawn services & Remembrance Day commemorations proves we respect veterans.
What we don't respect is unnecessary wars ( invasions) for American economic reasons.
If we really cared about people's freedom we'd be in Occupied Palestine helping the poor, the oppressed, homeless, starving, sick Palestinians being shelled & dying every day by Israel, but we're not. Why aren't we ?
Because the US not only supports Israel they supply them with the shells & other ammunition including ( illegal) phosphorus being used on Palestinians in their occupied country.
If ever there was just cause to go to war, occupied Palestine is where we should be.
Free Palestine.
Free Gaza.
From the river to the sea.......
You can absolutely disagree with war in general, specific conflicts and the politics that surround them, yet still support and respect veterans.
@@jacquimott386 exactly. I completely agree. I wish more people understood that
Unless a person has lived our lives, they will never understand the nightmares we are living with.
Well said 🙏💙
So true ... I just left the hospital after just over three weeks. MY PTSD Doctor called me in the ward and asked me; if I "could leave yet". Three nights I was back (in my head) at 95th EVAC, Da Nang while at St George Hospital, Sydney. The Nurses and my Doctors were all too young to even know anything about that war. The Hospital wanted me to stay another 4 weeks ... pass, and I checked myself out. Even my GP of 20 plus years agreed I should leave, so my partner has been my nurse as I still can't walk without help. Thanks for the reality check mate. So true.
@@airbrushken5339 I salute you. Just keep on doing what you are doing. Lean on your partner and seek out help when you need it. That is how you will survive. Have you ever looked into a PTSD therapy dog?
@@JustAnotherArmyVet Great suggestion, I got an Australian Kelpie, in the end I gave him to my eldest. All my three sons were born with disabilities ( I had no idea that Dioxin illnesses could be passed on). I sadly have no contact with them, even though I raised them, as they blame me for their health issues. I'm dying anyway, but the cancer caused me to no longer to be able to help them other than money. Thanks for the suggestion mate.
@@airbrushken5339 my heart and prayers are with you and your family 💙🙏
ANZAC Day just gets harder without you, Dad. I miss you so much. Thanks for being so much more than a member of the RAE & a veteran of the war in Vietnam, but nothing less.
🙏💙🇦🇺🇳🇿
I'm a Desert Shield and Desert Storm vet. I had symptoms of what we now call Gulf War Syndrome. In the beginning, we were all told our symptoms and subsequent chronic medical issues were "in our heads" , all psychological. It's frightening how the suits in office truly believe they know how it is and what veterans need and don't need. Thank God we do have more veterans in office who are trying to be advocates for their brothers and sisters in arms. Thank you for doing this and sharing. I'm an Army Nurse and have nothing but respect for my medics. This is important stuff you're doing.
Thank you so much for commenting and for your support ma’am. I’m imagining that you’re close to retirement? But yes, I remember watching the war on tv when I was a kid. And I do remember the news coverage on Gulf War Syndrome. I feel like that could’ve been a perfect topic to actually bring up in this video. It just slipped my mind…Does the US government and the VA now recognize GWS?
Why didnt you say no? What war did you have with the iraqi people??
This song was released in 1983 and is still revelant today. It still has an emotional impact on me today like it did when it was released. I didn't go to Vietnam but I knew guys that did, they were never the same again.
I appreciate you sharing 💙👍
I agree. Still very relevant
Agent Orange was in the water that the Navy guys drank and showered in. Australian Navy. This song makes everyone cry❤
💙❤️
Bullshit, agent orange was a defoliant, used on thick vegetation, the RAN didnt come near it.
Im sorry, but people like you claiming crap like that degrades those who where truly exposed to the chemicals used.
I’m a daughter of an Australian Vietnam vet. My father was in the worst battle in Vietnam.
I’m not whining at all but the agent orange has ( as the next generation) given me health problems- extra morphed bones in my feet for example. My father and I became estranged due to his complex ptsd. We are better now . Thank you SO much for this post.
May you and your loved ones be safe and happy and well.
Thank you again
I thank your father for his service and I’m glad that he’s doing better now. I’m sorry that you have problems. Thank you for your support. 💙🙏
The absolute worst year for the ARVN was 1973 -- the year I returned home
(March 25) they lost 40 thousand men - after the U.S. GOVERNMENT
cut funding to the ARVN - what followed over the following two years
was horrific - with many ARVN Officers committing suicide - as a better
option to being taken prisoner by the VC -
It is too painful to talk about
I can’t even imagine…
What did the viernanese do to deserve that??
I joined the Royal Australian Army 6 months after graduating from high school when I was 18, literally the day after my 18th birthday. I was off on a plane from Brisbane airport to start my training. I got within 2 weeks of marching out when I injured my lower back, which broke me. I knew that my journey was over, and I cried because it was and still is my dream. 15 years later, at the age of 33, it still calls to me. I wish I could join again, but my back has only gotten worse since and now I struggle to get out of bed every morning. Thank you to all previous and current service members I love you for everything you've sacrificed for this great country we all get to call home.
Thank you so much for your support. And I am sorry that you were not able to fulfill your dream. I know it must be hard. I do wish you the best. Love and respect from South Carolina. 🌴🙏💙
I don’t know what you do now but Defence Industry is a way to continue to serve . It’s a great way to support those who serve and when you know what they give it makes work meaningful xxxx
First responders and medical personnel have the closest understanding of the trauma the soldiers go through❤
True ❤️💙
Thank you mate, for recognition of our efforts and history forgotten by America despite the fact we were gave our lives and alliance for America in every war. LEST WE FORGET
I appreciate you watching and for your support! #NeverForget
@@JustAnotherArmyVet 👍
Hi from Australia thank you for sharing that son that song will never die
Thank you so much for your support! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙
I always felt that the song "he aint heavy he's my brother" would have been an amazing tribute to the American soldiers.
I know that song! And yes, it is
ANZAC day remembering are fallen and our returned soldiers 😢
Australian New Zealand Army Corps.
Lest we forget
Adelaide South Australia
Lest we forget! Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴❤️!
The title is actually "I was only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)" John Schumann from a live recording of this track says "It's a song about two mates of mine who went to Vietnam, came back Agent Orange victims. The title "A Walk in the Light Green" stems from the fact that when the Australian soldiers in Vietnam were given their missions, they looked at the areas where they'd be working in on the map and if it was dark green on the map, then there was cause for some consolation, because dark green meant thick jungle, lots of cover, and there were no mines. If they were working in areas that were light green on the map, that meant light jungle, not much cover, and heaps of mines. This is a song for Mick and Frankie. It's called "A walk in the light green". Thank You for your service. I'm an Aussie, so you didn't serve for my country, but you served for my freedom as well.
Thank you so much, my friend for your insight. I had no idea. And I do thank you for your support as well. 💙
A couple of other points, Canungra (jungle training) and Shoalwater (corrected) are training areas. Townsville is a city and port they left from. Someone else also made the point that "he was going home in June" meant that he should not have been there, his rotation out a month before had been delayed.
I wish you luck in your quest for calm.
For those of us who never joined forces, we should never forget that though we may disagree with choice to engage, that that is a political choice of our nation. Be angry at that choice, not at those who stepped forward to serve, and we owe care to them and theirs for doing so.
@@bemusedbilby3409 "the day that mankind kicked the moon" was in July, if he truly was "going home in June", that meant he had been deployed for less than a month, or for 13 months. Neither is the case. John Schumann said it as simply to rhyme with "moon", not to be taken literally.
@@bemusedbilby3409 Question the law makers but always support our troops.
@@SomeCZcamsGuy generlly they don't. Lambie being a current noticable exception.
My Dad is a Vietnam Vet. He was only 19. Came back a different guy, mum said.
He hated the way he was treated on arrival. Still, to this very day he gets upset about it. Both grandparents fought WW2 and fought the Japanese at
Kokada track. Both Pas would never talk about it, Ever!!!
My grandmother (Oma) was part of the Dutch resistance fighting against the Nazis and hiding Jews.
My husband currently serves in the Australian Army.
Thank you for your service, men and women around the world.
❤❤
Thank you. I am very proud of my husband, my father and grandparents for their servicesto our country.
Thank you for your support and my respect to your entire family for their service, especially your grandmother who was hiding Jews. Those are the stories that we need to preserve as a part of history. Love and respect from South Carolina. 🌴🙏💙
Aussie veteran with PTSD here my self, thx you for your kind words, I got all the way to the end without tears until you showed PTE kovco, thank you so much for bringing his name to light. Lest we forget
Thank you for your service. I hope you are getting help for your PTSD xx
💙🙏
He deserved to be remembered. Thank you so much for your support and kind words. I also hope you are getting help 💙🙏
Luv and peace from Tasmania, Australia.
Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴!
My husband is a Vietnam Vet and it took years for the VA to begin to acknowledge the health issues they were experiencing. But we're just grateful that they have. Thank You for your service ❤️🇺🇲
It is the thing that frustrates me the most. I have never served, but can not understand the attitude of sending these kids to war, and not wanting to deal with the human wreckage that comes back
Exactly!
I I’m glad the VA is finally giving him help and support. I do thank him for Service and I thank you for your support. 💙🙏
@@glenchapman3899
Having served in the MILITARY for 30 years -
a career that began with the RAF - having entered
with a private Pilots License since age 16
( including 2 years on attachment ti the USAF (1974-1976)
I look back and wonder where all those years disappeared to )
Time passes rapidly. Many I serve with have already departed
this earth.- and it gives me great pain.
In the MILITARY I made life-long friends - including some
who served with the RN [ ROYAL NAVY ] and AUSTRALIAN NAVY
These days I would not recommend anyone to join the MILITARY
All wars are bankers Wars - they are commercial enterprises -
generating huge profits for the elite rulers and bankers.
Thankyou for your service. My father fourt in WW two with the New Zealand forces. He would never talk about what happened to him over there. All he ever said was no movies or TV shows could show you how bad it was. He was also in a pow camp and told me that sometimes you would wish to die in your sleep, just to end it all. He was also 19 when he went to war.
Thanks so much for your support! I can’t imagine how horrible WW2 was, especially the Pacifif Front. My heart and respect goes out to him. Love from South Carolina 🌴🙏💙
I am a proud Aussie Army veteran.
Thank you for your service 💙
Thank you for your beautiful and honest reaction to this heart hitting song. I come from a military family in Australia. My Father was a Nasho (conscript) in Nam in 69/70. His card was pulled on his Birthday. He served in a covert unit in Nui Dat. He has a rash on his left leg. Most likely from agent orange.
My Dad was a metallurgist at a steelworks. He had to lie about the war on his return for fear of retribution. The Aussie Vietnam vets didn't get an official welcome home parade until 1987. As a young kid at the time, I couldn't understand why. As an adult, neither could my Mum or her parents of which her Father served as 1st officer in Royal Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked by JIF.
The treatment of our Vietnam Vets was reprehensible and despicable!
This song gives clarity, distinction, and above all, vindication.
I thank your family for his service. And I really do appreciate you sharing 🙏❤️. Respect from South Carolina 🌴!
I served in the Australian Army at that time, and I can say without a doubt what you have said about our Vietnam Vets is absolutely true, they were treated like lepers for many years after, even the RSL refused to regognise their contribution for many years, and in my own way of protest, even though I am eligible to join the RSL, I refuse to do so to this day, because of that treatment. I'm 73 years old, and even to this day this song still reduces me to tears.
@@bushranger51 I do thank you for your service! And I can understand your feelings. The RSL should have been there for its people .
Yeah i was young but in the that crowd that day
@@JustAnotherArmyVetthank you so much. I thank you too for your service
Hello Just Another Army Vet, thank you so much for your service and for posting this emotional video. My father is a Vietnam ANZAC vet and listening to your own and Red Gum’s experiences and having recently completed mental health first aid, I’ve realised that my father’s eccentric and controversial behaviour is not because he’s different, but he’s suffering in silence with PTSD. The lyrics in the song describe his mental and physical ailments perfectly.
On behalf of all Australians, I wish to convey our sincerest and heartfelt thanks to you and all US defence personnel. Without the sacrifices of your wonderful vets our way of life could have been considerably different. We appreciate your individual contributions and your gallant efforts to save Jake Kovco. I recall hearing the news and felt immense sadness at the time. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to thank you unconditionally. You are a wonderful human and your messages touch us all Down under.
Thank you my friend! I think your father for his service! I do salute you as well for doing that mental health training. I really do appreciate your support. Australia will always be in my heart. Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴❤️.
My cousin came home from vietnam & never left his parents' house for 20 years. The way he was treated when he landed was horrendous. The vietnam vets saved him, after my Mum contacted them. He has now travelled the world meeting many Vets❤
I’m so glad that he was able to get help and get connected! That is is so important 🙏💙
I'm an ex Aussie Digger. At the end of an exercise in 1985 we had a massive party/drink. Our regimental band was playing on the back of two trucks parked side by side. A major i wss drinking with asked if any of us knew "I Was Only 19". I said "yes sir, i do" ..... come with me son. I'd had a few cans before we got on the "stage". he played on an acoustic guitar and i sang. Ironically.... i was 19 at the time and i poured every bit of emotion i had into that song. After i finished i hopped off the stage and senior Diggers that were Vietnam vets came up to me with tears in their eyes and hugged me and said "thanks Macca". I still get emotional thinking of that night.
I'm lucky that i didn't go to war but another irony is I'm now living with PTS from 24 years as a professional firefighter.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I really do appreciate it. And I also thank you for your service. 💙
@JustAnotherArmyVet thank you for yours as well. Medics see more shit than most grunts. Thank you.
@@mac7083 I appreciate that 💙👍
Thank you for your understanding & compassion. I did two tours of Vietnam, as an Infantry soldier, in the Australian Regular Army ( 1967-1968; 1971) & even all these years later I am still suffering. It is not only the Australian governments that have been ignorant & unfeeling, but my family - brothers & sisters - don't want to know. I wish this great insightful song could gain more exposure. Thank you.
I thank you for your service!! My respect to you and your battle buddies. I also hope that this song could gain more exposure, especially in the US.
Welcome home digga,"duty first",I thank you for your service!
I thank you. I’m a 30 year Navy veteran wife and Defence industry professional. I and my colleagues are dedicated to supporting you and we are behind you.
@@feralpossum6529 Thank you so much for tour continued understanding & support. They mean the world to us,
You talk and I’d listen. Family may not wish to hear the reality of war, but there are many out there that would listen to what you have to say. I hope you get that opportunity. Thank you for your sacrifices.
Thank you so much for your response to this video and song, I cried with you! I knew a woman who always worked hard but was always rushing to leave! I asked her why the hurry and she said "my husband was badly affected by Agent Orange in Vietnam and so both my children are disabled! I am all they have, so I must hurry home to make sure they are all ok, and also work"! The video is very Australian, I doubt many Americans have heard it, I hope they do too! Bless you! 🤗
Thank you for sharing!l and for watching! I certainly hope that that family and others families are doing better. God bless them and you as well. 🙏💙
@@JustAnotherArmyVet It is important that these things are openly discussed, every story may be unique, but the stressors are the same! An old man may go back to war times during dementia, a young man may self medicate in his room and avoid human contact, another may deflect from their pain by helping others - these are all normal reactions in the animal world! We are able to help each other as humans, and we should, wherever we are! 🙋🙏
Goosebumps................Everytime!
Yes!
THANKYOU😊, as an AUSTRALIAN l saw the effects of PTSD from my Uncle who was in the Australian NAVY and served in Vietnam. His best mate died in his arms when they were hit by friendly fired. His struggle every day to put one foot in front of the other, the look on his face when he showed me his picture and told his story ( a look of horror,loss and guilt), you see he had just come off watch and was replaced by his mate when they got hit. It was like he was right back there as it was happening. Our boys were given a hard time, told to suck it up there’s nothing wrong with you - the support just wasn’t there, as well as dealing with the shunning from going to WAR. Thank god the AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE FORCE has seen the light, but still after so many deaths because of this back home. It’s just too sad and that song hits the truest note of all.
There are too many sailors and soldiers who went through, but your uncle went through. It’s not fair how they were treated. My love and respect to you, your uncle, and your family 💙😢
SLR - self loading rifle. Basically same as FN in UK service, similar to its contemporary US 7.62mm M14. Greens - Jungle Green uniform.
I was still in cadets in 1973, our training cadre were on rotation from Vietnam. We still trained with Brens and Lee Enfields in .303 calibre.
VB - Victoria Bitter (beer). US equivt would be Budweiser.
I worked in the DVA (Dept of Veterans Affairs) in the 90s, figuring out disability from Agent Orange, Asbestos and Nuclear Test exposure, following court cases. The culture was changing from the WWII "don't give em an inch" philosophy to "pay unless there is absolute proof of no injury".
I do appreciate your insight and I think that’s great that you worked at the VA helping Veterans 💙
The City was Townsville North Queensland, Shoal Bay and Puckapunyal down in Victoria where my Dad was mentioned early in the song.
Your dad?
Korean War that is still a training base
Shoal water bay is outside Rockhampton. It is a military Training centre.
Basically bush so it is there to try and prepare forces for actual combat conditions.
As an Australian, this song brought me to tears when it was released. And all these years later it still does. 🇦🇺 🇳🇿
🇦🇺💙🙏🇳🇿
This song always makes me cry for all the lost souls to war. So many were so young. War is so horrible. God bless you for your service. I'm an Australian and so proud this song and it's meaning.
This is a very emotional and meaningful song. Thank you so much for your support. God bless you and your family 🙏💙
Just watching your reaction ti I Was Only 19. My late brother-in-law was a Vietnam Vet, he was in the most well known Australian battle, Long Tan, and on Anzac Day I always take the time to watch this song and end up with tears in my eyes.
My respect to your brother-in-law for his service. I’m sorry for his loss. I’ll have to look up that battle.
@@JustAnotherArmyVet Yes you should look it up, hopefully an Australian version. It's an incredible example of Anzac bravery and endurance under impossible odds!
@@JustAnotherArmyVet The movie " Danger Close" is a fair description of events. Good film.
Bill Akell is a member of my local RSL and a mate . He was just a kid but ran around the battlefield with the radio and fetching ammo. I also served with 6 RAR but in 2000 in East Timor. We won our Vietnam war with the help of our mates the NZ artillery.
@@samphillips2360 They had vets that were in the battle consulting on set for that movie. You cant get much more real than that .
Those places are Army training grounds, Canungra is in QLD, my dad was in Vietnam & now he has passed away he has a plaque & flag in "the Grove" a living memorial on the base. He was part of 1000 strong team, tactical training of the Vietnam soldiers, the AATTV, They were the first in & the last to leave. Lest we forget 🌺🇦🇺
My respect to your father and his Battle Buddies. I’m sorry for your loss.
Thank you, and thank you for your service & your help with our Australian soldiers. My Dad bottled everything up & had many many health issues, so do I. After hearing what you said, I started to look into studies that have been done about the pesticides etc. I hadn't really thought about the connection, I appreciate you talking about that.
@@beebee1676 it’s an important topic. I appreciate you sharing. I hope you and your father are doing better 💙
AATTV > AUSTRALIAN ARMY Training Team Vietnam
Lest we bloody forget.
Lest we forget
I was at the Essendon v Collingwood Anzac Day football game this year. My wife and I attended the pre match brunch at the Crown in Melbourne, where Schuman was a special guest. I'm 50 years old, and I have always loved this song. My mates and I all have huge respect for our fathers and uncles that went to a senseless war. Seeing this live and stripped down on that morning, April 25 2024, was a very special treat, and there were tears. Incredible story, incredible song 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thank you so much for sharing and I thank all the Veterans of this horrible war. Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏
Thank you for perspective on this song, it means a lot to me and to most Australians.
“Lest We Forget”
And I thank you for listening and for your support. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴!
Lieutenant P. A. Hines was the man that stepped on the mine he was Frankie's platoon leader, frank and 17 others were injured, it was not long after them hearing about man walking on the moon over the radio ,when writing the song they agreed to change the name to Frankie cause they were worried that publicity and interest around the song would have added an unnecessary burden for the Hines family
Oh wow. That was probably a wise decision. Thank you for sharing that!
@@JustAnotherArmyVet to make it worse it was a American made m16 antipersonnel mine mine he stepped on, then a bit later on in the war the same unit stepped on another mine and that one killed the only NCO that was not injured by the first mine
@@daft_ss6917 the North Vietnamese had American weapons?? That just makes it even worse. You were right. 😢
@@JustAnotherArmyVet it was just a bad time for everyone, some of my dad's friends were there, I once made the mistake of playing this song a BBQ as a kid , half the guys there broke down and dad was yell at me to turn it off, it was the first time I was a grown man cry, it was the first time as a kid I realized their war stories they used to sit around and tell weren't cool like they seem in movies
@@daft_ss6917 This really is a powerful song. I can imagine they could bring up a flood of emotions and even PTSD. 😢
Thank you for helping to look after our Diggers in their time of need.
Much respect.
It was my honor. Respect from South Carolina 🌴🙏💙
This song has never failed to choke me up.
Lest We Forget.
Lest We Forger 🙏💙
Pucka, (Puckapunyal) was an Australian Army Base. In the first version of National Service, I was too young to be 'called up'. In the second version, I was too old, and married, so again, wasn't 'called up'. I thank God every day, that I "missed" Vietnam
Thank you for your insight and thank you for sharing. Vietnam was definitely an experience that was worth missing….
AUSTRALIAN ARMY
not Australian Army
make an effort to write it correctly
It's not difficult
My Great Aunty, Leslie Estelle Cowper was a Nurse (NZ) who died in Vietnam from a gastric illness. She was the only nurse who died during the war.
I’m sorry for your loss! My respect to her and her fellow nurses and vets!
My heart goes out to the Aussie and kiwi vets. American vet at least had each other. Some anzacs don't even have that.
Very true 😢
Iam Australian thank you and God Bless America
God bless! Respect and love from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏
If it wasn't for the sacrifice and bravery of US forces the Japs would have taken Australia and killed all the Aussie men LEST WE FORGET
Thank you for this. My dad is an Aussie Vietnam vet.
You are welcome! And thank you father for his service ❤️
The places named in the first verse are army training camps. Australian troops were very well trained.
Yes they are! 👍🙂
Lest we forget from Australia. I'm so ashamed of how we treat our vets who fought so hard for us ❤❤
United States did the same thing for our returning Vietnam veterans 😕
Your face is so moving. I can feel your pain and empathy. It is people like yourself who bring it home so strongly. 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for your support and thanks for watching. 🙏💙
Thanks for reacting to this important and revered song. Thanks for sharing the experience of your service in Iraq. Medical staff see some of the worst of the effects of war and definitely need as much respect and support as frontline soldiers.
Oh just for clarification, Puckapunyal, Canungra and Shoalwater are military bases.l
Thank you so much for your support and for your insight. I would do appreciate it. 💙
Sending you a warm hug from Western Australia and to anyone who served 🙏❤️
Respect from South Carolina 🌴!❤️💙🙏
My dad fought in the Vietnam war. Your reaction to this song touched me. Thank you from this Australian! ❤️
Thank your father for his service and thank you for your support! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙🙏
As an Australian this song still brings a tear to my eyes every time I hear it.
Such an emotional and powerful song!
I must admit, plus 50 years and I still sleep light/
Many veterans experience that
My brother's platoon served in Vietnam.(Australian Army) He was not allowed to go on medical grounds, However his platoon lost 8 men in one mine incident and he was never the same for about 10 years after. Thank you for your exhortation that this be widespread as a means of validation
That must’ve been a hear wrenching and terrifying experience. My heart and respect goes out to your brother and of his battle buddies. My respect to them
As an Australian this song is voice for veterans returning home from the battle field with terrible scares physical and mentally never forget their service so we can live in peace
Well said 💙
As an Australian coping with PTSD and RV travelling around this country Australia I love with a passion, only finding my peace when being 'offgrid' in the outback.
I've met many of our Vietnam Veterans, plus a one family member who has served. He still suffers from Malaria, Agent Orange fallout, and FLASHBACKS.
Our 'HEROES' who can't deal with /face the demands of modern day society.
After listening to their combined, heartfelt and horrendous memories, and the LIFELONG BONDS they have with their combat teams.
I could see the devastation of detachment and the mental wounds that war has left them facing.
And unfortunately their PERSONALITY changes effects their family and friends.
Thankyou John Schuman for your words and your TRUTH, a song that reaches every atom in my body and so many others touched by your words..
TRUE BLUE AUSSIES HEROES everyone of them.
# RESPECT
🥰👍🇦🇺
I’m glad that you have found peace. I do hope that others with PTSD can also find piece… love and respect from South Carolina!! 🌴🙏💙
I remember an interview with John Schuman where he said that he wrote this song after talking to actual veterans from Viet- Nam. He also spoke about the the character 'Frankie', whom he also spoke to. When I saw the images of 'Frankie', I realised that I had seen 'Frankie' in his wheelchair outside the Sydney Town Hall. This song touches us in ways we don't understand at the time, but, makes us feel so much.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share. I appreciate it 💙
Frankie's name is Frank Hunt. My husband was also a Vienam Veteran (2 tours 1966-67 and 1969-70). He served in the RAAF (Royal Australia Air Force). He was also on the organising commitee for the Welcome Home March in Sydney in 1987. As he was the only RAAFie on the committee, he was tasked with organising the RAAF, using his connections to people still serving in the RAAF, in assisting getting disabled and remote veterans to fly into Sydney for the March. He also organised 100 wheelchairs to be supplied from the Veterans' Affairs hospital at Concord. When Frank arrived as one of the guests of honour they immediately realised he needed one of those wheelchairs. He had been fighting for years to get one through the Department of Veterans' Affairs with but no luck. That wheelchair went home with him that day.
On arrival at Richmond Air Force Base, one of the men from one the flights handed my husband a brown paper bag.They had done a whip around on the plane and that money they raised was the foundation of what culminated in the Vietnam Veteran's War Memorial in Canberra.
My abiding memory when my husband had me count the money was that in that bag were $1 dollar notes in it. These bank notes had been out of circulation in Australia since 1984 (replaced with the $1 coin). In order to cope with their PTSD, many veterans had 'gone bush' to limit their contact with people. They had the courage to come to Sydney and they were welcomed with open arms. That was the turning point for many Veterans to feel that they were accepted and begin the long road to healing.
Wow…all these years I have been listening to this awesome song, and I thought that ‘Frankie’ must have passed away on the day that he kicked the landmine?
I have never served our country… I am Australian, and although my grandfather served in the British army, he died when I was very young so I didn’t grow up hearing war stories or anything like that… but I have always had an immense gratitude and respect for anyone who served and I made sure to pass that on to my children.
To this day, ‘I was only 19’ gets put on my car’s playlist at least twice a week and it NEVER fails to bring me goosebumps! Each of my 4 children, ages 40 to 21, know every word by heart and I know that my 21 year old daughter also listens to it very often.
That same daughter worked for Macca’s a few years back and, one day, a whole crew of over 20 soldiers came in and, as she served each and every one of them, she finished off with “Thank you so much for you service”… she also did this every time a serviceman/woman came through… over the 4 months that she worked there, this earned her the title of ‘Customer Service Member of the Year’ for that group of Macca’s 5 stores.
@@mattersofthehartbynat8815 Maccas is a restaurant?
@@janemcdonald5372 I certainly did not know any of that. My respect!! Thank you for sharing.! 💙🙏
"Agent Orange is unique to Vietnam"
Toxic Burn Pits has entered the conversation
True…
Australia was side by side with our brothers the USA for nearly 100 years , we both supported each other and will always do the same !
Respect! 🇦🇺💙🇺🇸
Thank you. Ex-ADF and Grandfather in New Guinea in WW2. Visit the Vietnam Vets Museum at Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island (if you are in Australia). I spent 2 days there...there is a rolling screen that outlines the profile of every Australian who died in Vietnam. I kept one in my heart as I live the rest of my life...LT B.A.R. Jones...he had a wife in W A - Patricia - and died at 23. RIP! Thank you for your service.
My respect to your grandfather for serving! I would love to visit Australia one day. It’s on my bucket list . I’m sorry for your loss… Thanks for your support 💙
Thank you for your heartfelt reaction. This song always bring a tear to my eyes.
Thank you to you and all the brave men and women who served their countries in time of war.
We thank you for your support 💙
As a Aussie that has many war vet's in my family regardless of first hearing this song over 40 year's ago it still brings me to tears every time listened.
It is a really tear jerker
@@JustAnotherArmyVet You really need to react to,Eric Bogle "The band played Waltzing Matilda." It's a truly deep song about Australian WW1 vet's & ANZAC day. Very hard hitting & guarantee it'll make you cry.
I was a grunt in the eighties and most NCOs/officers who trained me were Vietnam vets. I got to hear their stories. My step father was a pilot there during the conflict. These guys helped me get through seeing a comrade in arms get his head blown off. I’ll never get over it but learnt how to deal with it. I use to hunt as a kid but couldn’t kill anything after the experience and left the army. That’s why the movie The Deer Hunter is close to my heart. That’s my experience but what those boys went through was far worse.
They showed Sledge having the same moment back home, not being able to hunt (in the last episode of the mini series “The Pacific.”). I think that probably happened to a lot of people. I’m sorry about your experience. But I’m glad that you are dealing with it. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴🙏💙
My dad was an Australian Vietnam veteran, he suffered from PTSD he was with the Royal Australian Ordnance Corps in the AFPO, Army Field Post Office.
The story of his enlistment according to mum, now aged 82 was that dad came home from work and told her "I think I joined the army today."
Mum said, "what do you mean?"
Dad told her that he accompanied his mate for moral support and that his mate was rejected but he was accepted.
Dad died three years ago and as a kid from Brisbane, State of Queensland i recall dad diving for cover along the city footpath when a car backfired.
Dad trained at Canungra, Kapooka and Shoalwater Bay near where Iive today. US armed forces come to Queensland for army exercises with Australian and Singaporean armies
Thank you so much for sharing and and respect to your father for his service. I’m sorry for your loss. 🙏💙
Canungra (Jungle Training Centre) Shoalwater Bay (a larger training area)
Thank you!
And Townsville, where they embarked, is our largest army base!
@@jenniferharrison8915 that’s in Queensland?
@@JustAnotherArmyVet Yes, sorry on the North Coast of Queensland!
👍🙂
We will remember them
#NeverForget
My uncle who served in Vietnam after watching one of his brother’s after another of his patron lose they life to cancers related to exposures to agent orange but no one cared enough to listen. He was a brave gallant man, who, sadly after to many funerals, took his own life because he believed he had let his men down. War is bad enough, but the injustice done to these bravest of men was cruel beyond belief they deserved so much better.😢
I’m so sorry. Such a tragic story. And unfortunately, that happened to a lot of vets 😢😢
@@JustAnotherArmyVet yes it was a great loss for us, but heartbreaking to watch his little boys grow up without him, no amount of medals and stories could ever do justice of the amazing man he was. Sadly just another victim who fought for his men, as long as he could. 😪
@@9eyeswideopen it’s not fair 😢😢😢
I'm 70 now, too young to go to Vietnam at the time, not fit enough anyway(asthma & flat feet) but this song never fails to bring me to tears
Such an emotional song!
That starter video with John explaining his brother in law’s (and other vets experiences) in Vietnam + his own experience with trying to help our vets deal with PTSD post deployment is just beyond…where did you dig that up? I Was Only 19 is a tribute to all vets and listening to that song and your reaction today, ANZAC day, our day of respect for veterans of all external conflicts, is very special. Thank you. ❤ Also…thank you for YOUR service to your country and helping our guys in their line of duty. You have seen things nobody should ever see and please believe that we thank you and respect you for doing your duty! ❤BTW… that rash “that comes and goes” has been been proved to be a form of cancer, Mycosis Fungoides, a cutaneous T cell lymphoma that originally presents as a rash similar to a fungal infection of the skin and progresses to untreatable skin tumours over many, many years (30+ years) that is caused by exposure to Agent Orange and similar chemicals. (According to my Dad’s Heamatologist) This cancer is being experienced by not just Vietnam vets but also by our farmers who delt with these same sort of chemicals in the 60’s-80’s. I lost my father to this disease last year. 😢 He was not a vet as he was exempt from service as a farmer, but he always made sure we had respect for those who served in his stead and always felt guilty he was not allowed to serve.
I am so sorry for your loss! I know that must be hard. I do appreciate your insight. I just hope that these vets get the help that they need. My respect goes out to all Vets! I got the introduction video from someone who just pointed me to the video on CZcams. I’m pretty sure I have it linked down in my description box. Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙!
Loved the reaction. The songs a brilliant one.
Cunugra base was back in the Vietnam era where most of our jungle training was completed before going to Vietnam.
We lost more men killed and wounded to mines then anything else in Vietnam.
The Australian government essentially waited for agent Orange victims to die off so they didn't have to pay them compensation.
Thank you so much for sharing your insight. That is sad what happened with the agent orange.
@@JustAnotherArmyVet was always interested in the different stories as a young kid and still am.
Lots of things buried below the surface it's interesting what you find with a bit of digging. We're slowly improving how our defence personnel are looked after but a lot of it it is still pretty adhoc in the way it's organised. Lot of volunteer organisations etc. Also thanks for looking after private kovko.
@@matthewcharles5867 it’s good that private and volunteer organizations are stepping up. And of course- Jake was fellow Soldier, a battle buddy. 🙏🇦🇺
Actually it is CANUNGRA. I spent a lot of time there & now live only a few miles away.
……love this song, as spent time in our Army 🇦🇺
! Love and respect from South Carolina 🌴💙