Vietnam comrades remember
FOR Barry Olsen, Geelong’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day service is about “camaraderie” and remembering the destruction of war.
Fifty years after he served in the conflict, Mr Olsen yesterday returned to his hometown to march in the parade and catch up with old mates.
“Like a lot of us (Vietnam veterans), I have a tendency to isolate myself from time to time, so it’s nice to touch base with everyone and get around the people you know who’ve had that shared experience,” he said.
Mr Olsen, 71, was in his early 20s when he was conscripted to serve in the artillery.
He served in 1967 and 1968 and saw with his own n eyes the horror caused by y Agent Orange chemicals, als, and how the war destroyed and displaced families es and their homes. .
He also remembers returning home to Australia, where anti-war protesters spat and kicked at him.
Despite those e hardships, the builder and former mer policeman says he does not regret his time in the army, citing ng the lessons learned and friends made.
Geelong Vietnam Veterans Association president Rieny Nieuwenhof said services such as yesterday’s helped wash away some of the pain caused by b the nasty hom homecoming many veterans were subjected to to. “It’s a bit of a blot on our history, the way they were treated,” he said. “It’s been 50 years now, and every time we have a service or commemoration people come up and say ‘We know you were treated poorly, we want to show you our appreciation now’.”
Mr Nieuwenhof said seeing the Vietnam veterans’ flag flying at Geelong City Hall after yesterday’s service in North Geelong symbolised to him the warmth with which he and his colleagues were now held.
About 200 people attended yesterday’s service, with some members of the GVVA also planning to take part in Long Tan Day commemorations at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on Saturday.