The day that signalled the end of WWII and a battle during the Vietnam War that wasn’t spoken of, both served as messages to remember the sacrifices made by service personnel, at a commemoration on Saturday.
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Vietnam Veterans Day memorial service and a Victory In the Pacific service were acknowledged.
In his address, veteran Ian McMaster, spoke about the 1968 battles at fire support bases ‘Coral’ and ‘Balmoral’. Which were Australia’s most protracted and costly conflicts of the Vietnam War.
Despite this, he said information on the battles wasn’t released to the public, even though they were visited and thanked personally by then Prime Minister John Gorton.
“With 80 per cent of Australian citizens against our involvement in the Vietnam War and tens of thousands protesters in all major Australian cities, it would’ve been political suicide for the Liberal Party led government to release such information. Of 26 Australians killed, over 100 seriously wounded, most being 21 to 24 years old,” he said.
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Earlier this year gallantry awards were presented to mark the 50th anniversary.
“This little-known, horrific event, now takes its place in Australian war history,” Mr McMaster said.
Geoff Robinson, president of the Mudgee RSL Sub-Branch, gave the Victory in the Pacific service address.
“The 14th of August 1945 was a momentous day in the history of Australia, when Japan accepted unconditional demand of surrender from the allies. Bringing peace throughout south-east Asia and the Pacific,” he said.
“The following day the Australian government gazetted a public holiday as Victory in the Pacific Day. Wednesday just gone was the 73rd anniversary of that first 15th of August, when the whole country celebrated with relief after four long years of sacrifice on battlefields throughout the pacific and hard work by those on the home front to keep the war machine functioning.
“On Wednesday though after asking several people what was significant about the date, who did not know the answer, it appears the importance of that day is waning in the memories of many in the population.”
He closed by saying, “the loss of 39,000 lives in the various battles and prisoner of war camps should give us pause for thought, for without that sacrifice we would not be enjoying our way of life today.”