I can never listen to this song without 😢. The way they were treated on their return was fecking disgraceful 😡. Respect for our servicemen/women 👏👌💪. Wonderful song written and sung by a great band 👌
The problem was that our universities and the ALP were being funded by Russia via a small army of KGB operatives in Australia......although many ALP traitors preferred the Chinese money to the Russian. For our American friends, the ALP is the Australian Labour Party, our version of your Democrat Party......and like your Democrats they are 100 % socialist rat bags and gangsters who hate DEMOCRACY but are expert liars.
The brother-in-law of Redgum singer Shane Neumann was drafted for Vietnam and his memories inspired this song. Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) operated Iroquois and Chinooks along with Mirage fighters, Camberra bombers and Caribou transport aircraft. Only in the 90s did the Royal Australian Army get it's own helos and Hercules in an air wing. Australian troops in Vietnam adopted the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong - hence they patrolled on foot, with no armour but could call in mortar, artillery and air strikes. This has informed Australian training of regular troops - they are all specialists in weapons or comms and trained to Marine level. Australia lost 505 killed for 60,000 who served in Vietnam . The Battle of Long Tan defending Nui Dat mentioned in the song is regarded as the finest hour. My Brother in Law was in one draft but his number wasn't drawn. My brother was 18, not a smoker and was chain smoking the night Gough Whitlam was elected because the first thing the Labor government did was ended conscription.
I was a soldier in the Vietnam war, the Australians had their own task force and did not at that time train with US orces, initially they did fight with them, but objected to American tactics, which was the desire to pull out VC and NVA troops to fight and kill them en masse, this did NOT work and Australians requested their own area of ops, in August of 1966 the Australians fought an engagement at Long Tan, the ONLY foreign war memorial that has been allowed to exist in Vietnam is the one to this battle, approximately 108 soldiers were ambushed by mainly NVA forces numbering about 2,500, the 2,500 went away beaten with huge casualties and from that point Autralian operations areas were seldom ever challenged by NVA /VC again, some battles yes but not many. As Australians did NOT heavily rely on US assistance they did not encounter much agent orange either.
This song's message is brutal and was huge on the Oz radio when it was first released. It made me cry then, and it makes me cry now. Being a returned soldier yourself (unless I'm mistaken), I'd like to sincerely thank you for your service. I can't imagine what you've seen and live with to this day. A hard and challenging reaction to do.
@@SonofBuck-f7z The Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra has the following stanza from the song etched in it THEN SOMEONE CALLED OUT 'CONTACT!' AND THE BLOKE BEHIND ME SWORE WE HOOKED IN THERE FOR HOURS, THEN A GOD - ALMIGHTY ROAR FRANKIE KICKED A MINE, THE DAY THAT MANKIND KICKED THE MOON GOD HELP ME, HE WAS GOING HOME IN JUNE
Man landed on the moon in July...he states Frankie was going home in June....a suble reference to the fact a lot of soldiers were kept on longer than their deployment.
The guy in the chopper that stared into the camera was Brian Lamb, he was a couple of my good mates father and was a hell of a bloke. He never spoke much about the war, loved science fiction books and loaned me a few back in the day to read. He was a real role model for a lot of us younger blokes. He passed early this year. I get a little misty every time I see him on this clip.
Here are the lyrics- "I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green)" Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing Out parade at Puckapunyal It was a long march from cadets The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left And Townsville lined the footpaths As we marched down to the quay This clipping from the paper Shows us young and strong and clean And there's me in me slouch hat with me SLR and greens God help me - I was only nineteen From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat I'd been in and out of choppers now for months And we made our tents a home V.B. and pinups on the lockers And an Asian Orange sunset through the scrub And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep? And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16? And what's this rash that comes and goes Can you tell me what it means? God help me - I was only nineteen A four week operation When each step can mean your last one on two legs It was a war within yourself But you wouldn't let your mates down 'Til they had you dusted off So you closed your eyes and thought about somethin' else And then someone yelled out "Contact" And the bloke behind me swore We hooked in there for hours Then a God almighty roar And Frankie kicked a mine The day that mankind kicked the moon God help me - he was goin' home in June And I can still see Frankie Drinkin' tinnies in the Grand Hotel On a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung Tau And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle 'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row And the ANZAC legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel God help me - I was only nineteen And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep? And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet? And what's this rash that comes and goes Can you tell me what it means? God help me, I was only nineteen ♡ ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ◇ Puckapunyal was a miltary training site in the State of Victoria, Canungra and Shoalwater and Townsville are towns in Queensland. ♤ Agent Orange caused the rash that "comes and goes". ♧ the story of Frankie is so heartwrenching. When the world was staring at the wonder of landing on the moon, the war and the soldiers were being forgotten about. 😢 My dear ex neighbour was a medic. We live in Western Australia. He was drafted (there were conscriptions to this war), and flown to Queensland to train. It was only a matter of a few weeks. He has told me some stories that I was honoured to hear about. He married his Vietnam bride and they raised a lovely family. She has since passed. Another resident down the road went as well. Both are outstanding people. Thanks for your service.
I remember sitting at a table at work eating my lunch with a whole group of old boys that were freinds of my boss. I knew my boss was a Vietnam Vet, but not the others. It was ANZAC day, so I probably should of put two and two together. Anyway, we suddenly heard the unique Chuff, Chuff, Chuff sound and you should of seen them all light up in a heart beat. "That sounds like a bloody Huey!" We all ran outside and sure enough, there was a Huey flying across the the nearby golf course on its way to the local airport or another event somewhere. They all got excited to see one again. When we got back inside all the stories began.
John Schumann, the lead singer of Redgum (named after a type of Australian native tree), wrote this song about the experiences of his brother-in-law and other veterans who were conscripted for the Vietnam War. When we visited Vietnam as tourists some years ago, the Vietnamese told us that know it as the American War.
If you want to know a bit more about the Australian involvement in Vietnam then check out “The Battle of Long Tan” documentary narrated by Sam Worthington.
Was talking to my girlfriend the other day. Her brother went to Vietnam. She still remembers along with her parents being worried every day if he’d come home safely. Thank goodness he did. He’s ok, has grandchildren now, leading a happy life. But his sister my friend still remembers worrying about him every day he was in Vietnam. So I can’t imagine the hell some of our Aussie vets went through.
The rash they were talking about was from Agent Orange... theres a video that Redgum released only relatively recently that talks about the song and the impact its had on Australian veterans
This came out in the '80's, and it made us all wake up and take notice. PTSD was not acknowledged and we needed to do so. It didn't fix the issues, but it certainly got the ball rolling I think. Still so much work to be done 😢 Thanks for putting this out there, loving your channel/✌❤
Hi Mike, have just found your channel and am loving it. Thank you for your service and continued service as a police officer you guys don't get the credit you deserve God bless you sir🙏
This song affects me differently, than the soldiers that were in Vietnam. I joined the Royal Australian Navy as an 18 year old, straight from High school; and as l was turning 19, l was aboard HMAS SYDNEY(aka The Vung Tau Ferry) taking those soldiers to Vietnam. I think I did about 6 or 7 trips to Vietnam in 8 months. What affected me, was bringing back the personal belongings of those boys who lost their lives; some within the first 3 months, l tried putting that behind me then this song came out. This experience, helped me understand my father's reluctance to talk about WWII; like him, l never marched on ANZAC Day until my wife encouraged me. I wear my father's medals, every ANZAC Day; especially when l could physically march, in honour of my father's service.
G’Day mate please listen to the 2015 release of this where John Schumann gives an explanation about why he wrote 19 prior to performing it. Like your channel. Cheers Kev
Australia had its own army in Vietnam and we lost a lot of our young men but we were there to support America. A lot of Aussies didn’t like it and a lot still don’t. Khe Sahn by Cold Chisel (which you have done) is the memories of a vet.
As always we follow our American brothers into battle, interesting to hear the version where John Williamson explains how and why he wrote the song and now his active help with groups treating PTSD here in Australia...
First up thank you for your service, it doesn't matter if your US, AUST. UK, NZ or who ever, you all put your life on the line for our freedom. I'm loving your reactions, you are one of the very few reators to fully comprehend (due to your service) that the US wasn't alone in all the conflict. All vets brought back with them a pice of the conflict. Im guessing thats the price of our freedom, the vets paid it forward and we should be paying back.
As an Australian who was totally disgusted by the way our guys (and the service personnel of the USA) were treated when they returned from Vietnam, I made a point of making my first priority on my visit to Washington DC in 2013 to head straight to your Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I was fortunate that my number never came up during "conscription" but I obviously knew people who went. They never came back the same. I will never forgive the Australian government for how they treated our men and women on their return home, and for many years after. In my opinion probably the most shameful part of our history in the 20th century.
Yes, Shameful is a nice word to use. My dad was killed in Viet Nam, it just took him til 2017 to die. Agent orange destroyed his body little by little until he could fight no longer. The government gave me a bronze plaque to put at the foot of his grave. Bullshit!
I had friends that went to Vietnam and those that came back were never the same. They were treated like criminals for doing what their Country asked of them. They were not allowed to march each year with soldiers from every other war. Many took their own lives and I remember being so angry at how they were treated. I also remember the first year they were allowed to March and watching my husband’s mate break down and cry because he was finally accepted when he always should have been. I watched him have his lungs drained of fluid up to 3 times a week. I was so ashamed of what our Vietnam Vets were put through. I am Australian and my Uncle became a US Marine in Sydney Australia at 17. He was old enough to fight in the last two years of WW2. He didn’t tell me until he was in his 80’s and I asked him why the Marines and not one of our Services. He told me they offered the best deal and because he had done a Seamanship course while he decided what he wanted to do at University he went in as an Officer. He had to teach for 12 weeks until he turned 18 and then he was put on the ship with the head of your military and fought and won the battle of the Coral Sea. He was awarded 10 medals for 2 years service but our Country would only allow him to accept two and not until he was 83 years old. Only then because those two had the Pacific Rim on them. Governments have much to answer for. Listen to a song called The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. It is about war and the band did play that as the ships left here and returned. It is just as sad as this one. Thank you.
Aussie soldiers 18-30 years conscripted for Vietnam war& & treated badly on return thanks to Peace activists They fought in "light green" area (open spaces ) Check out LONG TAN battle in plantation there won by Anzacs
They were not conscripted between the ages of 18-30. The age for conscription in the Vietnam in Australia was 20. Check your history books. I was 19 on my first tour, as an Infantry soldier; I turned 23 on my second tour, again I was in Infantry.
National Conscription, known as the Birthday Ballot, sent more than 15,300 National Servicemen to Vietnam along with Regular Army personnel; their ages range between 18 and 21.
I love this song. I'm so glad you reacted to it. However, I am concerned that whoever recced it didn't give you a heads up. I really think people should explain what it's about when recommending a song like this to an ex-serviceman. It's unfair to expect a vet to go into it blind, when we have no way ok knowing what memories it might bring up. ----- I'm not American. Nonetheless, I thank you for your service. People like you are why people like me can can sit safely in our living rooms commenting on random reaction videos.
Hi Mike I enjoy all your Aussie reactions...I emigrated to Australia from the UK back in 1970 during the Vietnam war and made friends with some returned soldiers from the war they told me some of their experiences but did not really like to talk too much about it, we did get magazines with stories and graphic pictures of horrific atrocities. My heart goes out to all Vietnam Vets here and in the USA...I don't know if you have already reacted to the Eric Bogle song "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" if not it really is worth reacting to, it is all about the Aussie soldiers in Turkey during the first WW...The song is a very moving and sad one.
Like you I also missed Vietnam but only by months ( we pulled out in 1972). I also trained in Australia with US Marines and Special Forces. We ran a jungle training course for both Aussies and Yanks ( plus Kiwis, Filipinos, Thai's etc.) The lyrics mention Shoalwater and Kanungra , these were the training sites and are still in use. Interesting memories of you Marines ...many of you had trained in the US and Panama but still had a lot to learn !
the subtitle to this song (walk in the light green) refers to the most dangerous patrols, in areas marked on the maps in light green, light cover- either rice paddies or jungle defoliated with agent orange
My brother was due to go but got medical stand down because of his breathing. Nose still broken at his medical. His platoon went and 8 of them died in the one mine explosion.. Sad song with true meaning.
No the Australian troups were trained at Puckapunial (spelling?) and many were conscripts not regular soldiers...Politically used to appease overseas interest... On return many were treated shamefully and were even told not to wear their uniforms in public due to the 'marxist unions and Labor Government leanings. But majority of Aussies welcomed them home with gratitude they had survived. WE hear you Mike...and can read between the lines lol
Did everyone miss this one I see only 1 like. There is another version where he talks about the impact this made amongst vets and got some things happening. PTSD15 Special Recording "I Was Only 19" John Schumann
Lingo decode: Puckapunyal- the main base where you start out. Canugra and Shoalwater did jungle training. Slouch hat- the hat with one brim turned up at the side. SLR- the Australian made version of the FAL. Greens- the plain green non camouflage uniform. Chinook- the two bladed big chopper. (The huey HU-1 is the one rotor chopper you see alot in this clip). VB- Victoria Bitter, a very good Australian beer. I have heard the U.S. navy call it victor bravo when i was a barman. You know what an M-16 is. Dust off- air rescue of wounded usually by huey landing or winching. Drinking tinnies- tinnie is a can of beer. The footage shows Austraians drinking Budweiser. Theyre definately Aussies because our dogtags were different. One circular one hexagon shaped. Often on a bootlace not a chain like the U.S. used. The channel 7 chopper was the traffic report / sports events t.v. chopper for channel 7. It was alot more noticable in the 80s just because there was less chopper traffic over the cities. It was quite common to hear the channel 7 chopper if you were out and about in the city. "Can you tell me doctor"- everyone the vets went to for help, couldn't help
A truly heartwrenching song. There is another Aussie song, that is along the storyline of this one. James Blundell - Postcards From Saigo. It is well worth checking out.
The song is subtitled "a walk in the light green". "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". John Schumann (Redgum). A direct quote from a live version of this song I have.
My uncle and a couple of mates went my uncle never came home but I remember hearing this in 1983 it brought tears to my eyes and still does one died in 1990 from agent Orange we had a nursing home near me and when they came out you saw bits missing and wondered how they were still alive or whatever to be
Another great reaction mate . Just letting you know that your picture isnt on the Title page for this reaction , and i reckon that might have cost you some views . Keep it up bloke most of this music is from my youth , it's awsome. Thanks .
I hit the like button, though I wasn't sure I should. Liking war is not something I do. But none of us should forget the sacrifice these brave young boys made, and everyone who goes to war sacrifices their lives. Weather it's on the field of battle or in the anguish the public will tell you is survival. Your life is gone.😢
Mate, Australians from Delta Company 6RAR fought one of the most deadly and dangerous battles of the Vietnam War in Long Tan. Really worth checking out when you have time.
My sense of it is that this song, as well as a few others along the same lines were very well supported by the public because people do empathise; it the The Dept. of Defense who don’t want to know about it because of the threat to recruitment. Now we have to outsource soldiering to other countries.
The band played Waltzing Matilda. BY Eric Bogle. Australia's story of the reality of WW1 horror of Gallipoli. The event ANZAC day is based on. it's a hard listen.
We had a young Cambodian kid about ten near my place every time a plane flew over he hid under our house or a tree he was so scared I can't imagine what he saw at 16 he hung himself
Australia made a commitment or better word an honour pack as a nation after the USA turned the tide in our back yard or the pacific in WW2. After that we have always been there in every conflict the US has been involved in, always will be. Honour bound.
Australian men, no matter what war they went to, never talk about it. Talking is not the MANLY thing to do! I had a friend who served in Nam, the only thing he ever shared was that on his 21st birthday he turned to speak to his mate, but his mate wasn’t there anymore. Our Vietnam vets were treated very badly because the Australian population didn’t think we should have been fighting a war that had nothing to do with us. My friend eventually committed suicide. 😢
Not an Aussie song, but I would recommend Motorhead’s “1916”, which is an uncharacteristically somber song written from the perspective of a young WWI soldier.
Australia 🇦🇺 has joined America 🇺🇸 in most conflicts since WW2 because of our ANZUS Treaty. Please, look it up. We had to go to Vietnam alongside you. Not, under you!! We were/are a very small country and we have sacrificed many boys in conflicts overseas. Two cousins were called up, and were never the same.
I hope I didn't imply that the Aussies went to any war under Americans, because that is NOT how we feel. We absolutely feel we were side by side and we still do. We love our aussie cousins and think they are the bravest of the brave.
I think you need to research Australia’s input into that war before you say another word. We lost way too many civilians for you to discount our input.
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This song brought PTSD into the public discourse and changed the public's perception of Vietnam vets in Australia. Powerfull and much revered song.
Yes, it is very powerful.
👍
Very cool
I can never listen to this song without 😢. The way they were treated on their return was fecking disgraceful 😡. Respect for our servicemen/women 👏👌💪. Wonderful song written and sung by a great band 👌
As U said people don't want to know about this but they saved what we have now 😢
The problem was that our universities and the ALP were being funded by Russia via a small army of KGB operatives in Australia......although many ALP traitors preferred the Chinese money to the Russian.
For our American friends, the ALP is the Australian Labour Party, our version of your Democrat Party......and like your Democrats they are 100 % socialist rat bags and gangsters who hate DEMOCRACY but are expert liars.
❤❤
In Australia. In the 70's everyone pretended and no one talked about it. But now. We talk about it all the time.... We don't hide it or pretend.
I’m 80 now and I remember those boys. They came home with PTSD and agent orange symptoms.
The brother-in-law of Redgum singer Shane Neumann was drafted for Vietnam and his memories inspired this song.
Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) operated Iroquois and Chinooks along with Mirage fighters, Camberra bombers and Caribou transport aircraft. Only in the 90s did the Royal Australian Army get it's own helos and Hercules in an air wing.
Australian troops in Vietnam adopted the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong - hence they patrolled on foot, with no armour but could call in mortar, artillery and air strikes. This has informed Australian training of regular troops - they are all specialists in weapons or comms and trained to Marine level.
Australia lost 505 killed for 60,000 who served in Vietnam .
The Battle of Long Tan defending Nui Dat mentioned in the song is regarded as the finest hour.
My Brother in Law was in one draft but his number wasn't drawn. My brother was 18, not a smoker and was chain smoking the night Gough Whitlam was elected because the first thing the Labor government did was ended conscription.
I assume you mean John Schumann ( lead singer for Redgum who wrote this song) based on the experiences of his brother-in-law, Mick Storan...
I was a soldier in the Vietnam war, the Australians had their own task force and did not at that time train with US orces, initially they did fight with them, but objected to American tactics, which was the desire to pull out VC and NVA troops to fight and kill them en masse, this did NOT work and Australians requested their own area of ops, in August of 1966 the Australians fought an engagement at Long Tan, the ONLY foreign war memorial that has been allowed to exist in Vietnam is the one to this battle, approximately 108 soldiers were ambushed by mainly NVA forces numbering about 2,500, the 2,500 went away beaten with huge casualties and from that point Autralian operations areas were seldom ever challenged by NVA /VC again, some battles yes but not many. As Australians did NOT heavily rely on US assistance they did not encounter much agent orange either.
This song's message is brutal and was huge on the Oz radio when it was first released. It made me cry then, and it makes me cry now.
Being a returned soldier yourself (unless I'm mistaken), I'd like to sincerely thank you for your service. I can't imagine what you've seen and live with to this day. A hard and challenging reaction to do.
Thanks Jennifer, yeah 21 year Marine. (returning over and over..lol)
@@SonofBuck-f7z The Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra has the following stanza from the song etched in it
THEN SOMEONE CALLED OUT 'CONTACT!' AND THE BLOKE BEHIND ME SWORE
WE HOOKED IN THERE FOR HOURS, THEN A GOD - ALMIGHTY ROAR
FRANKIE KICKED A MINE, THE DAY THAT MANKIND KICKED THE MOON
GOD HELP ME, HE WAS GOING HOME IN JUNE
Man landed on the moon in July...he states Frankie was going home in June....a suble reference to the fact a lot of soldiers were kept on longer than their deployment.
The guy in the chopper that stared into the camera was Brian Lamb, he was a couple of my good mates father and was a hell of a bloke. He never spoke much about the war, loved science fiction books and loaned me a few back in the day to read. He was a real role model for a lot of us younger blokes. He passed early this year. I get a little misty every time I see him on this clip.
Here are the lyrics-
"I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green)"
Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing
Out parade at Puckapunyal
It was a long march from cadets
The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card
We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left
And Townsville lined the footpaths
As we marched down to the quay
This clipping from the paper
Shows us young and strong and clean
And there's me in me slouch hat with me SLR and greens
God help me - I was only nineteen
From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat
I'd been in and out of choppers now for months
And we made our tents a home
V.B. and pinups on the lockers
And an Asian Orange sunset through the scrub
And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep?
And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16?
And what's this rash that comes and goes
Can you tell me what it means?
God help me - I was only nineteen
A four week operation
When each step can mean your last one on two legs
It was a war within yourself
But you wouldn't let your mates down
'Til they had you dusted off
So you closed your eyes and thought about somethin' else
And then someone yelled out "Contact"
And the bloke behind me swore
We hooked in there for hours
Then a God almighty roar
And Frankie kicked a mine
The day that mankind kicked the moon
God help me - he was goin' home in June
And I can still see Frankie
Drinkin' tinnies in the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung Tau
And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle
'Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row
And the ANZAC legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears
And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real
I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel
God help me - I was only nineteen
And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep?
And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?
And what's this rash that comes and goes
Can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only nineteen
♡ ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
◇ Puckapunyal was a miltary training site in the State of Victoria, Canungra and Shoalwater and Townsville are towns in Queensland.
♤ Agent Orange caused the rash that "comes and goes".
♧ the story of Frankie is so heartwrenching. When the world was staring at the wonder of landing on the moon, the war and the soldiers were being forgotten about. 😢
My dear ex neighbour was a medic. We live in Western Australia. He was drafted (there were conscriptions to this war), and flown to Queensland to train. It was only a matter of a few weeks. He has told me some stories that I was honoured to hear about. He married his Vietnam bride and they raised a lovely family. She has since passed. Another resident down the road went as well. Both are outstanding people.
Thanks for your service.
I remember sitting at a table at work eating my lunch with a whole group of old boys that were freinds of my boss. I knew my boss was a Vietnam Vet, but not the others. It was ANZAC day, so I probably should of put two and two together.
Anyway, we suddenly heard the unique Chuff, Chuff, Chuff sound and you should of seen them all light up in a heart beat.
"That sounds like a bloody Huey!"
We all ran outside and sure enough, there was a Huey flying across the the nearby golf course on its way to the local airport or another event somewhere.
They all got excited to see one again.
When we got back inside all the stories began.
and so it goes. it's like that for me too.
John Schumann, the lead singer of Redgum (named after a type of Australian native tree), wrote this song about the experiences of his brother-in-law and other veterans who were conscripted for the Vietnam War. When we visited Vietnam as tourists some years ago, the Vietnamese told us that know it as the American War.
"Denny" is Schuman's sister.
If you want to know a bit more about the Australian involvement in Vietnam then check out “The Battle of Long Tan” documentary narrated by Sam Worthington.
Was talking to my girlfriend the other day. Her brother went to Vietnam. She still remembers along with her parents being worried every day if he’d come home safely. Thank goodness he did. He’s ok, has grandchildren now, leading a happy life. But his sister my friend still remembers worrying about him every day he was in Vietnam. So I can’t imagine the hell some of our Aussie vets went through.
The rash they were talking about was from Agent Orange... theres a video that Redgum released only relatively recently that talks about the song and the impact its had on Australian veterans
Yeah, this was really powerful. You can feel his turmoil
Beautiful song! Thank you to all the servicemen and women who served their countries in war.
This came out in the '80's, and it made us all wake up and take notice. PTSD was not acknowledged and we needed to do so. It didn't fix the issues, but it certainly got the ball rolling I think. Still so much work to be done 😢 Thanks for putting this out there, loving your channel/✌❤
Hi Mike, have just found your channel and am loving it. Thank you for your service and continued service as a police officer you guys don't get the credit you deserve God bless you sir🙏
Thanks and welcome
@@SonofBuck-f7zDid 15 years with the police here in Australia too myself. Much easier here, not as many crooks with guns. Best wishes and keep safe.
This song affects me differently, than the soldiers that were in Vietnam. I joined the Royal Australian Navy as an 18 year old, straight from High school; and as l was turning 19, l was aboard HMAS SYDNEY(aka The Vung Tau Ferry) taking those soldiers to Vietnam. I think I did about 6 or 7 trips to Vietnam in 8 months. What affected me, was bringing back the personal belongings of those boys who lost their lives; some within the first 3 months, l tried putting that behind me then this song came out. This experience, helped me understand my father's reluctance to talk about WWII; like him, l never marched on ANZAC Day until my wife encouraged me. I wear my father's medals, every ANZAC Day; especially when l could physically march, in honour of my father's service.
G'day Mike, thank you for your service.
G’Day mate please listen to the 2015 release of this where John Schumann gives an explanation about why he wrote 19 prior to performing it.
Like your channel.
Cheers Kev
This song came about, through conversations with Vietnam Veterans. It is still quite a moving song, even now after such a long time.
Australia had its own army in Vietnam and we lost a lot of our young men but we were there to support America. A lot of Aussies didn’t like it and a lot still don’t. Khe Sahn by Cold Chisel (which you have done) is the memories of a vet.
As always we follow our American brothers into battle, interesting to hear the version where John Williamson explains how and why he wrote the song and now his active help with groups treating PTSD here in Australia...
Rip 🙏 in peace all Australia &New Zealand Anzac 🇳🇿
First up thank you for your service, it doesn't matter if your US, AUST. UK, NZ or who ever, you all put your life on the line for our freedom.
I'm loving your reactions, you are one of the very few reators to fully comprehend (due to your service) that the US wasn't alone in all the conflict.
All vets brought back with them a pice of the conflict.
Im guessing thats the price of our freedom, the vets paid it forward and we should be paying back.
As an Australian who was totally disgusted by the way our guys (and the service personnel of the USA) were treated when they returned from Vietnam, I made a point of making my first priority on my visit to Washington DC in 2013 to head straight to your Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I was fortunate that my number never came up during "conscription" but I obviously knew people who went. They never came back the same. I will never forgive the Australian government for how they treated our men and women on their return home, and for many years after. In my opinion probably the most shameful part of our history in the 20th century.
Yes, Shameful is a nice word to use. My dad was killed in Viet Nam, it just took him til 2017 to die. Agent orange destroyed his body little by little until he could fight no longer. The government gave me a bronze plaque to put at the foot of his grave. Bullshit!
Thank you for your service, brothers in arms with America, RIP to all our fallen.
Adelaide South Australia 🌏🌏🦘🦘
I had friends that went to Vietnam and those that came back were never the same. They were treated like criminals for doing what their Country asked of them. They were not allowed to march each year with soldiers from every other war. Many took their own lives and I remember being so angry at how they were treated. I also remember the first year they were allowed to March and watching my husband’s mate break down and cry because he was finally accepted when he always should have been. I watched him have his lungs drained of fluid up to 3 times a week. I was so ashamed of what our Vietnam Vets were put through.
I am Australian and my Uncle became a US Marine in Sydney Australia at 17. He was old enough to fight in the last two years of WW2. He didn’t tell me until he was in his 80’s and I asked him why the Marines and not one of our Services. He told me they offered the best deal and because he had done a Seamanship course while he decided what he wanted to do at University he went in as an Officer. He had to teach for 12 weeks until he turned 18 and then he was put on the ship with the head of your military and fought and won the battle of the Coral Sea. He was awarded 10 medals for 2 years service but our Country would only allow him to accept two and not until he was 83 years old. Only then because those two had the Pacific Rim on them. Governments have much to answer for.
Listen to a song called The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. It is about war and the band did play that as the ships left here and returned. It is just as sad as this one. Thank you.
Aussie soldiers 18-30 years conscripted for Vietnam war& & treated badly on return thanks to Peace activists They fought in "light green" area (open spaces ) Check out LONG TAN battle in plantation there won by Anzacs
They were not conscripted between the ages of 18-30. The age for conscription in the Vietnam in Australia was 20. Check your history books. I was 19 on my first tour, as an Infantry soldier; I turned 23 on my second tour, again I was in Infantry.
National Conscription, known as the Birthday Ballot, sent more than 15,300 National Servicemen to Vietnam along with Regular Army personnel; their ages range between 18 and 21.
A total of 19,000 served in Vietnam, tragically 523 paid the 'ultimate price' between 1962 and 1973.
I love this song. I'm so glad you reacted to it. However, I am concerned that whoever recced it didn't give you a heads up. I really think people should explain what it's about when recommending a song like this to an ex-serviceman. It's unfair to expect a vet to go into it blind, when we have no way ok knowing what memories it might bring up.
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I'm not American. Nonetheless, I thank you for your service. People like you are why people like me can can sit safely in our living rooms commenting on random reaction videos.
Hi Mike I enjoy all your Aussie reactions...I emigrated to Australia from the UK back in 1970 during the Vietnam war and made friends with some returned soldiers from the war they told me some of their experiences but did not really like to talk too much about it, we did get magazines with stories and graphic pictures of horrific atrocities. My heart goes out to all Vietnam Vets here and in the USA...I don't know if you have already reacted to the Eric Bogle song "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" if not it really is worth reacting to, it is all about the Aussie soldiers in Turkey during the first WW...The song is a very moving and sad one.
Like you I also missed Vietnam but only by months ( we pulled out in 1972). I also trained in Australia with US Marines and Special Forces. We ran a jungle training course for both Aussies
and Yanks ( plus Kiwis, Filipinos, Thai's etc.) The lyrics mention Shoalwater and Kanungra , these were the training sites and are still in use. Interesting memories of you Marines ...many
of you had trained in the US and Panama but still had a lot to learn !
Thanks for looking out for my brothers
the subtitle to this song (walk in the light green) refers to the most dangerous patrols, in areas marked on the maps in light green, light cover- either rice paddies or jungle defoliated with agent orange
They may not want to hear about it, but THEY SHOULD. How will we ever learn if not by history.
I’m sure you’ve had plenty of people tell you to react to wrong side of heaven by five finger death punch… but I’ll just add another vote to it
This was a Huge number one hit in May 1983
My brother was due to go but got medical stand down because of his breathing. Nose still broken at his medical. His platoon went and 8 of them died in the one mine explosion.. Sad song with true meaning.
No the Australian troups were trained at Puckapunial (spelling?) and many were conscripts not regular soldiers...Politically used to appease overseas interest... On return many were treated shamefully and were even told not to wear their uniforms in public due to the 'marxist unions and Labor Government leanings. But majority of Aussies welcomed them home with gratitude they had survived. WE hear you Mike...and can read between the lines lol
Puckapunyal, it good try 😊
@@karenglenn6707 😉 Yeah i'd mark me 9/10 lol
Buck, Thank you for your service and sacrifice...and thank you to all servicemen and women who sacrifice and serve for our society and freedom...
Did everyone miss this one I see only 1 like.
There is another version where he talks about the impact this made amongst vets and got some things happening.
PTSD15 Special Recording "I Was Only 19" John Schumann
Thanks for acknowledging Aussie artists, mate.
Pukapunyal army camp is just over an hour south from here not far out of Seymour.
Lingo decode: Puckapunyal- the main base where you start out. Canugra and Shoalwater did jungle training. Slouch hat- the hat with one brim turned up at the side. SLR- the Australian made version of the FAL. Greens- the plain green non camouflage uniform. Chinook- the two bladed big chopper. (The huey HU-1 is the one rotor chopper you see alot in this clip). VB- Victoria Bitter, a very good Australian beer. I have heard the U.S. navy call it victor bravo when i was a barman. You know what an M-16 is. Dust off- air rescue of wounded usually by huey landing or winching. Drinking tinnies- tinnie is a can of beer. The footage shows Austraians drinking Budweiser. Theyre definately Aussies because our dogtags were different. One circular one hexagon shaped. Often on a bootlace not a chain like the U.S. used. The channel 7 chopper was the traffic report / sports events t.v. chopper for channel 7. It was alot more noticable in the 80s just because there was less chopper traffic over the cities. It was quite common to hear the channel 7 chopper if you were out and about in the city. "Can you tell me doctor"- everyone the vets went to for help, couldn't help
A truly heartwrenching song.
There is another Aussie song, that is along the storyline of this one.
James Blundell - Postcards From Saigo. It is well worth checking out.
The song is subtitled "a walk in the light green". "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". John Schumann (Redgum). A direct quote from a live version of this song I have.
My uncle and a couple of mates went my uncle never came home but I remember hearing this in 1983 it brought tears to my eyes and still does one died in 1990 from agent Orange we had a nursing home near me and when they came out you saw bits missing and wondered how they were still alive or whatever to be
Sorry for your family's loss brother.
The rash refers to the effects of 'Agent Orange'
Another great reaction mate . Just letting you know that your picture isnt on the Title page for this reaction , and i reckon that might have cost you some views . Keep it up bloke most of this music is from my youth , it's awsome. Thanks .
That was a brilliant reaction ,your insight was the best .
Hard one.
Thank you for playing this song.
We were fighting in Vietnam. Our own choppers were in Vietnam...
I hit the like button, though I wasn't sure I should. Liking war is not something I do. But none of us should forget the sacrifice these brave young boys made, and everyone who goes to war sacrifices their lives. Weather it's on the field of battle or in the anguish the public will tell you is survival. Your life is gone.😢
This is such great but heartbreaking song.
Mate, Australians from Delta Company 6RAR fought one of the most deadly and dangerous battles of the Vietnam War in Long Tan. Really worth checking out when you have time.
My sense of it is that this song, as well as a few others along the same lines were very well supported by the public because people do empathise; it the The Dept. of Defense who don’t want to know about it because of the threat to recruitment. Now we have to outsource soldiering to other countries.
Your approach is always respectful.
Mate, love your Work sport, keep up the good work Champ.
Thankfully Dad missed the draft he was in the reserves but his Marble never came up.
Aussie combat vet
And when I get to heavens gates to St Peter l’ll say “Legionnaire reporting in l’ve done my time in hell”🇦🇺🇺🇸
The band played Waltzing Matilda. BY Eric Bogle. Australia's story of the reality of WW1 horror of Gallipoli. The event ANZAC day is based on. it's a hard listen.
We had a young Cambodian kid about ten near my place every time a plane flew over he hid under our house or a tree he was so scared I can't imagine what he saw at 16 he hung himself
Our attack channel with our cobras and hueys.... originally yours was bushrangers your guys were gunslingers...I think brother.🇭🇲🇺🇲🇦🇺😅
Thanks so much for reacting to this. 👍
There's 60,000 Australian veterans of the Vietnam War.
Australia made a commitment or better word an honour pack as a nation after the USA turned the tide in our back yard or the pacific in WW2. After that we have always been there in every conflict the US has been involved in, always will be. Honour bound.
Share the song - it was written to let Vets know they re not alone
Absolutely not Cold Chisel. Redgum created “I was only 19”
👍
I was only 19 brings a tear to my eye but
th-cam.com/video/cnFzCmAyOp8/w-d-xo.html makes me weep every time
green fields and as if he knows too, good for 11/11 or 25/4 but any day we think of the sacrifices is the right day.
Lest we forget
Bushrangers brother.
Australian men, no matter what war they went to, never talk about it. Talking is not the MANLY thing to do!
I had a friend who served in Nam, the only thing he ever shared was that on his 21st birthday he turned to speak to his mate, but his mate wasn’t there anymore. Our Vietnam vets were treated very badly because the Australian population didn’t think we should have been fighting a war that had nothing to do with us.
My friend eventually committed suicide. 😢
Not an Aussie song, but I would recommend Motorhead’s “1916”, which is an uncharacteristically somber song written from the perspective of a young WWI soldier.
Australia 🇦🇺 has joined America 🇺🇸 in most conflicts since WW2 because of our ANZUS Treaty. Please, look it up. We had to go to Vietnam alongside you. Not, under you!! We were/are a very small country and we have sacrificed many boys in conflicts overseas. Two cousins were called up, and were never the same.
I hope I didn't imply that the Aussies went to any war under Americans, because that is NOT how we feel. We absolutely feel we were side by side and we still do. We love our aussie cousins and think they are the bravest of the brave.
@@SonofBuck-f7z Thank you.
Only war that we fought alone in was the great Emu war in 1932.
With fast jets we relied on you guys obviously we had your guys phantoms and F-111's.
In spite of comments to the contrary this song does not resonate with truthfulness.
Can you please do a reaction video to the Eric Bogle song And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
The live studio version is truly moving
I think you need to research Australia’s input into that war before you say another word. We lost way too many civilians for you to discount our input.
I find this song to be seriously annoying on several levels.