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FW: Lyrics to " A Tribute to Veterans (song) "__Jerry Calow

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Thought I'd pass along this email I received...

To Whom It Would Be of Interest,

I wrote this song to pay tribute to All Veterans and

would be honored if you choose to post it on your Patriotic

Web Site.  I thank you and God Bless!  Jerry


         A Tribute To Veterans

In Vietnam, Korea and World Wars Past
Our Men Fought Bravely so Freedom Would Last
Conditions Where Not Always Best They Could Be
Fighting a Foe You Could Not Always See:

    From Mountain Highs to Valley Lows
    From Jungle Drops to Desert Patrols

Our Sinewy Sons Were Sent Over Seas
Far From Their Families And Far From Their Dreams
They Never Wrote Letters Of Hardships Despair
Only Of Love, Yearning That One Day Soon:

    They Would Come Home, They Would Resume
    And Carry On With The Rest of Their Lives

The P.O.W.�S Stood Steadfast
Against the Indignities And Cruelties Of War
They Could Not Have Lasted as Long as They Did
If They Had Relinquished Their Hope That Some Day:

    They Would Come Home, They Would Resume
    And Carry On the Rest Of Their Lives

Medics, Nurses, and Chaplains Alike
Did What They Needed To Bring Back Life
They Served Our Forces From Day Into Night
Not Questioning If They Would Survive:

    They Mended Bones And Bodies Too,
    They Soothed the Spirits of Dying Souls

And for Those M.I.A�S, Who Were Left Behind
We Echo This Message Across the Seas
We Will search For as Long As It Takes
You�re Not Forgotten And Will Always Be:

     In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers,
     In Our Minds For All Time

A Moment of Silence, a Moment of Summons
Is Their Deliverance of Body And Soul
To a Sacred Place That We All Know
Deep In the Shrines of Our Soul:

    In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers
    In Our Minds For All Time

INTERLUDE:
       GOLD STAR MOTHERS GRIEVE: ENDLESSLY,
       ENDLESSLY, ENDLESSLY.......

These Immortalized Soldiers Whose Bravery Abounds
They�re Our Husbands, Fathers, and Sons
They Enlisted For the Duty at Hand
To Serve the Cause of Country and Land:

    They Had Honor, They Had Valor,
    They Found Glory That Change Them Forever

Men Standing Tall and Proud They be
A Country Behind Them in a Solemn Sea
So Let the Flags of Freedom Fly
Unfurled in Their Majesty High:

    In the Sun, In the Rain
    In the Winds Across This Land

Years of Tears Has Brought Us Here
Gathering Around to Hear This Sound
So Let the Flags of Freedom Fly
Unfurled in Their Majesty High:

    In the Sun, In the Rain,
    In the Winds Across This Land

REPEAT:

    In the Sun, In the Rain,
    In the Winds For All Time

 Jerry Calow (copyright 2003 )

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careerone.com.au

FW: [Message from SFA National Headquarters] Military Channel Documetary

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Normandy Films' latest documentary, Battlefield Diaries: "Tank Battle Vietnam" is set to air on May 5th, 8 PM EST on the (Discovery) MILITARY Channel. The documentary details the heroic actions of B Co, 69th Armor and the US Special Forces Team A-244 during March 1969 as North Vietnamese tanks crept towards the SF camp of Ben Het. This was the first and only time tanks engaged each other in the Vietnam War.

 

For further air dates and more information, please check out the MC homepage - http://military.discovery.com/

 

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Test-drive Your Dream Job in the USA! mycareer.com.au

Fw: Merry Christmas

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YOU CAN'T STEAL MY CHRISTMAS Poem by Sharon Steege I don't know who they are Saying I can't greet the crowd The way that I want to Can't say CHRISTMAS out loud. I walk into a business place See things that I rather not see But dare I not say CHRISTMAS And ask for a "holiday" tree. What happened to freedom of speech And living in the land of the free How can they take my CHRISTMAS money But can't say MERRY CHRISTMAS to me. Men and women have given their lives So we could still go free I wonder how they would feel At saying "HOLIDAY" TREE. Come on AUSTRALIA let's wake up Don't let our freedom escape If they get by with doing this What else will they take. This is starting to get out of hand, And I've begun to keep track Well I've just about had enough I'M TAKING CHRISTMAS BACK. So MERRY CHRISTMAS AUSTRALIA I hope this gets all over the net If we all stand united and take freedom back 'Twill be our best CHRISTMAS YET! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY WE ARE AUSTRALIAN AND BLOODY PROUD OF IT No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/206 - Release Date: 16/12/2005

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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/206 - Release Date: 16/12/2005

Defence goes digital for travelling teens

About time : Unbelievable!! See post note for my opinion (and it's only my opinion)

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29/2005 Friday, 2 December 2005

DEFENCE GOES DIGITAL FOR TRAVELLING TEENS

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence De-Anne Kelly today announced the introduction of further innovative programs to help school-aged children of Australian Defence Force personnel benefit positively during relocations on posting.

Mrs Kelly said that ADF personnel, along with the broader community, place great importance on the educational needs of their children, but face a number of additional challenges because of the requirement for them to relocate frequently on postings around Australia and overseas.

"The Government is mindful that ADF personnel must relocate frequently to meet Defence capability requirements and that a highly mobile lifestyle can sometimes impact on families with children, especially when they are in the later years of schooling," Mrs Kelly said.

"Moving house can be stressful enough for families but when children are faced with settling into new schools and different education systems, the challenges can be magnified.

"I am pleased that Defence has put so much focus on looking after the needs of school-age dependants and that the Department is so actively participating in other Federal Government programs that focus on mobile students."

Three new resources were presented to ADF school children at Parliament House today. The first was the 'Digital Student Portfolio'. This is an interactive multi media program that captures the academic, sporting and social history of a child over each year of their schooling.

The second new resource is a book titled 'Travelling Teens: A Parents' Guide to Relocation' written by leading parenting author and counsellor, Pam Linke. The book offers practical strategies and good advice to help teenagers cope when they are relocating to new schools, leaving old friends, and establishing new ones.

Complementing the book is a 'Travelling Teens Z card', a small wallet sized reference card for teenagers to help make moving easier and know who to call on if they are experiencing any difficulties.

Mrs Kelly specially thanked her ministerial colleagues Dr Brendan Nelson and Senator Kay Patterson, for their assistance and support for ADF families through the development of these new programs. She also acknowledged the creativity and dedication of the education team in the Defence Community Organisation and the delegates of Defence Families of Australia.

My Opinion on this as one who did change address and schools often coz of the military (disclaimer: only my opinion not those who share my house or who are members here)

Point 1: A student portfolio was always available - it was called a "report card" - today seems to be an era of over-paperize stuff AND putting it "out there" on computer - This is no more, no less than our old report cards etc that we took from school to school - now it's on web (multi-media) which most high school kids should at least be able to orchestrate for themselves and if not should be shown how courtesy of Repat.

Point 2: Glad to see a book released on guides for help but are they going to help? - Anytime that I've rung these same numbers for assistance or a chat even as far back as my schooling days - I was fobbed off - these are the same numbers and departments to call, it's just now "ditigal"

Point 3: The small sized wallet card is nothing but a reference business sized card and should have the same information on it as the book(let) that is to be released - wow

Once again the "kids of" are being given pieces of crap as help and I don't want to be derogatory to any and all who do/have helped the kids of veterans or serving personnel but I believe that they are rehashing over the same stuff and should get out of the "rutted claypan" and give out something new and worthwhile.

For instance:

1) Personal subject tutors that come without the red tape or cost coming out of scholorships from Repat during school years but especially needed to be available for those that have left school pre 25 and with no asperations of Uni but do want to continue their education; or are having enough difficulties to be classified in "special ed" but not enough to be sent to institutions catering for handicaps; or have married but want to follow through (asset tested of course).

2) To be allowed to build own "portfolios" if they are web-based to show original creativity, accomplishments and understanding of at least the basic internet subjects and to allow the page/site to be "qualifiable" to the Repat Education Board and the Education System, if not credits accounted toward final marks - once again those that don't know how should be given specific instruction, the internet etc IS a necessary prerequisite for any subject or work factor today.

3) Instead of a list of phone numbers to the various call centres (which when rung and questioned are university students studying a course subject and NOT necessarily affiliated/related/or understanding of Military Brat's needs or even in Australia). Having a "mentor/monitor/big brother or sister" assigned to you from day one would be better - like the big brother style programme but for military kids (serving or deceased). This way the kids never think that they are alone out there - opportunities for a bond, a friendship, a unit for us to back us up with. Suicide and depression are very real factors and number one on the list of reasons why is because these people feel as if they are alone - a bunch of phone numbers alone is not going to solve this problem especially if no one rings back.

4) Wallet cards etc are only another style of ID card - get over it; in Australia we can get driver's licence from 16-18 yrs - juniors have a school card and those under the subsidy scheme have cards to prove that too. Those that do not get should once again have the help available to them NOW to deal with the reasons why.

5) If it's all digital does that mean the government is going to pay for these kids to have a computer at home and fees covered etc? One thing that couldn't have been afforded in the house I grew up in nor the one my son did his schooling by - 1st year high school assignments today are rejected if not "printed out".

This is all a load of hog wash giving no more than what is already available just labelled differently - and don't forget quote/unquote from Repat - "If you're qualifiable for any other government payment (eg single parent pension, away from home allowance, newstart or Austudy) You'll get more from from them than thru our military department."

The only phone numbers that came with this post are not to De-Anne Kelly - no email addys either - I'll post when I find them out and will be conducting a letter to her department. For those that are current military or family members of please consider what is being made available (all worthy but we already had this) and kick up a stink - This woman needs educating and only those that are in the positions of .... can!

Bindii's / Honouring Aussie Heroes

Police Remembrance Day

Remembering Our Boys (and Gals) in Blue too

The Aussie Veteran's Flag

Pandanas Park

In upper Queensland a battle between Vietnam Vets and the Government is on - all over a piece of land that the Vets only want access to, not own. Every August 18th a service is held amongst many veterans and their families.

Read about their fight

Pandanas Park - Kalpower Station

Where will our Government "get off"?

"Digger told to leave Australia"
By Simon Kearney
23-06-2005
From: The Australian

A VIETNAM veteran who has lived in Australia for more than 30 years is facing deportation after he was bluntly told by a junior immigration official he had no reason to stay.
Roger Harris, 60, was one of Australia's original tunnel rats and volunteered for two tours of duty with the Australian Army in Vietnam between 1965 and 1968, and attained the rank of sergeant.
He said yesterday the Department of Immigration had made him jump through hoops and then told him his application for the renewal of his residency had been cancelled because he no longer had a compelling reason to stay.
Raised in a British orphanage after World War II, and sent to Australia at the age of 16 in 1961, Mr Harris said he did not realise he wasn't an Australian citizen until 1981 when he went to apply for a passport to go to Britain.
Since then he had lived in Australia for 12 years, and then in the US where he kept, and regularly renewed, his resident return visa because he intended to settle back in Australia.
However, after he came back to Australia in April to live with his son's family and watch his grandchildren grow up, he faced a wall of resistance from an officer at the Department of Immigration.
"She said I don't see that you've got a compelling reason to be here. She said you've got no compelling reason because you've been away so long," Mr Harris said. "A week later she rang to say she was going to cancel the application. She said military service in the 60s doesn't count, it's too long ago. I just boiled."
Mr Harris was then faced with having to return to the US on July 4, when his tourist visa expired, in the midst of a reunion with his old battalion 1RAR in Sydney - or face deportation.
"I spent two years in the Outback working on farms for four quid a week, I paid my dues in the military and spent 20 years in corporate Australia. I played cricket for St George and soccer for Canterbury and Oyster Bay in the shire," he said. "I was just numb."
But while Mr Harris battles to avoid deportation, the federal Government this week granted a bridging visa to Australia's longest-serving asylum-seeker, Peter Qasim. Mr Qasim fled India in 1997 after being beaten by the government for his association with a muslim separatist group.
Brian McKenzie, national president of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, called on John Howard to intervene and grant Mr Harris the visa he needs to stay.
The Department of Immigration yesterday attempted to contact Mr Harris to tell him what he needed to do to advance his application, a month after he initially applied. Federal Labor MP and Vietnam veteran Graham Edwards has asked Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone to intervene.
Just numb' ... Roger Harris says.

One day

Me infront of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra Australia

One day my life will mean more than being the "sounding board" for my vetman or family of one lost; one day my life will be more than daughter of KIA; one day I shall be seen as the woman I am today. One day.

VVCS for vetkids

For those of you not aware of the proposed legislative change (which is a Ministerial Decision and has come from a National Level) the cut-off age on kids of veterans for access to the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service has changed. At this stage it is due to come into effect from July 2006, that kids of veterans 36 years and over will no longer be entitled to free counselling through VVCS.

This is absolutely appalling as it implies if you haven’t needed any help by then, it’s then too bad! We want you to be aware of this proposed change and encourage you to spread the word and do all you can to make the government aware that this is unacceptable. As an individual you could contact your local member of parliament or write a letter to the Minister of Veterans Affairs objecting to this proposed changed.

Please be aware that this is not a decision made by the VVCS and if you are currently 36 years and over and require counselling please contact them to make arrangements, as this change is only proposed and all counselling services are still available to children of Vietnam Veterans.

LONG TAN DAY

With Long Tan Day (Australia's Vietnam Veteran's Day) fast approaching, I wish all veteran's, their families and friends, peace of mind and ease of heart.
It's been a long road for everyone.
The following is a poem a niece of australian KIA Peter Peddingston wrote a few years back.

LONG TAN DAY

VIETNAM VETERAN'S DAY

AUGUST 18

by Wendy Stewart

We are all gathered here today,

To honour the ones who went away,

We remember those who never returned.

Their faces remain etched, forever burned

into our hearts and through our souls,

Their absence aching black holes.

We hold on tight to their pride.

Still question the reasons they died.

The pain of waiting never goes away,

Yet we shrug our shoulders and say,

"Yeah, I got over it all long ago.

I'm fine, I'm OK, didn'tchya know?"

If we can use our imnagination,

They will become our inspiration.

Their love is all around us.

Believe it and you will feel it surround us

Like the glow of a warm candle light,

In the dark of the darkest night.

Then I catch a glimpse of your mate.

You know, he still believes he came too late,

Nothing he could do but hold you.

He didn't wanna lie as he told you,

"Just hang on mate and you'll be OK."

He stayed 'til "Dust Off" took you away.

I can see a tear in his eye,

But he still denies the need to cry.

So for him I say a silent prayer,

For someone always to be there.

To help calm those old fears,

To encourage neglected tears.

When harrowing memories of yesterday,

Visions of mates, "gooks" the the "J",

come to haunt in the silence of night,

God, give him the strength to fight.

For the worst battle is within him.

Please grant him the courage to win.

Because if he doesn't ... I fear

He won't be here with us next year.

So many of his mates have died,

some poisoned, far too many by suicide.

Yeah ... He always dreams of Vietnam.

Still reckons no-one gives a damn.

He's wrong. Family and mates do,

We love and respect him, it's true,

He's our hero, our mate, our lover.

But he can never forget his lost brother.

Because their spirit still burns bright,

In the hearts of those they loved tonight.

They will become our inspiration,

If we just use our imagination.

Believe their love is all around us,

Geel it as it surrounds us,

Like the glow of a warm candlelight,

In the dark of the darkest night.

Many memories, yet little to say

To each other on our Memorial Day

To Jo from Iraq

I got my first letter back from a new acquaintance, she's an american daughter of a cyber friend deployed in Iraq and I just had to share this with anyone who'd read it.

"Dear J and G,
Thanks for the words of encouragement - I thank ya so very much for writting and sending me post cards besides my dad sending me packages every once in a while I dont get mail - I haven't gotten any mail in over a month. I don't understand why friends write but family members never do. If ya could send anything ya could spare I would love it. Ya again thank you.

Iraq is bad and nasty over here. Good thing they haven't mortared us lately. We went 17 days without being mortarted then 4 straight days we got rocketed. Then it stopped for awhile. We are trying to see how long it will last though. I don't know. Maybe days before it starts again I hope it is over but fat chance of that happening.

Well I would send a picture but I don't have one, I'll have to make one up - send me pics of australia - I heard it was beautiful but I never have been out of the United States until I came to Iraq on deployment.
I'm in the military til 2012 anyway so I'm sure I will have a chance to travel the world and back again......."

I know in Australia our figures etc are completely different from those of our sister states, it doesn't matter - these are our kids over there and regardless of politics, personal beliefs or whatever - contact a local organization and/or post a card/letter/email to someone a long way from home

For Aussies - email: messagestothetroops@defence.gov.au
Current ADF news and info: http://www.defence.gov.au

(More links to come with the edit)

Broken Hill War Memorial

Broken Hill War Memorial
Originally uploaded by bindii.

Behind the WW2 memorial is the Vietnam War memorial (right) and the template structure where it is to be moved (left of the cenotaph)
After many years planning, once built townfolk complained that it was too big, in the wrong spot and wanted it moved

OP Catalayst

OP Catalayst
Originally uploaded by bindii.

Local boys in Iraq

'Til They All Come Home

I've adopted the 6 Australian MIA's from Vietnam - didn't realise how much our own government is relying on others to do their dirty work.

For my meagre contribution : Honouring Our Heroes - Australia

For the best ever SVn POW/MIA sites visit:

Operation Aussies Home / Operation Just Cause

All have many relative links to everywhere you need to go

Pre Vietnam POW/MIA Australian

Footy season is finally here

Come on the Demon's (RFL Riverland footy league)

Come on the Adelaide Crow's (AFL Australian football league)

Ever feel alone in your patriotism?

In Australia we are a mixed bag where national pride and patriotism lie - we are at a loss over our flag and anthem, our heritage comes from the oppressed and family/community values change with every generation.

Wanting nothing more than being branded someone proud of her country with ALL its history and the people who now live here - sometimes i feel like having a big sigh, throwing my hands up and giving in. But our kid's are listening. Watch them this 25th.

ANZAC day and its heritage is what keeps us as a nation together - all of us - locals or immigrants, young or old - the story of war and our men's gallentry.

It's a time where the Aussie flag is NOT under question, republic vs monarch isn't mentioned (cept for charlie's wedding) and colour, creed or race makes no difference. This is the country of our choosing and for Australia and those that died in her name, I will continue to fly my flag proudly

Another lot of kids are signing up to the services with the pride of a nation behind them and the younger ones at the services before the "old boys" want to get outa the cot.

I'm proud of the way Australians as a whole has continued the legacy of ANZAC - we do our ancestors justice. Men and women died under this flag of ours - mixed bag it may be but it is ours.

To quote Sorenson who paints rocks in America of GI's and the POW/MIA's of Vietnam (sorry not an aussie quote but this one has always seemed appropriate to the way I feel)

"I love my country, it is the only way I know how to show the Veteran's how proud I am of them"

To one and all a safe Anzac Day long weekend (it falls on a Monday) - may the reunions be memorable, surrounded by the patriotic and the humbled heroic - I know ours shall be of which you'll find pics as usual later

Stay safe my friends

ANZAC DAY REMEMBERED BY THE NEXT GENERATION

'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.'

The Ode by Laurence Binyon

ANZAC Spirit Through The Generations

The ANZAC spirit is a mightly force amongst us Australians - it's as Aussie as we can be without totally losing our ockerism (for those that don't understand - it's who we as a nation are mostly sterotyped as) It's the very reason why we have such a multicultural country now - Everyone wants to be here!!

There is no "Yellow Brick Road" or such - just people willing to "give a man (oops politically correct version - person) a fair go". What made us a great nation is now living with every generation we can muster/educate - native, local or newbie - Our country, Australia, is actually succeeding in teaching our young in Australian folk law - We came from the oppressed - It's a good mixture of all regardless of race or creed - We teach with a truth that we may not always like - but learn, oh boy ..... that we do !!

There is no hiding the truth from these kids today - the information technology is way too advanced - so we teach the truth (as much as those that were there can remember it - all with Aussie honesty which may mean the truth is stretched a tad!!), and feel rest assured that it's the way of "Australians" - even those not from here can see the justice; the "give a man a fair go"; support the underdog; or the "don't stab me in the back coz I'll be watching yours" rightousness behind our style of democracy - There is no blame, no shame, no apologies - there are only steps forward - Together

Today our children wear the honour of others in their stead regardless of nation or hostility and they walk tall in the footsteps of their ancestors - together as a new nation. They walk tall with pride for themselves because we can here in Australia. They walk tall with pride for their families, their clans, their birthplace - but you can here. We don't call it Freedom - as a nation, we call it our "democratic choice"

We're a proud nation - young yes, but we have fought our battles and can prove our scars - that is the ANZAC tradition - God bless them all for watching their man even if they couldn't understand his lingo, bless them for giving a damn - and Amen to them who make their mark in history for our sakes, even for us generations later.

Seeing as Australia now only has four WW1 veterans left I can only request to those with family who are getting older - record their stories, ask them questions, be comfortable around them because times have changed and you shall find a remarkable history for the telling right there amongst you!!!!

I would like to say as an Australian first, military brat second, and mother, wife, woman lastly : "May we never forget .... or bow down to oppression; The ANZAC spirit lives amongst all of us Australians - young, old, man or woman, immigrants or local bred .... It's where your heart is and mine lies with Australia Their story lives within us, forever to be told, to be lived by, we will continue to fight for the right of all, to stay as a nation that gives anyone a fair go .... Always now though, ensuring that our Lives will never again be taken so lightly ... not by any one or any nation ...."

May none of it be in vain, may we never forget the lessons learnt, and may no losses be for a nation not of his own choosing .... Amen

ADF AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

DEFENCE PERSONNEL CONGRATULATED BY MINISTERS FOR AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

Defence Minister Robert Hill and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence De-Anne Kelly today congratulated the 68 Australian Defence Force personnel included in the 2005 Australia Day Honours list.

Defence personnel are represented in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, Distinguished Service and Conspicuous Service Awards.

In addition to those gazetted, one additional ADF member received a Distinguished Service Medal. This individual cannot be identified for security reasons.

'Congratulations are extended to each of the ADF recipients for their outstanding service to their country', Senator Hill said.

'All Australians can be proud of the dedication and accomplishments of these members of the ADF.'

Ms Kelly said 'Whilst these awards recognise individual achievement, they also reflect the professionalism of all the men and women who serve our country in the ADF'.

For more information about the Australia Day Honours, see www.itsanhonour.gov.au

A full list of ADF personnel receiving an award is attached. Please note this information is under embargo until 01:00 Hrs AEDT on 26 January 05.

OFFICER (AO) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Rear Admiral Raydon William GATES CSM RAN, United States of America For distinguished service as the inaugural Commander of the Australian Defence College and as Maritime Commander Australia.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Major General Gregory Howard GARDE AM RFD QC, Vic For distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force Reserves, in particular as the Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Reserves) and Head Reserve Policy.

Major General Duncan Edward LEWIS DSC CSC (Ret'd), ACT For distinguished service and performance of duty as Commander Special Forces and subsequently as the inaugural Special Operations Commander Australia.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Air Vice-Marshal Kerry Francis CLARKE AM, ACT For distinguished service in the fields of international relationships and capability management and development.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Commodore Tim James BARTER RAN, NSW For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy as Director Navy Weapons Systems and Director General Navy Systems and Chief Naval Engineer.

Captain Gerald David CHRISTIAN RAN, ACT For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy as a senior Naval Officer, particularly in support of operational capability.

Commodore Geoffrey John GERAGHTY RAN, NSW For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Defence Force as the Australian Hydrographer, Hydrographic Force Element Commander and Head of the Australian Defence Staff, London.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Colonel Geoffrey Thomas PETERSON, ACT For exceptional performance of duties in the area of international policy, and as the Director of Force Structure - Army, particularly in the fields of capability development, organisational structure, personnel establishments and organisational review.

Colonel Stuart Lyle SMITH, Qld For exceptional service to the Australian Army as Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and Commanding Officer AUSBATT VIII East Timor.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Air Commodore Rodney Frank LUKE, ACT For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force, particularly in the fields of Engineering, Project Development and Training.

Group Captain Anthony Vincent NEEDHAM, ACT For exceptional service as the Director of Group Function Management, Air Force Headquarters and Director Personnel Officers - Air Force.

Wing Commander John Frederick TEAGER, ACT For exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force as Staff Officer within Capability Development and Commanding Officer Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit.

MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE MILITARY DIVISION

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Warrant Officer David Thomas BAKER, NSW For meritorious service to the Royal Australian Navy, particularly in the field of small arms and gunnery training.

Lieutenant Russell George CRONIN RAN, WA For meritorious service as the Executive Officer at Australian Clearance Diving Team Four, particularly in the fields of training and operational capability.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Warrant Officer Class 1 Alan Bruce GILLMAN CSM, Qld For meritorious service to the Australian Army as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Military College of Australia and as Regimental Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Brett Douglas PATES, Qld For meritorious service to the Australian Army as Company Sergeant Major of the Battalion Support Group East Timor, Company Sergeant Major Supply Company, 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion, and as the Regimental Sergeant Major, 7th Combat Service Support Battalion.

Captain Michael Andrew PERT, Qld For meritorious service to the Australian Intelligence Corps, particularly as an Instructor in the Human Intelligence Wing at the Defence Intelligence Training Centre.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Rodrick Malcolm SCOTT MG, NSW For meritorious service to the Australian Army performing the duties of Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Health Support Battalion and Headquarters 5th Brigade.

Major Leighton Alwyn SHEPHERD, NSW For meritorious service to the Military Parachute Training School, particularly in the areas of high altitude parachute operations and in training and safety procedures.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Warrant Officer Graeme Anthony CLARK, NSW For meritorious service to the Royal Australian Air Force in the development of the C130J Hercules in the Airborne Operations role.

Warrant Officer Andrew William DUFF, Vic For meritorious service as Logistics Engineer at the Training Aircraft System Program Office from January 1998 to April 2004, particularly his leadership in overcoming airworthiness issues with avionics systems on the PC-9 aircraft in 2003.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS (DSC)

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Commodore Campbell William DARBY AM RAN, NT For distinguished command and leadership in action as the Commander Joint Task Force 633 and the Australian National Headquarters - Middle East Area of Operations during Operation CATALYST, November 2003 to May 2004.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (DSM)

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Commander Verran Scott DUTSCHKE RAN, NSW For distinguished leadership in action as the Commanding Officer HMAS MELBOURNE during Operation CATALYST.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Flight Lieutenant Timothy Wren ROBERTSON, NSW Details are not available.

COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Lieutenant Scott Anthony HOULIHAN RAN, NSW For distinguished performance of duties in warlike service as the Navigating Officer aboard HMAS MELBOURNE while deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf during Operation CATALYST.

Lieutenant Commander Peter James LUCK RAN, SA For distinguished performance of duties in warlike service as the Operations Officer aboard HMAS MELBOURNE while deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf during Operation CATALYST.

Lieutenant Commander Paul James MOGGACH RAN, NSW For distinguished performance of duties in warlike service as the Sea King Detachment Flight Commander aboard HMAS KANIMBLA during Operations BASTILLE and FALCONER.

Captain Michael Julian van BALEN RAN, NSW For distinguished performance of duties in warlike service as the Commanding Officer HMAS SYDNEY during Operations FALCONER and CATALYST.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Major Douglas Craig CUMMING (Ret'd), Qld For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Chief Instructor of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team in Kirkush, Iraq, during Operation CATALYST.

Major Kahlil Scarf FEGAN, NSW For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Officer Commanding the Baghdad Security Detachment, Iraq, in 2004 during Operation CATALYST.

Major Mark Leslie HORN, Qld For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Officer Commanding the Baghdad Security Detachment, Iraq, in 2003 during Operation CATALYST.

Colonel Stephen Neil SALMON, ACT For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Chief of Staff to the Commander Joint Task Force 633, Iraq, during Operation CATALYST.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Air Commodore Mark Donald BINSKIN AM, NSW For distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Director of the Coalition Combined Air Operations Center in the Middle East Area of Operations during Operation CATALYST.

CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS (CSC)

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Captain Edwin Stewart DIETRICH CSM RAN, ACT For outstanding achievement as the Director of Joint Operations in Strategic Operations Division.

Captain Christopher Arthur FEALY RAN, Vic For outstanding achievement in the field of aviation engineering, particularly in support of Australian Defence Force operations.

Captain Bruce James KAFER RAN, NSW For outstanding achievement in the Royal Australian Navy, particularly in the field of hydrography.

Chief Petty Officer Mark Samuel PARDOE, ACT For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as a Chief Petty Officer within Corporate Services and Infrastructure at HMAS CERBERUS.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Lieutenant Colonel Glen Patrick BABINGTON, United States of America For outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, in Timor Leste during Operation CITADEL.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Douglas CLAY, ACT For outstanding achievement as Commanding Officer of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, particularly in the field of combat capability.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Christopher de ROOY, NSW For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as Defence Liaison Officer, Riyadh in the period leading up to and during the recent war in Iraq.

Colonel Wayne Anthony FLEMING, Qld For outstanding achievement as the Commander of the Australian National Command Element to the United Nations Mission in Support of Timor Leste during Operation CITADEL.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold James JARVIE, NSW For outstanding achievement as the Staff Officer Grade One Engineers, Land Command Engineers, Headquarters Land Command.

Colonel Roger Alfred TILLER AM, NSW For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as the Defence Attaché responsible for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain in the period leading up to and during the recent war in Iraq.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Wing Commander Graeme John DAVIES, NSW For outstanding achievement as Deputy Director Logistics Explosive Ordnance, particularly in the fields of ordnance safety and capability.

Group Captain Noel Gregory DERWORT, NSW For outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of Number 34 Squadron, particularly during the introduction of the Special Purpose Aircraft fleet.

Squadron Leader David Glen HOMBSCH, NSW For outstanding achievement as a Tactical Coordinator, Instructor and Training Flight Commander at Number 92 Wing.

Group Captain John Michael SAMULSKI, NSW For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as the Commanding Officer of Number 36 Squadron.

Air Commodore Noel Gilbert SCHMIDT AM, Vic For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as Director General Technical Airworthiness - Australian Defence Force.

Wing Commander Stephen Grant WINTERTON, NSW For outstanding achievement as the staff officer in the Aerospace Systems Division of the Defence Materiel Organisation.

CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM)

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Chief Petty Officer Paul Arthur BORGAS, NSW For outstanding service as the Chief Boatswain in the Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Activity - Sydney, particularly as the Officer-in-Charge of the Corrosion Control Section.

Chief Petty Officer Anthony Mark BORGO, ACT For outstanding service in support of operational capability as the General Communication Electronic Technician Sailors' Career Manager in the Directorate of Sailors' Career Management.

Leading Seaman Shane Phillip DWYER, NSW For outstanding service as the Leading Seaman Cook in the Food Services Section of the Fleet Logistics Support Element - HMAS CAIRNS and as the Cook aboard HMAS IPSWICH.

Commander Nicholas James STOKER RAN, ACT For outstanding service as the Commissioning Executive Officer of HMAS PARRAMATTA.

Chief Petty Officer Peter Mark STONE, Qld For outstanding service as the Staff Officer Grade 4 Personnel Operations and Administration for Headquarters Australian Theatre during Operations SLIPPER, BASTILLE, FALCONER, CATALYST and CITADEL.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Warrant Officer Class 1 Phillip Johannes BETTIENS, Qld For outstanding service as the Australian Project Officer - Tonga, managing Australia's Defence Co-operation Program infrastructure projects in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Corporal Jeremy Richard BROWN, Qld For outstanding service as the acting Troop Sergeant, 2nd Troop, A Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment.

Sergeant Brendan Mark CREER, NT For outstanding service as the Facilities Planning Liaison Officer for the Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal and Northern Territory and Kimberley regional sites.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Steven Mark CULLEN, Qld For outstanding service as the Section Sergeant Major of Warrant Officer Section, Command Staff and Operations Wing, Headquarters Regional Training Centres.

Captain John Wesley HALSTEAD, Vic For outstanding service, particularly in the development and implementation of the Army Maintenance Management System.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Tony Scott HERRMANN, Qld For outstanding service as the Warrant Officer Caterer of the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Robert Charles PONTIFEX, WA For outstanding service as the Artificer Sergeant Major of the Special Air Service Regiment in support of Operation FALCONER.

Captain Adrian Michael SMITH, SA For outstanding service as the Staff Officer 3, Aviation Medicine, Royal Australian Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, particularly in the establishment of a DNA Repository.

Sergeant Stewart MacAlister TONKIN, NSW For outstanding service as the Training Supervisor of the 17th Construction Squadron during the 2003 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission/Army Community Assistance Program on Palm Island.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Corporal Adam Paul CAMPBELL, NSW For outstanding service as the Ground Maintenance Systems Administrator at Number 37 Squadron, particularly in the field of information systems and data management for C130J Hercules aircraft.

Flight Lieutenant Robert Gus RIVA, SA For outstanding service as an aeronautical design engineer at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, particularly in the field of combat capability.

Warrant Officer Peter Jon RYTER, Qld For outstanding service as the Deputy Flight Engineer Leader and Assistant Squadron Warrant Officer at Number 38 Squadron Detachment B.

Flight Sergeant Daniel Patrick STACK, Qld For outstanding service as a Career Manager in the Directorate of Personnel Airmen.

BAR to the CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL (CSM and Bar)

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Major David John RUTHERFORD CSM, Qld For outstanding service to Regional Force Surveillance Units, the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment, and the Vanuatu Mobile Force, as Officer Commanding Training Company of the 51st Battalion.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CONCERNED

Only 19

Damn I look at my son today and think that at the age of 21 he is still my baby - he is older than the average age of the blokes who went to vietnam - they enlisted, served and died at an age younger than he is today
They were babies making decisions of "lifetimes"
How can we deny them?

My Room My Tomb

I have been awarded, hypothosized over, scritinized with this poem so I thought I'd share it - written many years ago when i was 19 and full of whatever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my Tomb -
My room
Four walls surround me
Enclosing,
Enveloping,
Suffocating at times -
Where is the key?
Emotion is my room ....
Feelings are my tomb ....
This is my tomb
My room .....
A Self - Imposed Exile!

Oh my having my son of course

"What's the most memorable thing in your life?"
that's the question as I find most amazing in itself from people who know me to my core
My son's birth of course!!!!
Other than that it's all mixed up - responsibility to the vets, our family, our friends who have no conception
It's a mixed up world for us NOK - who do we believe in? who do we trust with our utmost thoughts than in some areas could be classified as treason, who do we continue contact with as friends/allies?
NO-ONE - we have no one for ourselves to believe in or them us, and we end up bringing up our kids as the only people too
In turn we teach them not to trust - god damn generation twice removed from vietnam and they are wearing the legacy too - with pride yet with condemnation too
We only want a reason to believe - the vets, the moritorium protestors, our family - none give us that reason to believe in all that may be true - all we want is for someone to say its okay to believe like we do - that the world aint so bad a place to be
God damn I've saved so many vets from committing suicide etc and here I feel on the brink onceagain on and there is only those that need more than me -- forever and ever and ever
When is it my turn? When will I travel under the light of another path not one under the shadow of vietnam?

Honouring our service personnel - past and present

daughter of KIA

The life as a daughter of an early Vietnam war KIA was never an easy one. My Mother had a major guilt trip over the fact that she'd remarried (no matter how many years later) and even today, me as a 41yr old woman, I get "shushed" by her when I mention my Dad infront of my Stepfather although it's all cool between me and my best mate/stepdad.

I was of an age, that come '70-'71 when the moritorium advocates were at their peak, I was starting yet again another new school - and I was not miss popular at all not because I was still a military brat but because I was a proud patriotic brat with no connection to the services any longer - hence I copped shit from all sides - didn't have the support from the civvies or military alike - we were alone, kicked outa our army housing coz neither my parents were army anymore

My Dad died when I was four and my brother one, my Mum broke down in the process over and over and stayed that way for a good time - if she's ever really gotten over it that is so there were many times I was living with other people, going to school with their kids and they all had smart mouths

People asked me for many years continually "What would I have done?" God damn, fought a bloody war of course if I'd been old enough (which I did try at the age of 10 when Siagon surrendered but that's another story) These people watched for me to break even while as a teenager at the cinemas, seeing Gone with the Wind for god's sake - 40 plus years later about a war nothing to do with me and here were these "do-gooders" waiting for something from me, anything so that they could do their good deed for the day.

I'm a proud military brat and I shall remain one - continually warping my children's views in the meantime - I come from proud australian marine/army (splattering of other services too) stock both the men and the women of my family signed up and I will not change that attitude for anyone - welcome to my world.

My aunts and great aunts, great grans and beyond, have all enlisted through the 20th century let alone our blokes - I am 8th generation Australian Caucasion, decendant from a Marine on the First Fleet to Australia 1788 yet also from 5 other convict settlers, one who's son was the founder of Melbourne, Victoria - it's our heritage, our legacy, the way it is - I have too much proud blue blood in me to bow to these people whether from the 70's or today

And to stand up as any of the adults did (more so from me i recon) during the unrest times of vietnam - that's what I did as a girl - be grown up in my answers, my reations at least; that is what I remember the most

I remember being abused by them all (physically and verbally) and I was only a kid wanting to be able to remember the father she'd lost so tragically

"You have to like her coz her dad died in vietnam" - talking about others to me but not about me - they said they didn't like me

"If you'd been old enough, would you have enlisted, deserted, or fought the draft?"

"You aint got a dad!!!!"

"Your dad's guilty as charged coz he was regular soldier career man" - baby killer etc

"You can wear this coz I wouldn't see my own daughter dead in this"

"Your Mum's in a luny bin what would u know"

"Why are you like this, why dont we like you? Vietnam kid of course"

Damn as I write this, I remember the hurt that I haven't thought of for years

I was always "That Girl" - damn no wonder I loved the sitcom amongst others and the music of the Seekers at the time - "Georgie girl" etc - all made me feel better about myself and who i was

And I remember them all with their inane comments that I could recognise even then for what they were - I was trash coz my dad was a career military man, I was dirt coz he was in Vietnam and I was the shit end of the shovel when they found out that he'd died there and boy did they let me know it - for years - til 1980 at least when I left school

After that I got the "devil-may-care-attitude" (FU one for those that 10/4) and today still find myself the talk of the town because of my attitude and antics

I have no love for the anti-war/moritorium protestors of the day for a couple reasons

Firstly, they havent grown up - Still today they hold beliefs I find amazing. This day and age of information and they still sit upon their lorels from the 60's and give us all still shit in the meantime

Secondly, They relive the day just as much as the veterans or us kids do, without justification as far as I am concerned but they believe they dont have a problem - we do!!

Thirdly, they haven't let go - and continue to argue the same stuff with no update info - and are deaf to any who can point out corrections - mate they'd rather pick up your husband than admit they may have been wrong as a kid themselves 30 yr ago

Fourthly - get em with the vets and its like a reunion - none want to let go coz it takes em back to a time they saw at least as being interesting/worthy in their lives - they are poison when with broken family of veterans - broken coz of the way these same people treated them 30 yr ago - today they still dont care who they hurt in the meantime

Lastly - Antiwar protestors dont give a shit about no one but themselves, and if you want to argue that one fine just think - what percentage of protestors from the late 60's/70's have money, life, a home to go to TODAY compared to the vietnam veterans of the day - they never saw or felt the harm they did to so many innocent people (us kids in particular and more so to the returning service personnel) which spilt over to other's opinions and their treatment of all - shit in hell they taught their children to talk the talk, walk the walk - of the antiwar protestors - just happened to be a way different path than the one I was travelling along with all my vet mates, uncles, god parents - men and women both coz i do come from a long line of nurses too who went to war and were treated the same as the blokes

Today I find myself in my 40's still trying to get over something that I didn't have a say in - I wasn't conscripted but Vietnam is the legacy I live by - even now.

Some times, I don't have love for the Vetmen that I worship so much either - many times through their own problems they forget that we are here, or that it is we who will continue and carry the legacy they fought for - damn somedays they are all just arseholes!!!!! But I love and respect the life of the military man - wish he could see that sometimes

'Sides from that the only person that understood, loved me for who i am and finally married me - a vietnam vet 12 yr my senior - we understand each other and upon reading this piece he cried

Hope I touched your hearts and made u think about stuff - Fight to stay who u are just like all did in 60-70's - we have that right on our own behalf today

Cosgrove to retire

Contrary to media reporting, General Peter Cosgrove, Chief of the Defence Force, has not resigned. > >In a recent interview with The Bulletin magazine, General Cosgrove confirmed his term as Chief of the Defence Force will cease at midnight on the 3rd of July 2005. At that time, General Cosgrove will retire from the Australian Defence Force. > >He will retire after more than 40 years of dedicated service to the Nation.