In last week’s programme I did the first part of a programme remembering the 60thanniversary of the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the war in Vietnam. A war to stop the brutal Stalinist regime of Ho Chi Minh from taking over the democratic country of South Vietnam.

I was joined for that programme by Gary McKay (now with Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours), a nasho, who served in Vietnam as a 2ndLieutenant in charge of a rifle platoon. He extended his time in national service so that he could serve with the Australian forces as they withdrew from that country. There is no more dangerous time for soldiers than when they are withdrawing, especially like here when the enemy knows that you are pulling out. Gary became engaged in a fierce battle, the last Australian battle of the Vietnam War, with regular North Vietnamese units on 21 September 1971. By then the 3 battalion task force had been whittled down to 2 battalions, and the Australian tank support had been withdrawn.

4 of the 5 Australian killed were in Gary’s platoon. The Australians expended over 140,000 rounds throughout that contact. Gary was awarded the Military Cross.

Today he conducts battlefield tours of Vietnam (with Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours), as well as writing many insightful books into that war and other instances of actions by first responders. He is also involved in the never ending battle to get justice for the veterans that fought in that war.

OK let’s push on with the interviewDZ 60th Anniversary of Australia’s Involvement in the Vietnam War 31 July 1962