Shepherds Flat Vietnam veteran remembers former colleagues
REMEMBRANCE Day brings back memories of South Vietnam and courage under fire for Shepherds Flat resident Ian Tinetti.
Mr Tinetti reconnected with his former battalion members in Canberra on October 16 for a special 40th anniversary remembrance service of the Vietnam tour of duty in 1971.
He served with the “Old Faithful” 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) as an infantry soldier during the second tour of duty in the Republic of South Vietnam, which commenced February 12, 1971.
Mr Tinetti said during 1971 the 3RAR participated in 10 diverse operations from search and destroy, ambush, armoured and air assaults. The first contact took place four days after arrival in the country.
He remembered the main operation for his group, the battle code named “Overlord” in the Long Khanh province.
“Our now senior minds drifted back to the memories of courage under fire, loss of mates, either through death or life threatening wounds, and political reasons for and against,” Mr Tinetti said.
“Many of us are not as well as we might be, two out of every seven have died before the age of 62.
“When you are in action so many of the men around you are working to the same end and you grow together.
“There was a bond of friendship that you do not get in other situations in life.”
He said the reality of confrontation with aggression-hardened young men in battle conditions was etched into their minds, never to be erased.
The operation in Vietnam concluded on October 1, 1971.
The 3RAR Battalion departed Vietnam on HMAS Sydney and returned to Adelaide on October 21, 1971.
Forty years later, the Battalion returned to Canberra for a Remembrance Service.
November is a time of year to remember those who have served our country. This year, all the elevens align and on the morning of the 11th hour of the 11th day of 2011, give a moment of your time and ponder the words “Lest we forget”.
