Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

On indulgence: it has been over 36 years since Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War came to an end. Yet the Vietnam War remains remarkably fresh in the minds of many Australians. The recent news that the final two Australian missing-in-action airmen from the Vietnam War have been discovered and identified has served to refresh the national conscience on the events of a war fought almost four decades ago. I rise today to pass on my condolences to those who survive Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver and to thank these brave airmen for the sacrifice that they made on behalf of a now grateful nation

Yesterday, as part of the Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day commemorations, I gave a speech to the local Vietnam Veterans sub-branch in Forster that focused on the need to redefine the Australian history of the Vietnam War. I spoke on that specific subject as I believe that the current version of the Vietnam War that the average Australian will recount is based on the American experience in Vietnam. This account of the Vietnam War does not reflect the Australian story in Vietnam—a situation that I believe should be changed. So, as I speak today of the final two missing-in-action airmen found in Vietnam, I do so hoping that their story, like the stories of the other four missing-in-action personnel, will become a part of the Australian narrative of the Vietnam War. I hope that their story will become our story.

When Australia’s involvement in Vietnam ceased in 1973, four Australian diggers and two airmen remained behind. I choose my words very carefully in saying that they remained behind, for no Australian soldier, airman or sailor would ever willingly leave a mate behind. This is an extremely important point to make, not just because it is part of the Australian military ethic but because all of our current serving soldiers need to know that, if the worst should happen, their mates will do everything within their capacity to bring them home and that they will not be left behind.

The men who were unable to be recovered when Australia left Vietnam in 1973 were: Private Peter Gillson and Lance Corporal Richard Parker, whose bodies were unable to be recovered at the time of the battle owing to the heavy weight of enemy fire; Lance Corporal John Gillespie, whose remains were unable to be recovered due to the intense enemy activity in the area where the helicopter he was riding in was shot down; Private David Fisher, whose body was buried by enemy soldiers after he fell from a rope beneath a Royal Australian Air Force helicopter during a hot extraction of his patrol in the eastern Long Khanh province about 30 kilometres from Nui Dat; and, of course, Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver, whose aircraft disappeared on the night of 3 November 1970 on its way back home after completing its mission.

On 30 July this year, after extensive research, forensic examination and many expeditions into rugged terrain, the remains of Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver were discovered and positively identified, thus ending the search for our Vietnam missing-in-action soldiers and airmen. Flying Officer Michael Herbert was just 24 years old when his Canberra bomber was lost. From Glenelg in South Australia, he joined the No .2 Squadron in February 1970 and was the pilot of Magpie 91. Flying Officer Herbert, who had qualified as a pilot at the age of 16, was a veteran of 198 operational sorties over Vietnam and only had two months to go until he finished his tour of duty. Pilot Officer Robert Carver was also 24 years of age. He was a navigator on Magpie 91 and served for only eight weeks in Vietnam, during which time he had conducted 33 sorties. Pilot Officer Carver was from Toowoomba in Queensland and joined No. 2 Squadron in September 1970. Magpie 91, as their Canberra bomber was known, disappeared off the radar screens on the night of 3 November 1970 on its way back home after completing its mission. It was rediscovered in April this year in thick jungle on a hillside in remote Quang Nam province, near the border between Vietnam and Laos. Since the discovery of the aircraft in April, research teams have been working hard to identify the two airmen.

I would like to make special mention of the work carried out by the RAAF investigation team, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the Army History Unit for their tireless efforts in discovering the aircraft’s location and identifying the lost airmen. I would also like to acknowledge the support afforded to them by former members of the North Vietnamese army, former Vietcong soldiers and local Vietnamese villagers. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the work of Jim Bourke and Peter Aylett, whom I understand were responsible for the ‘Aussies Home’ website and put in countless hours of work in attempting to discover the whereabouts of Private Peter Gillson, Lance Corporal Richard Parker, Lance Corporal John Gillespie, Private David Fisher, Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver—all of this work so that our MIAs could finally come home.

The finding of these six missing men, all  killed in action, has reminded Australians of the risks that our soldiers faced every day when they were in Vietnam. It has also reminded us of all the terrible hardships encountered by our solders’ families not only during the war but long after the final round has been fired. The research into, and the discovery of, the last six Australians who were missing in action in Vietnam for almost 40 years is testament to the Australian spirit and untouchable qualities of mateship. Yet, as important as this discovery is for the nation’s conscience, their repatriation will touch no hearts more than those of their families. For the anguish that a family must feel when they are faced with not knowing the fate of their brother, son, father or uncle must truly be unbearable. For these heroes’ families, the repatriation finally brings closure on a much tormented chapter of their lives and now they can move on knowing that their loved ones are finally home where they belong. And although we must wait for the repatriation of Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver—due to take place later this month—their identification is already having an impact here in Australia.

I was reminded some time ago that six wristbands were presented to the National Vietnam Veterans Museum by a United States MIA organisation. Each wristband had a name plate with the name of the Australian MIA and was designed to be closed when the MIA was found. With the discovery of Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver the last two MIA wristband name plates have now been closed, and along with them, a long open chapter in Australian military history.

I would like to conclude with a very simple verse written by Private Gary McMahon 6 RAR, Vietnam. I came across this verse on the order of service of the repatriation service on 26 July for our latest digger killed in action, Private Benjamin Ranaudo. I believe that it accurately portrays the Australian experience and spirit during the Vietnam War, and it reads:

We would do anything for a mate,

anything except leave him on the battle field.

We shared our last drops of water and our last cigarette.

We patrolled together, we slept together, we laughed together, we fought together, we even died together.

Each of the four soldiers who were unable to be brought home at the time Australia left Vietnam has now been, or very shortly will be, repatriated. As I said, shortly, Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver will be returned to their native land. Of course, that is why I rise today, to pay respect to these two airmen—for their service, their sacrifice, their bravery, and for their patience, for it has been nearly 40 years since they were last on Australian soil.

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