Team 19 in Vietnam: An Australian Soldier at War

4. Australian Army Advisors in the Province: May 1968–April 1969

29 4 Australian Army Advisors in the Province May 1968–April 1969 On arrival in Vietnam each member of the Australian Force Vietnam (AFV) received a small card titled “NINE RULES.” The preamble said: We as a military force and as individuals are in this country to help the Vietnamese Government and People to win their long and courageous fight against the Communists. The product of victory is a democratic State with stable government and contented people. The Communists will use any weapon to discredit the Government and countries, like ours, in the eyes of the Vietnamese people. Don’t let your behaviour be a propaganda weapon which helps in any way to destroy Vietnam. Here are nine simple rules for conduct whilst in Vietnam: 1. Remember we are here only to help; we make no demands and seek no special treatment. 2. Try to understand the people, their way of life; customs and laws. 3. Learn the simple greetings of the Vietnamese language and use them frequently. 4. Treat friendly people, particularly women with respect and courtesy. 5. Don’t attract attention by rude behaviour or larrickinism.1 6. Avoid separating us from the Vietnamese by a display of great wealth or privilege. 7. Make friends among the soldiers and people of Vietnam. 30 TEAM 19 IN VIETNAM 8. Remember decency and honesty are the signs of a man and a soldier; bad manners are the sign of a fool. 9. Above all remember you are an Australian, by your actions our country is judged. Set an example of sincerity and fair play in all your dealings with Vietnamese and with other people who are assisting them. The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) component in Quang Tri Province in 1968 typically numbered about fourteen members, an officer and thirteen warrant officers. Individuals were allotted to a U.S. Army advisory team. For the Australian Army there had been a learning experience on how best to utilize the advisory effort from the time of arrival in August 1962. By 1965 the deployment of Team members had settled and a pattern developed , which was well established by 1968. Within the expanded U.S. Army presence in South Vietnam, positions were made available for Australians to be combat advisors with units of the ARVN and the Territorial Forces, and as leaders in Special Forces units. In Quang Tri Province in 1968–1969, AATTV members were deployed with ARVN and Territorial Forces advisory teams. Almost all of the battalions of the two ARVN divisions in I Corps had an Australian in their advisory team. Each team was comprised of four members: a U.S. Army captain, an Australian warrant officer , and two U.S. Army specialists in weapons and communication. The 1st ARVN Division had the divisional headquarters in Hue to the south of Quang Tri, and two regiments in Quang Tri Province. Australians were with the four battalions of the 1st Regiment and with the five battalions of the 2nd Regiment. Warrant officers were also allotted to divisional and corps troops advisory teams, including the 11th Artillery Battalion and the 7th and 11th Cavalry Regiments. The cavalry units, and subunits, were mobile and deployed as required into Quang Tri Province as well as to the adjoining province of Thua Thien to the south. A warrant officer of the medical corps was advisor to an ARVN Casualty Clearing Station located in Quang Tri City. To complete the deployment picture in the province, warrant officers were also allocated to sub-sector advisory teams in two districts : Trieu Phong to the north of Quang Tri City, and Cam Lo to the northwest, abutting the demilitarized zone (DMZ). My allotment as an advisor was with a district advisory team initially, and then with Australian Army Advisors in the Province 31 the province advisory team, which I will expand upon later in the narrative. I was very impressed with the service given by the Australian warrant officers, and with their attitude. Not only did they have to adapt to working with the U.S. advisory system but they faced a greater cultural challenge in the need to adapt to working mainly with the Vietnamese military. With sound predeparture preparation and in-country orientation, they rose to the occasion. They were truly tested and found not to be wanting. The operational life and experiences of the warrant officers and others in Vietnam have been described...