Tribute 08 Honours Vietnam Vets
16 Field regiment fire a salute for each of the 36 soldiers and an Airman that were killed in action in Vietnam. (OH-08-0343-01).
Thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families finally got their long overdue welcome home at Tribute 08 in Wellington over Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
The veterans were welcomed to the city on Friday afternoon by Mayor Kerry Prendergast at a ceremony held in Civic Square which ended with a Beat Retreat performed by the NZ Army.
On Saturday morning an Honour Parade saw veterans, families, Army bands and the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) marching from Civic Square to Parliament.
Flag holders lower their flags. (OH-08-0343-02).
After being greeted by the Prime Minister, family members carried photos of the 37 personnel that lost their lives in Vietnam into the Legislative Council Chamber as part of a whakanoa (healing) ceremony.
On Sunday morning a waka wairua containing the spirits of those who lost their lives in Vietnam was taken from the Legislative Council Chamber to the National War Memorial in Buckle Street where they were honoured with a wreath laying-ceremony.
The veterans and their families then marched to the Basin Reserve for a commemoration and celebration including speeches and a 37-gun salute for each of those killed in Vietnam.
His Excellency the Governor General of New Zealand the Honourable Anand Satyanand received a Royal Salute from the tri-Service Guard of Honour.
The Governor General presents Ted Creelman with the GSM. (OH-08-0367-53).
Some of the veterans were moved to tears during LT GEN Jerry Mateparae’s speech, ‘I would simply ask for your forgiveness for our shortcomings in the past, and I apologise for the impact these shortcomings have had on you and on your families. You served loyally, you served with honour and I pledge my determination to correct the failings of the past.
I know it is long overdue, but to our New Zealand Vietnam veterans - welcome home.’
General Mateparae’s speech received a standing ovation.
During the ceremony 1RNZIR was presented with its Regimental Colour with the Theatre Honour – Vietnam 1967 - 71, updated to acknowledge all infantry companies that served in Vietnam. The ceremony also included performances by the NZ Army Band, the Central Band of the RNZAF, Wellington College kapa haka and choir and concluded with a flypast of six Iroquois.
The Tribute Programme
Tribute 08, was the official welcome home for Vietnam veterans, conducted in Wellington over the Queens Birthday weekend.
A six ship formation of RNZAF Iroquois from No.3 Squadron fly over the Basin Reserve. (OH-08-0367-93).
The weekend started on the morning of Thursday 29 May with the opening of the Exhibition: ‘Vietnam: Not Just a 12 Month Tour’. The exhibition, at the NZ Academy of Fine Arts on Queens Wharf, commemorated New Zealand’s Vietnam experience. Friday 30 May was the Mayoral welcome to Wellington and included a Retreat Ceremony. This commenced at 1600 with the arrival of the Veterans at the Civic Square and ended at approximately 1710. Saturday 31 May was a street march from Civic Square to Parliament Grounds. This parade included the veterans, families, the RNZAF Band, Army Band, WNHB Band and the Central Band of the RNZAF. A contingent of RNZAF Vietnam veterans, family and friends, who were rallied by GPCAPT G. L. Wood (Rtd), marched behind the RNZAF ensign. On arrival at Parliament a Whakanoa Ceremony took place. This involved the placing of photographs of the 37 personnel KIA in Vietnam into the Legislative Council Chamber. The photographs remained there, with an NZDF Vigil, until 0800 Sunday 1 June. This was open for the paying of respects to the fallen from approximately 1330. Big screens relayed the proceedings to those outside. On Saturday afternoon, at an informal ceremony, AVM Rtd) Klitscher presented the New Zealand General Service Medal (NZGM) Warlike with Vietnam clasp to a number of RNZAF Vietnam veterans. On Sunday 1 June a wreath laying ceremony was conducted at the National War Memorial, Buckle Street, followed by the rededication of the Vietnam Plaque in the Hall of Memories. The ceremony was broadcast on big screens for the veterans and those assembled outside. Veterans then marched to the Basin Reserve and were received by the Governor General, CDF and a 100 person Tri-service Guard of Honour. The Governor General, CDF and President of the RSA spoke at this venue. In addition, the revised Theatre Honour, ‘South Vietnam, 1967-71’ on the 1 RNZIR Regimental Colour was rededicated. The Governor General also presented New Zealand General Service Medals (NZGM) Warlike with the Vietnam clasp to a representative group of NOK, unit and service personnel. This ceremony concluded with a 37 round salute fired by 16 Fd Regt and a Flypast by RNZAF UH1Hs.
Reflecting on Vietnam
AVM (Rtd.) Robin Klitscher
FLTLT Murray J. Abel (right) and FLTLT G. Thompson (left), South Vietnam, 2 September 1971. Photo courtesy Air Force Museum, Wigram. (MUS00040).
Tribute 08. As the shouting and the tumult dies and the captains and the kings depart, it is timely to reflect briefly on RNZAF associations with the war in Vietnam.
It is well known, of course, that small numbers of Iroquois pilots and Forward Air Controllers were assigned to active service in South Vietnam – 16 and 14 respectively over the course of the war. It is also well known that Nos. 40 and 41 Squadrons regularly flew in to conduct a range of supporting tasks. What is less well remembered, however, is that RNZAF doctors and medics served in the Service medical teams in Binh Dinh Province; and that one of them was among the 37 who were killed in action, SGT Gordon Watt, who died on 1 March 1970 from injuries sustained from a landmine. He was 29 years old. Another received a gallantry decoration for direct action in a fire fight. We should remember, too, that No. 3 Squadron's association went beyond the 16 Iroquois pilots who served with No. 9 Squadron RAAF out of Vung Tau. Having learned their trade in the shadow of the crouching warrior and ‘Kimihia ka Patu’, seven New Zealand Army pilots also saw active service in South Vietnam. Most of these flew with No. 161 Recce Flight of the Australian AAC in light observation helicopters – first the Sioux, later the Kiowa.
Reflecting on Vietnam – Image 2. Photo courtesy Air Force Museum, Wigram. (PR13287).
But a point that sometimes seems lost to history is that the first two Army pilots flew Iroquois with the US Army. In this they not only preceded RNZAF pilots by many months, but created a political stir at home. At the time (1966), Prime Minister Holyoake – always reluctant to commit to the war - was discomfited by a request to replace an Army helicopter pilot. He had not known that we had pilots there; and the Chief of Defence Staff had to field a rocket. It was explained to the Prime Minister that, following British Army practice, the New Zealand artillery unit had included pilots to support the battery.
Then in 1967 the Government agreed to lend two RNZAF helicopter pilots to No. 9 Squadron RAAF. The following year this was increased to four at a time. That the Government remained very nervous of public reactions to any perception of entanglement with the air war may explain the curious assurance it was given that this was not an escalation but ‘essentially an arrangement between the New Zealand and Australian Air Forces which helped meet an Australian need’.
Reflecting on Vietnam – Image 3. Photo courtesy Air Force Museum, Wigram. (MUS070079).
Although they were already qualified, initially the RNZAF helicopter pilots were ‘retreaded’ by the RAAF through its No. 5 Squadron at Fairbairn near Canberra. One of them was killed there in a flying accident. As belatedly but as warmly as Tribute 08 itself, he was recently commemorated at his school at Elsethorpe in Hawkes Bay.
From early 1969 until their final withdrawal at the end of 1971, the RNZAF helicopter pilots went direct from No. 3 Squadron to No. 9 Squadron.
Reflecting on Vietnam – Image 4. Photo courtesy Air Force Museum, Wigram. (MUS070077).
Despite the controversies of the day, and the reluctance of the Government to commit them in an open-handed way, all members of the New Zealand air contingent acquitted themselves well in the field. In addition to the fighting medic, seven of the 16 RNZAF helicopter pilots, two of the seven Army helicopter pilots and three of the 14 FAC pilots received awards for gallantry – not a bad batting average.
Article provided by Air Vice-Marshal R.J. Klitscher, CBE, DFC, AFC, BSc (RNZAF Retd).