The Shoalhaven Vietnam Veterans' Day commemorative service will be held in Walsh Park, Bomaderry this Saturday, August 18.
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This year’s service will mark the 50th anniversary of the significant Vietnam battles of Coral and Balmoral.
The three-week battle from May 12 to June 6 1968 for Fire Support Base Coral and Balmoral, saw 26 Australians die and 99 wounded as they attempted to hold off the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong, at bases 20 kilometres north of Bien Hoa City, across a route used by the forces to attack Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City.
Nowra man Barry Brown, who was was part of 8th Platoon Charlie Company 1 RAR 1st Battalion which took part in the battles and was on one of the last helicopters to leave fire support bases.
A National Serviceman, he was among many servicemen awarded a unit citation for gallantry for the defiance of the continual enemy attacks.at the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral and Balmoral earlier this year.
A number of other Shoalhaven serviceman also served at Coral or Balmoral including Berry’s John Coble and his brother Mike, Gerringong’s Rod Orford, and Gary Hastings, who now lives at Greenwell Point.
This year’s service will also honour the first Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Helicopter Flight Vietnam (HFV) that has also been recognised with a Unit Citation for Gallantry.
Eight pilots, 24 maintenance personnel, four observers and six support staff from HMAS Albatross were part of that first flight, assigned to the US Army’s 135th Assault Helicopter Company (Experimental Military Unit) - also known as EMUs.
The personnel from 723 Squadron, flying Iroquois helicopters or Hueys as they were called, eventually became known as RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam.
Shoalhaven Vietnam Veterans’ Association president Clyde Poulton said both groups would be honoured and remembered during Saturday’s service.
“All service and ex-service personnel and their families and the general public are invited to attend the service,” Mr Poulton said.
“The service lasts around 30 minutes and is a chance to pay respect and remember those who paid the ultimate price for their country.”
The commemorative service starts at 5pm.
This year’s address will be given by the Commanding Officer of HMAS Albatross, Captain Fiona Sneath while the CO of HMAS Creswell, Captain Charles Huxtable will also be among the special guests.