So, Vietnam. Why was there such a strong anti-war movement, compared with wars before (and since) and why did returning soldiers bear the brunt?

A couple of reasons:

1. It was the first time ordinary people actually saw war up close, on their TV screens in their living rooms, every day. Soldiers know exactly what war is like, but however appalling the previous wars were, for civilians the awfulness wasn't in your face every day (also, soldiers didn't want to talk about it - it took my father 50 years before he ever spoke about his WW2 experience to his family and yes, I recorded it.) I think that feelings of horror as a result of this exposure underlies the personal attacks at the time on Vietnam vets. [The military learnt from this and as a result we have seen much less of the reality during the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars.]

2. The threat of nuclear war, which hung over the generation born in and immediately after WW2, and was a major factor in the social changes of the 60s. Vietnam was clearly both an on-going post-colonial war (why didn't the French just facilitate a diplomatic disengagement?) and a proxy war between the West and the Soviets (and China).

I think the anti-war movement was an example of what might have happened in WW1 - which might have changed the 20C. Young people said 'stop! enough is enough'. The term Moratorium is relevant: meaning "embargo, ban, prohibition, suspension, postponement, stay, stoppage, halt, freeze, standstill, respite, hiatus, delay, deferment, deferral, adjournment".

PS I personally knew both Vietnam soldiers and conscientious objectors - I make no judgement on either.

Finally (and this will be the last today!) on sappers.

Sappers - soldiers from British Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners, contributed significantly to the development of early Australia especially in surveying, road building and well digging.

Here's a newspaper account for SA, 1839.

"Our new Surveyor-General, Lieut. Frome R.E, arrived last Wednesday by the Recovery, from London. He is accompanied by twelve of the corps of Sappers and Miners, to assist in the survey. Their appearance at first startled some of our good townsfolk, who thought that a party of soldiers had been sent out to assist his Excellency in keeping us in order". (South Australian 25 September 1839)

Among other things, they constructed a series of slabbed wells between Adelaide and Bendigo/Ballarat in the early 1850s for the SA Gold Escort route.

Cossomby,

Pleased that someone else shares an interest in history and the early pioneers. Military engineers had the expertise and the management skills to be used for pioneering work on basic infrastructure.

Recently I was interested to find lines of hardwood logs that were used instead of tent pegs and some artifacts from a camp kitchen. Undisturbed because the new road had taken a different course. Not claimed by fire because the dry hard ground (hence the logs in lieu of pegs) supported very little foliage.

In some places the same camps were used by successive generations of road builders.

oh sung wu,

During the Vietnam war I was with the Dept. of Defence, as a civilian in RAEME employ (as well as the CMF) and was directly involved, on the weapons side, with those going to and returning from Vietnam. I also knew my share of those that didn't come back, including some good friends.
There was a saying among the vets that if one of the White Mice started shouting then stop on the spot because he just might be shouting at you and to ignore him could be fatal.
I was opposed to the Vietnam war on ideological grounds but not averse to using my technical knowledge to help our diggers.

There was; God the Father; God the Son and STEELEREDUX - 'a legend in his own lunch time' ! I'm sure PAUL1405 is ever so grateful for your lame solace. Seems though that solace has not been petitioned ! It's quite apparent that PAUL1405 is made of far sturdier stuff than you ! Perhaps now he'd prefer your silence, rather than receive further unrequested quotas of your unrivalled arrogance and pomposity.

Interestingly, my relationship with other Vet's, whether they be Vietnam or otherwise, could only be described as being robust and tremendously healthy, thank you for asking.

Why on earth have you sought to drag ONTHEBEACH into your peculiar tirade ? Is it a case that he too, has tumbled to your personality imperfections particularly that concerning your vast ego ? Quite seriously 'STEELIE', I've not (ever) encountered an individual anywhere, under any circumstances, that held such a high opinion of themselves as you do of yourself ?

You're typical of a person with a true narcissistic personality. You often exhibit this rather peculiar, grandiose sense of self-importance. And I'd bet you generally overestimate your abilities and worth to other people. I do know you inflate your (perceived) levels of influence, often boasting and threatening others, with your great ability to reduce them to a quivering mass, with a few chosen words. But it's all just an empty myth, you're merely just very very pretentious !

You blithely and quite erroneously assume that other people herein attribute the same value to your utterings, and you're both very disconsolate and plainly riled when that praise and veneration you come to expect and reckon you deserve, is not forthcoming. Sadly STEELIE, you've the classic symptoms of a true 'narcissistic personality', I've often seen in individuals, during my years in the police force.

I'm not going to describe you as being ill. Mindful of how easily a person may simply 'snap', if pushed too far. And so, do real harm to themselves ? I shall leave it at that, for the moment.

IS MISE...

You ignored the 'mice' at your peril for sure ! Your opposition to the Vietnam War, was of course your call and your business. My own mother was also opposed to it, but other then passing comments to her immediate circle of friends, she basically opposed the war quietly.

I've asked you this previously I think ? You were an armourer, essentially with Infantry weapons, I seem to recall ? A question if I may ? I did my recruits with the old but totally reliable, SMLE .303, and soon after during Corps Tng., the L1A1 SLR 7.62 and not long after that, (at Canungra) the M16 5.56 cal. What is, in your experience and opinion, do you consider was the best, in terms of reliability, and being 'grunt proof', between the L1A1 and the M16 ? Of course it's the Styr in now.

As you may imagine the number of discussions we've had on individual preferences was truly amazing. Weight was a big factor because every member of the section, had to carry his 200rds belted links for the M60, while the No. 2 carried his 200 plus spare barrel, for the inevitable 'cook offs'. While the gunner, his about (empty) 25 lbs gun of course. Weight was always a problem.