STEELEREDUX...

I'll dispense with the usual pleasantries as they appear to upset PAUL1405, that brave soul who stood alone against the hoards of marching 'baby killers' on their way to embark on the HMAS Melbourne and on to Vung Tau, South Vietnam. Heavens I wouldn't want to do that now, would I ? STEELEREDUX is this language acceptable do you think ? Or is it too accusatory, too 'nasty' perhaps ? I wouldn't want our 'poor PAUL' to become uncomfortable ?

I've read your latest thread and it's quite apparent you've touched upon a number of aspects of those times. You're knowledge is not without merit concerning the effects that war.....sorry, it wasn't a war as I was so instructed by another contributor herein ? Concerning the effects of that 'squabble' upon those who took part. I can't begin to know, I personally was very young, not at all 'gung ho' but otherwise oblivious to the political reasons why we were there.

Your summation of many of the medical problems that occurred to many of those who served there, is probably on the money too ? I do not like speaking about my own medical difficulties, other than to say I'm under DVA and Repatriation care myself. I'm still vertical for the moment.

Your comments concerning the cause, nature and lasting effects of the entire Vietnam conflict is probably as valid as anything I could add myself. One needed not to necessarily have gone over there to understand the complexities associated with it all. The only benefit (and what an absurd word to use, 'benefit') of doing a tour 'in country', one learnt much about oneself, as well as others under similar pressures ?

There are many unfortunately who like to 'guild the lily' about the many dreadful incidents

o sung wu,

nah...just a dose of reality.

You can lay into fellow posters with the best of 'em, just noting it is all.

Of course, we all think we're right - and we carry our prejudices, enmities and loyalties around with us like an oxygen tank.

I sometimes wonder if it's worth debating at all, since the man is so imperfect and his struggles to prove himself the opposite so hilarious.

I've just being reading Blaise Pascal's "Pensées"...and this line struck me:

"...it is a wise ignorance which knows itself."

That is to say that we have an adequate knowledge and pretend to understand everything.

When the reality is that we understand very little.

I hope my ignorance can attain such wisdom.

Gawd....spare me from typos!

"....since the man is so imperfect...'

Should read:

"...since "man" is so imperfect..."

STEELEREDUX...

...an accidental transmission unfortunately - as I was saying, those who 'guild the lily' somewhat and who make all these outlandish accusations about the moral conduct of Oz troops over there, are 'way out of wack' I'm afraid. Moreover they've never been there, nor likely to ever go there. Discipline was strictly maintained even more so when 'in theatre', put a foot wrong, and look out ! Regrettably, the same can't be said for a few of the US troops. A case of too young, too immature, and inadequate training ? Many died unnecessarily in my humble opinion ? They (the yanks) called in 20 x more 'dust offs' then us ? Perhaps they had 20 x more contacts than us ?

You and I are (naturally) diametrically opposed in ever way. But you will vigorously argue your point, right or wrong. Whereas PAUL1405 grimly hangs onto your shirt-tails in some vain hope of obtaining some of the reflected glory from your argument, for himself ! He's almost a cartoon character, I could picture this little guy with masses of perspiration emanating in droplets from his excited countenance, yelling 'me too' 'me too' as he vainly scrambles around behind you...? All rather sad really ?

Concerning your assertion of Mr HICKS receiving summary justice ? I don't know, I feel safe in telling you, that Mr HICKS wouldn't be treated to 'tea and cake' put it that way ?

o sung wu, <<I feel safe in telling you, that Mr HICKS wouldn't be treated to 'tea and cake' put it that way?>> before that it was <<the least of his (Mr HICKS) worries would've been, spending too much time locked-up without due process?>>.

Why be so coy? Why not simply say; I would dress Hicks in an orange jump suit, I would dress up like a black ninja, face the camera, deliver a diatribe about Ho Chi Minh, and Bobs your uncle, no more Hicks, then I would post the whole macabre episode on the internet for all to see. Sorry I'm wrong... there was no internet during The Vietnam War.

p/s There is nothing you can possibly post on this forum, that would upset me in the slightest, so feel free to post what you will.

'...I'm sorry...there was no internet during the Vietnam war...' ?

Neither was there a PAUL1405 in the Vietnam War, he was too busy 'ducking it' !