Vietnam Veteran's newsletter reproduces story of the pipes playing at Long Tan Cross, from the Swannies' website.

The monthly newsletter of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association of Australia (VVAA), West Australian Branch is Contact!

On the back page of the February 2012 issue, is last month’s story of the bagpipes playing at the Long Tan Cross for the first time since 1969.

The story was first published on the Vietnam Swans’ website on 14 January 2012 and permission was immediately granted for the VVAA to reproduce it.

Dr Neil MacNeill of the VVAA writes that “the story of the pipers at the Long Tan Cross is eliciting a lot of interest among the Vets. Please thank the Vietnam Swans for their support, and good luck for your season.”

Interestingly, in the same issue of Contact! is an article of the passing of the Vietnam war photographer, Mike Coleridge, on 10 January, 2012.

Ian Affleck from the Australian War Memorial writes that Mike Coleridge will:

“Always be remembered for the photograph he took on 26 August 1967 of a group of soldiers of 5 Platoon, B Company, 7RAR, waiting for an Iroquois helicopter to land and take them back to Nui Dat at the end of Operation Ulmarra. This photograph has become an Australian icon of the Vietnam War and is graphically featured on the Vietnam National Memorial on ANZAC Parade in Canberra. But this is just one of 558 still photographs and 54 films taken in Vietnam by Mike Coleridge in the Australian War Memorial’s collection.”

Trav Fennell's father, Bob, can be seen half crouched, facing camera. The photogrpaher of this iconic photo, Mike Coleridge passed away last month. AWMEKN/67/0130/VN

One of the soldiers in that famous photo is Pte Bob Fennell (hunched over, facing camera). Bob is the father of long time Vietnam Swan, Travis Fennell.

The official description of the photograph from the Australian War Memorial reads:

“Members of 5 Platoon, B Company, 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), just north of the village of Phuoc Hai, beside the road leading to Dat Do.

“United States Army Iroquois helicopters are landing to take them back to Nui Dat after completion of Operation Ulmarra, the cordon and search by 7RAR of the village of Phuoc Hai. Operation Ulmarra was part of Operation Atherton, conducted by 2RAR/NZ (Anzac) (The Anzac Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) and 7RAR.

“Left to right: Private (Pte) Peter Capp (kneeling); Pte Bob Fennell (crouching, facing camera); Corporal Bob Darcy (left of Fennell); Pte Neal Hasted (centre, front); Pte Ian Jury (centre, back, holding rifle); Pte Colin Barnett (front, right); Lance Corporal Stan Whitford (left of Barnett); the helicopter marshal at right is Pte John Raymond Gould, 7RAR.

“The United States Army Iroquois UH-1D helicopter is operated by 2 Platoon, 162nd Assault Helicopter Company, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion. (Having achieved almost the status of an icon, this image was chosen for, and is etched on, the Vietnam memorial on Anzac Parade, Canberra, ACT, dedicated in October 1992)”

A copy of the Contact! newsletter can be downloaded by clicking the link, Contact! VVAA WA February 2012.