The Northern Territory news Thu 21 Apr 2011
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2011-04-21
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/232267
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/664628
4 NT NEWS. Thursday, April 21, 2011. www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 2 1 -A P R -2 0 1 1 P A G E : 7 0 4 C O L O R : C M Y K RonHancock RON Hancock was attached to 2 Transport Platoon, a unit within 5 Company Royal Australian Army Service Corps. The unit, which transported supplies, ordnance and personnel, was deployed to Vung Tau in April 1967 and remained until November 1970. Mr Hancocks senior NCO was sergeant Ted Walters, a veteran of the Second World War and Korea. I never met a soldier I didnt get on with and there were many varied and diverse characters, said Ron, who has written many stories about his Vietnam experiences. How was Vietnam? Mostly exciting and we bonded and all made great mates; those friendships are as strong today as back then. Other times it frightened the living suitcase out of you. Unexpected things occasionally happened, things the best training didnt entirely prepare you for, but we overcame those hurdles. Would I do it again? The answer is simply yes. But not for any political reason, which when looking back on things was obviously dodgy. The politicians said, We are right behind you. And as Paul Hogan rightly pointed out in the Anzacs series, Yeah, 10,000 miles behind us. Service to your country is the most honourable thing one can do. I am a very proud former Aussie soldier. If youre a vet out there, think you have no mates, are doing it tough, then the Vietnam Veterans Association NT will welcome you. You will find mates and plenty of support and assistance. Clockwise from top: Ron Hancock waiting at Tan Sohn Nhut airbase to fly to Hong Kong on R&R, October 1967. - Ron Hancock at Tan Sohn Nhut airbase, Saigon. Part of US Army Huey crew, late July 1967. - Centurion tank ND SVN 1967.