It was from this base area that the Diggers fought perhaps the most significant battle of their war experience.

During the course of Australian involvement, that nation lost 521 KIA and some 3,000 WIA.

[Dont miss Tom Laemleins articleHeavy Weapons of the Viet Cong.]

This image shows Australian military members — pilots and plane maintenance crews — arriving in South Vietnam in support of the United States and government of South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh forces were becoming much bolder by 1965 when these Aussies arrived. The image is from the U.S. National Archives.

The United States was not the only combatant in the Vietnam War. Here, Australian pilots and maintenance crews arrive to support the Republic of South Vietnam. Image: NARA

New Zealand

[Be sure to read the harrowing tale ofTunnel Rats in Vietnam here.]

All ROK troops sent to fight in Vietnam were reported to be volunteers.

That was most welcome among American field commanders who were struggling to cover increasingly large portions of the country.

Here a Centurion MK 5/1 tank is shown on the move. The Australian tank was part of the 1st Australian Armoured Regiment (1AR). The tank was en route from Nui Dat to Fire Support Base Coral in Bien Hoa Province during the Second Indochina War. While some considered it an American war, many countries were involved directly and indirectly.

A Centurion MK 5/1 tank of the 1st Australian Armoured Regiment (1AR) passes through a Vietnamese village. The tank was en route from Nui Dat to Fire Support Base Coral in Bien Hoa Province.

Captured documents indicated enemy forces were often instructed to avoid tangling with ROK combat units.

Whats a matter of record is that nearly 5,000 Koreans were killed in action.

A lot of that had to do with geography.

A rare safe conduct pass is shown in this photo. The obverse of the paper pass has a large South Vietnam flag in the center and is flanked by smaller flags of the United States of America, Australia, Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The reverse has an official stamp, is signed, and contains Vietnamese text explaining the assistance they will receive if they surrender. Both sides contain English text reading “Safe-conduct pass to be honored by all Vietnamese government agencis and allied forces.” The obverse contains a similar phrase in both Thai and Korean.

This safe conduct pass from the Vietnam War shows a South Vietnam flag in the center. It is flanked by the flags of the U.S.A., Australia, Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand, and Philippines. Image: U.S. Navy

That meshed nicely with American proponents of the domino theory and opened access to strategic U.S. bases in Thailand.

More importantly, Thai bases provided handy nests for long-range air strikes into the North Vietnamese heartland.

Regardless of such controversies, Thailand played a significant role in combat operations throughout Southeast Asia.

An image from February 1968 shows an Australian platoon sergeant with his radio operator setting an ambush for North Vietnam troops that were moving through the Nui Thi Vai Hills area of South Vietnam. These soldiers were part of 8th Platoon, C Company, 7th Royal Australian Regiment deployed to support the United States and Republic of South Vietnam.

A platoon sergeant and radio operator of the 7th Royal Australian Regiment during an ambush patrol in the Nui Thi Vai Hills, February 1968. Image: NARA

Between 1967 and 1972, some 40,000 Thai soldiers served in Vietnam.

The effort cost the kingdom 350 KIA and more than 1,300 WIA.

That request was denied, but the Philippine congress did authorize personnel and funds for a civic action contingent.

As seen in this image, the Soviet Union provided RPD machine guns and other heavy weapons to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Better known as North Vietnam, communist military forces — the People’s Army of Vietnam and insurgent guerrilla Viet Cong — carried out terrorist acts against civilian populations and executed prisoners of war. Both China and the Soviet Union backed their communist ally.

Cpl. George Perazic, Royal Australian Air Force, works with the Australian Army at the Taskforce Headquarters at Nui Dat. He inspects aRPD machine gunthat had been captured from the Viet Cong.

Those bases provided significant stations for rest, repaid and refit throughout the war in Vietnam.

Final Thoughts

The Vietnam War was a long, tough fight for the United States.

UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopters of No 9 Squadron, RAAF, at the Task Force Headquarters preparing for a troop support mission in August 1966.

UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicoptersof No 9 Squadron, RAAF, at the Task Force Headquarters preparing for a troop support mission in August 1966.

Although their numbers were limited, Kiwi combat troops were involved in the Vietnam War. Shown here is a New Zealand artillery observed embedded with Australian infantry. His role was to call in fire support missions from his artillery unit. His presence proves this was more than just an American war in Vietnam.

Lance Bomardier David Carswell, a New Zealand forward artillery observer, works with Australian troops to coordinate fire support from the 161st Battery. A Viet Cong tunnel is in the foreground.

Shown are Kiwi soldiers of the 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery firing a cannon artillery in support of the military forced of South Vietnam. New Zealand fully supported their allies in Vietnam including the American and Australian troops. Their personnel were stationed in Vietnam until the war ended.

Kiwi soldiers of the 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery carry out a fire mission in support of allied forces in Vietnam. Image: NARA

Republic of Korea Marines set up a hasty defense perimeter on Barrier Island, 12 miles southeast of Da Nang. The Marines were inserted by helicopters to search for the enemy. Image: Cpl. C. R. White/USMC

Republic of Korea Marines set up a hasty defense perimeter on Barrier Island, 12 miles southeast of Da Nang. The Marines were inserted by helicopters to search for the enemy. Image: Cpl. C. R. White/USMC

A U.S. Marine shares lunch with a Korean Marine during a break in a combat patrol in this 1968 photograph. The Korean Marine is showing the American how to use chopsticks, a refreshingly human moment in the longest and most controversial war of the 20th century.

A U.S. Marine and a Korean Marine share rations during a lunch break during a joint combat operation in 1968. Image: USMC/CC BY 2.0 DEED

This image shows a wounded Korean Marine being medically evacuated by a U.S. Marine helicopter. North Vietnam would take the lives of nearly 5,000 Koreans in their invasion of the south.

While a Leatherneck helicopter waits, a wounded Korean Marine is brought on a stretcher for medical evacuation. Nearly 5,000 Koreans died in the defense of South Vietnam. Image: Sgt. T. E. Kingry/USMC

The image documents the arrival of the Korean Army’s 9th Division in South Vietnam. The 5,500 Koreans were an important part of the ground war in southern Vietnam along the coast in the areas of NHA Trang, Tuy Hao and Cam Ranh.

ROK Army 9th Division, the White Horse Division, arrives in South Vietnam. The 5,500 Koreans were greeted by a huge welcome sign. Image: U.S. Navy

This is a rare image of a Korean Marine sniper in Vietnam. His M16A1 is fitted with a rifle scope and a square forward assist. The image shows him aiming from over his right shoulder. The photo was taken in 1967 during Operation Dragon Fire on Batangan Peninsula.

A sniper of the ROK 2nd Marine Brigade uses a scope to aim at a VC combatant during Operation Dragon Fire south of the Chu Lai Marine Air Base in 1967. Image: Staff Sgt. Gary Thomas/USMC

US 3rd Marines band performs at at a Korean MarThe 3d Marine Division band sounds attention at the opening of the Hoi An Vocational Training School, a civil action project of the 2d ROK Marine Brigade. Image: Lance Cpl. C. E. Woodruff/USMCine project

The 3rd Marine Division band sounds attention at the opening of the Hoi An Vocational Training School, a civil action project of the 2d ROK Marine Brigade. Image: Lance Cpl. C. E. Woodruff/USMC

Part of the Queen’s Cobras, this Thai soldier is part of a “sweep and clear” mission in Vietnam near Phuoc Tho in 1967. He is armed with M79 grenade launcher. Image: NARA

Part of the Queen’s Cobras, this Thai soldier is part of a “sweep and clear” mission in Vietnam near Phuoc Tho in 1967. He is armed with anM79 grenade launcher. Image: NARA

In this unusual photo, Pipe Major (Sergeant) Jack Elliott of the Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) Pipe Band plays the bagpipes for Thai soldiers in Saigon during the Armed Forces Day parade, June 1971. The parade included members of all allied forces in the Vietnam War and is an interesting part of Cold War history.

Pipe Major (Sergeant) Jack Elliott of the Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) Pipe Band plays the bagpipes for Thai soldiers in Saigon during the Armed Forces Day parade, June 1971.

This is a photo of U.S. General William C. Westmoreland watching the arrival ceremonies for the Queen’s Cobra, the Royal Thai Volunteer Regiment in Vietnam. Taken in 1967, the photo showed the cooperation between all of the allied forces during Hanoi’s war on its souther neighbor. Thai troops were said to be some of the hardest fighters during the guerrilla war.

U.S. General William C. Westmoreland watches the arrival ceremonies for the Queen’s Cobra, the Royal Thai Volunteer Regiment in Vietnam. Image: NARA

This image shows a Thai lieutenant and one of his soldiers planning a patrol southeast of Saigon. Thailand’s involvement in Vietnam was an easy one to understand. They were neighbors to the country and wanted to stop the march of communist totalitarianism through Indochina.

A month after arriving “in country,” these Thai troops plan a patrol through an area near Nhon Trac, southeast of Saigon. Image: NARA

The photo shows Filipino and Australian soldiers participating in a shooting competition outside of Saigon. The competition was for all of the Allied nations deployed to Vietnam. He is shooting one handed with a M1911 pistol.

Australian Pvt. Clive Williams watches a Filipino soldier fire his pistol during shooting competition just outside Saigon. The friendly competition was between the Allied nations involved in the Vietnam war.

ARVN Major General Trần Thanh Phong meets with a Philippine Army Brigadier General near Ben Dinh in September 1968. Philippine troops were involved in a humanitarian mission there. Image: NARA

ARVN Major General Trần Thanh Phong meets with a Philippine Army Brigadier General near Ben Dinh in September 1968. Philippine troops were involved in a humanitarian mission there. Image: NARA

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