Our Vietnam War on ABC TV – Australia and the United States might be military allies, but their ways of war differ vastly.
While the US relied on brute force and massive firepower, Australians looked to subdue opposition forces by winning support from the local population, which meant they were in immediate danger on the front line.
At a political level, Harold Holt distinguishes himself to the US by offering unqualified support for Lydon B Johnson. Johnson’s state visit to Australia received rapturous support, helping Holt win a thumping electoral victory in a campaign largely fought on the issue of war.
Meanwhile, Australian military command came up with a plan for a massive minefield in the Phuoc Tuy regime. Poor execution and surveillance turned the minefield into a nightmare, with many Australians maimed or killed by their own mines. Soldiers who barely survived tell their stories.
Production credit: Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. With assistance from the Dept of Veterans’ Affairs.
Our Vietnam War – Tuesday 22 August, 2023 at 9.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
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