There was a lot of deep reflection within the group following our adventures yesterday. We embarked on a bus ride to the former Phuoc Tuy Province with our local tour guides Tony and Martin.
We were able to walk in the footsteps of the Australians who served as we visited the 1 Australian Task Force - its both eye-opening and unsettling. In particular, the hand-dug bunkers metres deep were striking, as we climbed down into them we reflected on the combination of the burning sun, overwhelming fear and hard labour these men would have faced.
For me, this brought the south-australian serviceman I researched to life, Peter Allan Chant. He was sadly killed in action at the Task Force Base at Nui Dat when the 9th battalion overran a communist supply dump. Consequently the company came under heavy rocket fire, machine guns and small arms when following the VC to their supplies. He became real to me as I recognised the significance of the fact that I am watching his story come to life.
I am excited and grateful to continue to discover his story, delving into the history of the Vietnam War.
No comments:
Post a Comment