Vietnam

Mr Baldwin asked the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 6 December 2004:

1. During which years did Australian military personnel serve in Vietnam.
2. How many Australian (a) Army, (b) Air Force, and (c) Navy personnel (i) in total, (ii) who were National Service Conscripts, and (iii) who were Regular Enlistment Personnel in Vietnam.
3. How many Australian (a) Army, (b) Air Force, and (c) Navy personnel (i) in total, (ii) who were National Service Conscripts, and (iii) who were Regular Enlistment Personnel were killed in Vietnam.
4. How many Australian (a) Army, (b) Air Force, and (c) Navy personnel (i) in total, (ii) who were National Service Conscripts, and (iii) who were Regular Enlistment Personnel were injured in Vietnam.
5. How many Australian (a) Army, (b) Air Force, and (c) Navy personnel (i) in total, (ii) who were National Service Conscripts, and (iii) who were Regular Enlistment Personnel were awarded citations, medals or awards in Vietnam.
6. How many Australian (a) Army, (b) Air Force, and (c) Navy personnel (i) in total, (ii) who were National Service Conscripts, and (iii) who were Regular Enlistment Personnel were awarded citations, medals or awards posthumously in Vietnam.

Mrs Kelly - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

1. 1962-75.
2.  
   1. Approximately 46,852.
   2. 750.
   3. 13,500.
      1. Approximately 61,102.
      2. Approximately 17,424 Army personnel. The Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy did not have National Service Conscripts serving in Vietnam.
      3. Approximately 43,678.
3.  
   1. Approximately 479.
   2. 14.
   3. 8.
      1. Approximately 501.
      2. 201 Army personnel only.
      3. Approximately 300.
4.  
   1. Approximately 3,025.
   2. 26.
   3. 48.
      1. Approximately 3,099.
      2. 1,288 Army personnel only.
      3. Approximately 1,811.
5.  
   1. Approximately 46,852.
   2. 750. Additionally, 292 Regular Enlistment Royal Australian Air Force personnel were awarded British, United States or Republic of Vietnam awards.
   3. 84, but this does not include Australian Commonwealth Naval Board Commendations (254 issued), foreign awards or United States unit citations.
      1. , (ii) and (iii) Defence is not able to devote the considerable time and resources required to search individual service records to determine the type of service.
6.  
   1. Defence is not able to devote the considerable time and resources required to provide a response. However, there are two resources published that may be of assistance. They are: 'Australian Awards Vietnam 1962-1991' compiled by Ross Sutton and published by Summer Hill, NSW: R Sutton, 1992 and Alexander Palmer's 'Vietnam Veterans Honours and Awards, Army'.
   2. Defence is not able to devote the considerable time and resources required to search individual service records to determine type of service.
   3. Two.
      1. , (ii) and (iii) Refer to 6 (b) above.

close