173 AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE) US ARMY 1 RAR BATTLE GROUP BIEN HOA 1965-1966 On May 5, 1965, the Brigade deployed to South Viet Nam as the first US Army ground combat unit in that war. Upon arrival, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) and a battery from New Zealand (161Royal NZ Artillery) were attached to the Brigade -- making the 173d Airborne the only multi-national combat unit in the war. Initially headquartered in Bien Hoa, the Brigade operated in the four provinces around Saigon. (Xuan Loc, Long Khanh, Phuoc Long & Phuoc Tuy), but (in its roll as a "Fire Brigade") also went to the Central Highlands (Pleiku / Kontum) to fight Viet Cong. The 173d also conducted constant operations against the southern stronghold of the VC Main Force in the legendary Iron Triangle in War Zone D. The brigade was organized as a balanced airborne combat force consisting of two infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, a support battalion, an engineer company, a cavalry troop, an armour company, and a headquarters company. Upon activation, it became the first and only separate airborne brigade in the United States Army. This was the beginning of a long series of "Firsts" for the Brigade. On 5 May 1965, it became the first US Army ground combat unit committed to the war in South Vietnam, where further organizational changes were to take place. Australians attached to the Brigade were: 1st Battalion, of the Royal Australian Regiment (I RAR) and support troops of the 4/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment (1Troop), 105 Field Battery Royal Australian Artillery, 161 Field Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery, 3 Field Troop Royal Australian Engineers, 161 Reconnaissance Flight, Royal Australian Army Air Corps, 1st Australian Logistical Support Company. The Brigade's two infantry battalions, the First Battalion of the 503' Infantry (1/503`d) and the Second Battalion, of the 503`d Infantry (2/503`) and the attached Australians of 1 RAR constituted the infantrymen available to the Brigade. Their mission was to protect the Bien Hoa Air Base and to close with and destroy or capture the enemy. This was in fact the first operational ground force formed under the ANZUS Defence Treaty. ANZUS was a mutual defence treaty signed in 1951 between Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. In 1965 the spirit of this treaty appeared as 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep) a tri-national brigade. The only such tri-national fighting force formed during the Vietnam War. On deployment to South Vietnam in 1965, 1 Troop A Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment was part of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade combat group. Flag, two colours divided vertically, hoist half mid blue, fly half red. Badge of 173rd Airborne Brigade (730 x 490 mm) in centreflag, 173rd airborne, south vietnam

Issued during Vietnam warObverse - South Vietnam flag surrounded by flags of USA, South , Australia and New Zealand Reverse - Sketch of a smiling South Vietnamese soldier with his arm around a happy looking Viet Cong soldier. Neither are armed.In English and Vietnamese: "Safe conduct pass to be honored by all Vietnamese Government Agencies and allied forces"vietnam, vietnam war, safe conduct pass

The village Viet Cong guerilla wore a black shirt and trouser - the usual Vietnamese work-dress everybody wore. The perfect camouflage. In a group of people it was impossible to pick the enemy. They all wore the same and looked the same to the western eye. From a distance, a group of people did not necessarily mean mean a cell of viet cong on the move. They could be a bunch of field workers heading for a padi field or a community effort. At night the black pyjamas blended perfectly with very dark surrounds, but on other occasions they were too black. Main force viet cong wore black shirts and grey trousers. This clothing was hard to detect.Black cotton shirt and trousers. Shirt - collarless, 5 buttons, long sleeve. Trousers - draw cord at waist, no pockets , no fly Size M tag. No maker's label No country of origin tagviet nam war, viet cong, uniforms, black pyjamas

Five page speech (incl. photos) but no information on where it was given.vietnam war, 1961 - 1975, personal narratives, arvn

Documents the life of Vietnamese people three decades after the war endedvietnam - history

Copied from televisionvietnam war, 1961-1975 - history, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - united states, montagnard (vietnamese people)

Contains 1 booklet - Chien Cu and 7 documents in Vietnamese languagevietnam war, 1961 - 1975 -- veterans -- australia, 7 rar

Contains x 2 copies of a booklet, The Truth of Vietcong Terror & 6 documents in Vietnamese languagevietnam war, 1961 - 1975 -- veterans -- australia, 9 rar, australia. army. royal australian regiment. battalion, 9th

Article also has a photo of Naughton inspecting the teeth of a small Vietnamese boyvietnam war, 1961-1975 - veterans - australia, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - medical care, 1 rar

Contains a newspaper article about Mick Scrase and Father Paul Van Chi 4 decades after the Vietnam War. Also a document about the Vietnamese Catholic Churchvietnam war, 1961-1975 - veterans - australia, royal australian army signal squadron

Contains Photograph, Vietnamese documents, postcards, booklets, National Geographic Magazine, Oct 1961 & letters to John Dolling.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - veterans - australia, royal australian air force

One Article, Clipping titled, Chaplain honoured for Viet Servicevietnam war, 1961-1975 - veterans - australia, royal australian air force, chaplains, military - australia

Contains his Military Driving Licence and also a Vietnamese documentvietnam war, 1961 - 1975 -- veterans -- australia, australian army training team vietnam (aattv)

Cong Minh Nguyen's letter is regarding the donation some historic photos of their famous leaders in the Vietnam War.vietnamese veterans association of victoria inc., vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 -- veterans

Photos including James Archbold's medals, some photos of Westland Wessex helicopters and some South Vietnamese military police.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - personal narratives - australian, south vietnamese military police, australia. army. military police - vietnam

Service of thanksgiving for Private Gillson on 8th July 2007 at the Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Centre, Sunshine Northvietnam war, 1961 - 1975, personal narratives - australian