In May 1968, in the western jungle of Vietnam near Laos, led by Australian Captain J White, 11th Mobile Strike Force Company (MSF) occupied an old French fort on a hill named Ngok Tavak tasked with improving allied intelligence-gathering capabilities in the area. However, with enemy activity increasing, on May 4th, 44 US Marines, 35 CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defence Group) and two 105mm Howitzer field guns arrived as reinforcement from the Special Forces base at Kham Duc. By May 9th, Captain White’s company numbered about 200 men. Although in a good defensive position, coming towards them was the Iron Brigade of the 2nd Division of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). At 03:00 on May 10th, the attack on Ngok Tavak began. The NVA, led by Major Dang Ngoc Mai, poured through the entrance at the eastern wall quickly occupying most of the fort. By midday the next day, Captain White had lost 40 Nung soldiers and 11 Marines with over 70 others badly wounded. Realising he could not withstand another attack, Captain White decided to abandon Ngok Tavak. Once the wounded were evacuated, Captain White ordered strike aircraft to blast a ‘corridor’ through the surrounding enemy cordon using napalm. By early afternoon, what remained of the defenders escaped through the ‘corridor’ and helicopters eventually flew them to Kham Duc. Colour image of U.S. soldiers disembarking from a helicopter in a clearing in the jungle. Foreground is rear of two soldiers watching. Background is mountains.united states - marine corps, battle of ngok tavak, john white, ngok tavak

A small booklet with a white top with back writing with the word Uniforms. Under this the rest of the booklet is blue with whote writing. There is a map with Australia, Repulbic of Kores, New ZXealand, Repulblic of the Philippines, Thailand, United States of America and Republic of Vietnam.Contains pictures of uniforms of Aust. NZ, Repub.of Korea, Repub. of the Phillipines & Thailandmilitary uniforms, us army, commonwealth of australia, republic of korea, new zealand, republic of the philippines, thailand, republoic of vietnam

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of the American 7th Fleet Battleship, the USS New Jersey operating on the "Gunline", Tonkin Gulf, North Vietnam. During 'Operation Sea Dragon' they open fire on land targets thirty miles inside North Vietnam. The one (1) ton shells had a special 'rocket assist'.photograph, us 7th fleet, uss new jersey, tonkin gulf, gunline, operation sea dragon, gibbons collection catalogue, photographer, vietnam war, denis gibbons, north vietnam

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of a RAAF 'Slick' Huey helicopter at the 1st Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat, preparing to lift out a Special Air Services patrol for insertion into the jungle somewhere in Phuoc Tuy Province. On this occassion, the operation was supported by US Huey 'Cobra' Gunships.photograph, raaf, huey helicopter, 1st atf base, nui dat, special air service regiment (australian army), phuoc tuy province, us huey 'cobra' gunships, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of a Huey helicopter Gunship from the 1st Platoon 'The Playboys' 334th Armed Helicopter, peeling off to attack sampans entering South Vietnam, from Cambodia, down the Mekong River. The gunships hunted in flights of three with the 1st Platoon the first unit in the US Army to get helicopter gunships, followed by Huey 'Cobra' Helicopter gunships.photograph, 1st platoon, 334th armed helicopter coy, cambodia, mekong river, huey 'cobra' helicopter, us gunships, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, the playboys, us army

Captain John E D White, Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam (AATTV) took over command of 11 Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force) Company in Da Nang, Vietnam, in February 1968. He was 26 years old. The 2 NVA Division was moving from Laos into South Vietnam and his mission was to establish contact with the division and trace its movements south. In mid-March the company was air lifted to the Special Forces camp of Kham Duc, near the Laotian border. They used an old French Foreign Legion fort as a temporary base from which patrols could be sent out. White called it Ngok Tavak after a nearby mountain. Initially, patrols failed to find the enemy, but in late April a patrol clashed with the enemy. At the same time, White received intelligence that the NVA division was closing in. At night they could hear explosions in the distance heading toward them. White decided their best chance was to leave the fort and take to the jungle to adopt guerrilla tactics. However, in the meantime a platoon of United States Marine Corps artillery arrived bringing with them two howitzers and a stockpile of ammunition. To abandon the fort was to abandon the guns. White contacted Da Nang, explaining the predicament, and was ordered to remain where he was. A Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) platoon was sent to reinforce his numbers. This was a para military force comprised mainly of indigenous highlanders, trained by United States Special Forces. They also brought with them two mortars and their crews. At 3.15am on 10 May 1968 some members of the CIDG chose to assist the NVA to attack the fort instead of supporting Mike Force, and close hand to hand fighting followed, along with grenade attacks and heavy machine gun fire. Air support offered a brief respite from the NVA attack, and some NVA forces were pushed back outside the perimeter by counter attacks, but at 9am White contacted Da Nang to advise that his position was untenable. A second attack was imminent and they could not withstand it, so they would have to withdraw. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter (under orders from Major Mai, the NVA had not attacked the previous medical helicopters that collected the wounded under the cover of air strikes) and at 1pm the rest of the force evacuated east, into the jungle. The NVA did not notice their withdrawal, and continued mortar attacks on the fort for another ninety minutes. Seven kilometres from the fort White called for a helicopter withdrawal of his forces. The force was successfully lifted to Kham Duc and then Da Nang. (Credit AWM)Black framed glass covered flag. Red material with gold fringe, gold writing with Blackbird in the centre with parachute holding 2 white swords standing on a gold star. 11Co. in gold underneath. Gold plaque mounted under the flag.GUIDON OF 11 COY (NUNG) MOBILE STRIKE FORCE (MIKE FORCE) /5th SF GROUP, 1 CORPS, SVN/ A Significant number of AATTV personnel served with this Nung Company based in Da Nang./ At the end of the Vietnam War, this flag was taken by a former US SF officer and held until/ when it was given to former Captain John "Jed" White (AATTV), CO 11 Coy (Nung), who led/ the MIKE Forces at the Battle of Ngok Tavak on 10 May 1968.battle of ngok tavak, mobile strike force, nung, john white

The elaborate fortification that our Marines were forced to attack - the hundreds of metres of neck-deep bunkers, fighting holes, gun pits, and connectiong trenches so cleverly woven into the hedgerows, buildings, and thickets - were constructed over the previous weels by full-time efforts of a local VC support battalion. 1961-1975 -- tunnel warfare, vietnam war (1961-1975), us marines, tunnel rats

The US Army Special Forces (USSF), also known as the "Green Berets" performed a wide variety of missions in Vietnam, many of them unique and never since deuplicated.united states. army. special forces, vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- regimental histories -- united states, us army special forces (ussf), green berets

There was light at the end of the tunnel. The war in Vietnam was now winnable. The suddenly American TV screens exploded with violent fighting in the streets of Saigon, sabotage at the US Embassy, and raids on over one hundred US installations. The Tet Offensive of 1968 had started, a bold series of surprise attacks that cost both sides dearly. The Communists lost 40,000 lives and failed to spark a popular revolution; the Johnson Administration began to lose credibility with the American people. The beginning of the end of the war had begun.tet offensive (1968), saigon, fall of saigon, president johnson, communists

Even though the US Army possessed the Army Air Forces during World War 2, this was actually a semi-independendent arm inclusive of the Army Air Corps.vietnam war (1961-1975), military helicopters -- vietnam., vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, american, us army, army air forces

Citadel graphically conveys the horror and brutality of the Vietnam War through potent, vivid images and realistic, fast moving action.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - fiction, us marines

fictionFrom Korea to Vietnam, on earth or up to the stars, in fighters or in spaceships, the comradeships and rivalries, the glories and the tragedies combine to make this an exhilarating novel of US Airforce life - a novel as glorious and glamerous as flight itselfvietnam war, 1961-1975 - fiction, us air force

Larry Guarino was in his early twenties when he first saw Hanoi. Looking down from his P-51 Mustang, the U.S. Air Force pilot had no opprrtunity to observe the European charm of the French colonial city.vietnam war, 1961 - 1975, larry guarino, hanoi, us air force, air pilots

The unique story of Australian armoured, artillery and infantry soldiers drawn together during the Vietnam War to form 6 Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment that served in six self-propelled M108 Howitzers, loaned at no cost from the US Armyaustralia, army, cavalry regiment, 3rd - history, vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975, regimental histories - australia, howitzers

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Lac Thien, South Vietnam 1970, where Lt Col Lloyd, Officer Commanding the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam ( AATTV), alights from his personal US Army "slick" helicopter, during a visit to members of "The Team". Here he visited Capt Len Opie and WO1 Bill Birkett.photograph, lac thien, lt col lloyd, helicopter, capt len opie, wo1 bill birkett, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), us army slick helicopter

On 30 April 1975, as American diplomats and Mrines were being hastily lifted off the roof of the American embassy in Saigon into helicopters under heavy enemy fire, an era in American foreign policy was ignominiously coming to an end.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - united states, united states - foreign relations - 1945 -, saigon, us marines, american diplomats

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. .A black and white photograph of two Huey 'slick" helicopters of the 135th Assault Helicopter Company collecting Vietnamese troops operating in the Mekong Delta area of IV Corps, South Vietnam. This Unit was unique, consisting of half Australian Navy and half US Army pilots.photograph, huey helicopter, mekong delta, 135th us army & ran, 135th ahc ran, gibbons collection catalogue, photographer, vietnam war, denis gibbons, vietnamese troops, iv corps

The Dasher Wheatley story is one that all Australians should know and be proud of. No one has given us a better example of how we should treat our fellow men.soldiers - australia - biography, vietnam war (1961-1975), victoria cross, dasher wheatley, deaths in vietnam

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of clerical staff at the orderly room and pay office of the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Veitnam. They prepare and check pay and petty cash claims for members of the unit using US dollars, Military script and Vietnamese Piastre.photograph, clerical staff, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, gibbons collection catalogue, pay and petty cash, us military dollars, vietnamese piastre

The unique story of Australian armoured, atrillery and infantry soldiers drawn together during the Vietnam War to form 6 Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment that served in six self-propelled M108 Howitzers, loaned at no cost from the US Army. PHOTO DONE australia, army, cavalry regiment, vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975, regimental histories - australia, howitzers

The unique story of Australian armoured, artillery and infantry soldiers drawn together during the Vietnam War to form 6 Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment that served in six self-propelled M108 Howitzers, loaned at no cost from the US Armyaustralia, army, cavalry regiment, 3rd - history, vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975, regimental histories - australia, howitzers

Senator John McCain leaned about life from his grandfather and father, both admirals in the US Navy. Their careers and their courage helped prepare McCain for the biggest challenge of his life when , as a naval aviator, he was shot down over Hanoi In 1967, and seriously injured. When his captors realised McCain's family background, they offered him early release. McCain refused the offer and was subsequently tortured, held in solitary confinement, and imprisioned for more that five years (the longest in US military history). john mccain, united states. congress. senate -- biography., vietnam war, 1961 - 1975, personal narratives, american, naval aviator, hanoi, wounded serviceman, solitary confinement, prision of war

Senator John McCain leaned about life from his grandfather and father, both admirals in the US Navy. Their careers and their courage helped prepare McCain for the biggest challenge of his life when , as a naval aviator, he was shot down over Hanoi In 1967, and seriously injured. When his captors realised McCain's family background, they offered him early release. McCain refused the offer and was subsequently tortured, held in solitary confinement, and imprisioned for more that five years (the longest in US military history).john mccain, united states. congress. senate -- biography., vietnam war, 1961 - 1975, personal narratives, american, naval aviator, hanoi, solitary confinement, us navy, wounded serviceman

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, July 1966. A US 105mm towed Howitzer being readied to be returned to the 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam following completion of operations at a Fire Support Base.photograph, artillery, 105mm howitzer, 1st atf base, phuoc tuy province, nui dat, fire support base, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons

Shortly after Bill Shanahan arrived in Vietnam in 1968, he joined the LPSs (Long Range Patrol). vietnam war, 1961-1975 - personal narratives, american, bill shanahan, long range reconnaissance patrols, bronze star, us 173rd airborne brigade, 75th infantry

The US Government has an unspoken pledge with every man and woman it sends into battle: you may be wounded doing your duty, you may even be killed, but you won't be left behind.vietnam war (1961-1975), missing in action, vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- search and rescue operations -- united states

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Gunner Doug Blenkiron of Murrayburg, SA, tossing cases of US Army C-Rations to another Gunner (wearing goggles, 2nd in line) at 1 ATF Base, Nui Dat, the re-supply is being loaded on an RAAF Huey 'slick' helicopter. (Circa march 1968).photograph, c rations, gnr doug blenkiron, 1st atf base, nui dat, huey helicopter, raaf, gibbons collection catalogue, gunner, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

The US Government has an unspoken pledge with every man and woman it sends into battle: you may be wounded doing your duty, you may even be killed, but you won't be left behind.missing in action, search and rescue operations, vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- missing in action -- united states, mia - united states

When we military scitntists iniiated the herbicide program in the 60's we were awae pf the potential for damage due to dioxin contamination in the herbicide. We were even aware that the military formulation had a higher concentration that the civilian version due to lower cost and speed of manufacture. However, because the material was to used on the enemy, none of us were overly concerned. vietnam war, 1961-1975 - chemical warfare, agent orange - tboxicology, herbicides - war use, veterans - diseases - united states, veterans - diseases - australia, major general alan stretton

When we military scitntists iniiated the herbicide program in the 60's we were awae pf the potential for damage due to dioxin contamination in the herbicide. We were even aware that the military formulation had a higher concentration that the civilian version due to lower cost and speed of manufacture. However, because the material was to used on the enemy, none of us were overly concerned. vietnam war, 1961-1975 - chemical warfare, herbicides - war use, agent orange - tboxicology, veterans - diseases - united states, veterans - diseases - australia, major general alan stretton