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 1st Australian Task Force Commander Brig C.M "Sandy" Pearson meets with the Admiral commanding the United States 7th Fleet upon his arrival at 1ATF. The Admiral and his staff had called on Brig Pearson to discuss naval gunfire support for Australian troops whilst on operations as there had been some problems with the Americans understanding the Australian forward, artillery, observers radio transmissions when calling for fire support.photograph, 1st atf base, brig sandy pearson, us 7th fleet, gibbons collection catalogue, troops, fire support, commander, admiral commanding, naval gunfire support, australian troops, denis gibbons

A.C. (Arthur Charles) Simon a pioneer orchardist in the Bacchus Marsh district planted this avenue of Osage orange trees in about 1883, creating an imposing entrance to his property from Taverner Street. Simon also believed that the trees on his orchard property would provide a protective shelter for his other plants. Osage orange trees (Maclura pomifera) are a small deciduous tree or large shrub, native to the south-central United States. It usually grows to about 8 to 15 metres high. The distinctive fruit, a multiple fruit that resembles an immature orange, is roughly spherical in shape, about 8 to 15 centimetres in diameter, and turns bright yellow-green in the autumn. A. C. Simon is believed to have imported the Osage orange seeds from America around the 1860s and later used them to plant the trees depicted in this image. The date of this image is not certain but it probably shows the trees around the 1900s or 1910s. The avenue of trees was known for many years in Bacchus Mars as 'Simons Avenue', and were featured in a Rose series postcard dating from around 1900-1920. The remnants of this avenue or grove of trees can be seen on some of the properties on the north side of Taverner Street Bacchus Marsh and along the Werribee River west of the FIsken Street bridge.The Bacchus Marsh Heritage Study of 1995 described the Osage Orange Tree avenue as being of regional historical significance as a landscaping practice, pioneering of its type, It was also described as of local significance as a well-known landmark due to it be being represented on widely distributed post cards which depicted scenes of Bacchus Marsh in the early part of the twentieth century. This early photographic image is evidence of this social and cultural significance.A black and white photograph print mounted on mounting board showing an avenue of Osage orange trees. trees, osage orange trees, simon family bacchus marsh, arthur charles simon 1833-1924, orchardists

How close were we to full-scale war in Vietnam when Lyndon Johnson succeeded to the presidency in 1963? What course might Kennedy have followed had he not been assassinated?vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - united states, united states - foreign relations - vietnam, president j f kennedy, president lyndon johnson, bay of pigs

This book provides detailed information about how US Army units operated in America's longest war. Special Forces veteran Gordon L. Rottman examines the different types of infantry battalion and the units that supported them, their training, armament, equipment and organization down to platoon level.vietnam war, 1961 - 1975 - united states, us army, united states - special forces

Given the vast literature on Richard Nixon's handling of the Vietnam War, it seem unimaginable there is note to be said.vietnam war, 1961 -1975 - united states, president nixon

When Dennis Scheer arrived in Vietnam, he was assigned to an infantry unit near Chu Lai. Lt Scheer was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor and a Silver Star, the third highest military decoration for valor, for his service in the infantry. He was awarded another Bronze Star for Valor while serving in the cavalry.united states. army. infantry brigade, 198th. battalion, vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- personal narratives, american., vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- campaigns, lt. dennis scheer, bronze star for valor, silver star

The path of America's slow, gradual, and then steadily mounting involvement in Vietnam has never been fully explored.A report to the center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 -- united states, united states -- foreign relations -- vietnam

The South Vietnamese allies were ridden with healousy, corruption and security leaks.vietnam war (1961-1975) - united states, vietnam war, 1961 - 1975, personal narratives, american, green berets

One of two sets of stereographs donated by the O'Beirne family along with a stereoscope for viewing (Stereoscope is Registration no. 2014-51).Stereographic image showing people a large crowd gathered to see a procession of sailors from the American Fleet, in Bourke Street, Melbourne."12,872. THE AMERICAN FLEET IN AUSTRALIA. Procession of United States / Sailors in Bourke Street, Melbourne."stereographs, american fleet

As the Communists in the North were gearing up for the Tet Offensive in the year to follow, the American military command was beginning to implement its evolving "pacification" program, while trying to make its search and destroy tactics more effective.vietnam war - 1961-1965 - campaigns, vietnam war (1961-1975) - united states, vietnam war (1961-1975) - australia

As the Communists in the North were gearing up for the Tet Offensive in the year to follow, the American military command was beginning to implement its evolving "pacification" program, while trying to make its search and destroy tactics more effective.vietnam war - 1961-1965 - campaigns, vietnam war (1961-1975) - united states, vietnam war (1961-1975) - australia, tet offensive

As the Communists in the North were gearing up for the Tet Offensive in the year to follow, the American military command was beginning to implement its evolving "pacification" program, while trying to make its search and destroy tactics more effective.vietnam war - 1961-1965 - campaigns, vietnam war (1961-1975) - united states, vietnam war (1961-1975) - australia

Jan Scruggs started and directed the enormously successful effort to create a national memorial honoring those Americans who served their country in the Vietnam War.vietnam veterans memorial (washington, d.c.), vietnam war, 1961-1975, united states

When American and South Vietnamese forces, led by General Creighton Abrams, launched an attack into neutral Cambodia in 1970, the invasion ignited a firestorm of violent antiwar protests throughout the United States, dealing yet another blow to Nixo's troubled presidency. 1961- 1975 - campaigns - cambodia, vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - united states, general creighton abrams, president nixon, cambodia

No American can know too much about the Vietnam War and its effects on our culture.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - united states

Prior to carrying out a detailed condition report of the cetacean skeletons, it is useful to have an understanding of the materials we are likely to encounter, in terms of structure and chemistry. This entry invites you to join in learning about the composition of whale bone and oil. Whale bone (Cetacean) bone is comprised of a composite structure of both an inorganic matrix of mainly hydroxylapatite (a calcium phosphate mineral), providing strength and rigidity, as well as an organic protein ‘scaffolding’ of mainly collagen, facilitating growth and repair (O’Connor 2008, CCI 2010). Collagen is also the structural protein component in cartilage between the whale vertebrae and attached to the fins of both the Killer Whale and the Dolphin. Relative proportions in the bone composition (affecting density), are linked with the feeding habits and mechanical stresses typically endured by bones of particular whale types. A Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) skeleton (toothed) thus has a higher mineral value (~67%) than a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus, 1758) (baleen) (~60%) (Turner Walker 2012). The internal structure of bone can be divided into compact and cancellous bone. In whales, load-bearing structures such as mandibles and upper limb bones (e.g. humerus, sternum) are largely composed of compact bone (Turner Walker 2012). This consists of lamella concentrically deposited around the longitudinal axis and is permeated by fluid carrying channels (O’Connor 2008). Cancellous (spongy) bone, with a highly porous angular network of trabeculae, is less stiff and thus found in whale ribs and vertebrae (Turner Walker 2012). Whale oil Whales not only carry a thick layer of fat (blubber) in the soft tissue of their body for heat insulation and as a food store while they are alive, but also hold large oil (lipid) reserves in their porous bones. Following maceration of the whale skeleton after death to remove the soft tissue, the bones retain a high lipid content (Higgs et. al 2010). Particularly bones with a spongy (porous) structure have a high capacity to hold oil-rich marrow. Comparative data of various whale species suggests the skull, particularly the cranium and mandible bones are particularly oil rich. Along the vertebral column, the lipid content is reduced, particularly in the thoracic vertebrae (~10-25%), yet greatly increases from the lumbar to the caudal vertebrae (~40-55%). The chest area (scapula, sternum and ribs) show a mid-range lipid content (~15-30%), with vertically orientated ribs being more heavily soaked lower down (Turner Walker 2012, Higgs et. al 2010). Whale oil is largely composed of triglycerides (molecules of fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule). In Arctic whales a higher proportion of unsaturated, versus saturated fatty acids make up the lipid. Unsaturated fatty acids (with double or triple carbon bonds causing chain kinks, preventing close packing (solidifying) of molecules), are more likely to be liquid (oil), versus solid (fat) at room temperature (Smith and March 2007). Objects Made From the Whaling Industry We all know that men set forth in sailing ships and risked their lives to harpoon whales on the open seas throughout the 1800s. And while Moby Dick and other tales have made whaling stories immortal, people today generally don't appreciate that the whalers were part of a well-organized industry. The ships that set out from ports in New England roamed as far as the Pacific in hunt of specific species of whales. Adventure may have been the draw for some whalers, but for the captains who owned whaling ships, and the investors which financed voyages, there was a considerable monetary payoff. The gigantic carcasses of whales were chopped and boiled down and turned into products such as the fine oil needed to lubricate increasing advanced machine tools. And beyond the oil derived from whales, even their bones, in an era before the invention of plastic, was used to make a wide variety of consumer goods. In short, whales were a valuable natural resource the same as wood, minerals, or petroleum we now pump from the ground. Oil From Whale’s Blubber Oil was the main product sought from whales, and it was used to lubricate machinery and to provide illumination by burning it in lamps. When a whale was killed, it was towed to the ship and its blubber, the thick insulating fat under its skin, would be peeled and cut from its carcass in a process known as “flensing.” The blubber was minced into chunks and boiled in large vats on board the whaling ship, producing oil. The oil taken from whale blubber was packaged in casks and transported back to the whaling ship’s home port (such as New Bedford, Massachusetts, the busiest American whaling port in the mid-1800s). From the ports it would be sold and transported across the country and would find its way into a huge variety of products. Whale oil, in addition to be used for lubrication and illumination, was also used to manufacture soaps, paint, and varnish. Whale oil was also utilized in some processes used to manufacture textiles and rope. Spermaceti, a Highly Regarded Oil A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. The oil was waxy, and was commonly used in making candles. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. Spermaceti was also used, distilled in liquid form, as an oil to fuel lamps. The main American whaling port, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was thus known as "The City That Lit the World." When John Adams was the ambassador to Great Britain before serving as president he recorded in his diary a conversation about spermaceti he had with the British Prime Minister William Pitt. Adams, keen to promote the New England whaling industry, was trying to convince the British to import spermaceti sold by American whalers, which the British could use to fuel street lamps. The British were not interested. In his diary, Adams wrote that he told Pitt, “the fat of the spermaceti whale gives the clearest and most beautiful flame of any substance that is known in nature, and we are surprised you prefer darkness, and consequent robberies, burglaries, and murders in your streets to receiving as a remittance our spermaceti oil.” Despite the failed sales pitch John Adams made in the late 1700s, the American whaling industry boomed in the early to mid-1800s. And spermaceti was a major component of that success. Spermaceti could be refined into a lubricant that was ideal for precision machinery. The machine tools that made the growth of industry possible in the United States were lubricated, and essentially made possible, by oil derived from spermaceti. Baleen, or "Whalebone" The bones and teeth of various species of whales were used in a number of products, many of them common implements in a 19th century household. Whales are said to have produced “the plastic of the 1800s.” The "bone" of the whale which was most commonly used wasn’t technically a bone, it was baleen, a hard material arrayed in large plates, like gigantic combs, in the mouths of some species of whales. The purpose of the baleen is to act as a sieve, catching tiny organisms in sea water, which the whale consumes as food. As baleen was tough yet flexible, it could be used in a number of practical applications. And it became commonly known as "whalebone." Perhaps the most common use of whalebone was in the manufacture of corsets, which fashionable ladies in the 1800s wore to compress their waistlines. One typical corset advertisement from the 1800s proudly proclaims, “Real Whalebone Only Used.” Whalebone was also used for collar stays, buggy whips, and toys. Its remarkable flexibility even caused it to be used as the springs in early typewriters. The comparison to plastic is apt. Think of common items which today might be made of plastic, and it's likely that similar items in the 1800s would have been made of whalebone. Baleen whales do not have teeth. But the teeth of other whales, such as the sperm whale, would be used as ivory in such products as chess pieces, piano keys, or the handles of walking sticks. Pieces of scrimshaw, or carved whale's teeth, would probably be the best remembered use of whale's teeth. However, the carved teeth were created to pass the time on whaling voyages and were never a mass production item. Their relative rarity, of course, is why genuine pieces of 19th century scrimshaw are considered to be valuable collectibles today. Reference: McNamara, Robert. "Objects Made From the Whaling Industry." ThoughtCo, Jul. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/products-produced-from-whales-1774070.Whale bone during the 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries was an important industry providing an important commodity. Whales from these times provided everything from lighting & machine oils to using the animal's bones for use in corsets, collar stays, buggy whips, and many other everyday items then in use.Whale rib bone with advanced stage of calcification as indicated by brittleness. None.warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, whale bones, whale skeleton, whales, whale bone, corsets, toys, whips, whaleling industry, maritime fishing, whalebone

The dam at the entrance to the Nerreman Gateway in Eltham was built according to an internationally acclaimed theory developed by the builder's father. In 1920, Victorian engineer B.A. Smith was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers J. James R. Cross Gold Medal for his Technical Paper titled 'Arched Dams'. It was the first time this medal had been awarded outside the United States. The concrete arched dam across the Eltham West Drain was built in 1940 by B.A. Smith's son and engineer, D. B. (Bernie) Smith to water the 24 acre (9.75 ha) hobby farm owned by himself and new wife, Isa Smith. Upon completion of the dam a pump-house was constructed beside the creek but before the water could be pumped up the hill they had to dig a trench and lay 500m of 100mm water main to an elevated holding tank. The Smiths made the pump-house their home for several years until they constructed their home at the top of the hill overlooking Eltham and views extending to Kinglake. Following Bernie's death in 1983, Nerreman Park was subdivided between 1993 and 1995. Gordon Ford designed the landscaping and the pump-house was demolished. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p137 The dam at the entrance to the Nerreman Gateway in Eltham, was built according to an internationally acclaimed theory developed by the builder’s father. In 1920, Victorian engineer B A Smith was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers J. James R. Croes Gold Medal, for his Technical Paper titled Arched Dams. It was the first time this medal had been awarded outside America. An international example of the application of Smith’s work can be found in the design of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, Nevada, USA. Built between 1930 and 1936, it is recognised by the ASCE as one of ‘America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders’.1 The concrete arched dam across the Eltham West Drain was built by B A Smith’s son and engineer, D B (Bernie) Smith. Bernie’s dam followed his father’s theory, having a curvature that takes maximum advantage of concrete’s great strength in compression. The water load is carried into the abutments because of this curvature, which permits a wall thickness of only 225 millimetres thick at its crest, despite the dam’s capacity of more than 4.5 megalitres. The Eltham dam was designed to water the 24 acre (9.75 ha) hobby farm belonging to newly married couple Bernie and Isa Smith. Bernie, from Armadale, and Isa, from a farm at Tyntynder near Swan Hill, were attracted to the hilly topography and the creek running through the property. It extended from Ryans Road, Eltham, to Karingal Drive, Montmorency and was adjacent to Meruka Park. The Smiths named it Nerreman Park using the Aboriginal word Nerreman meaning ‘River Bend’ as their creek had a pronounced bend.2 In 1940 the first thing Bernie did was to build a dam, and with Isa’s help, a pump-house, to secure a water supply for their cattle, pigs, chickens, orchard and vegetable gardens. It was also available for the fire-plugs, which they placed all over the property in case of bushfire. The couple built the pump-house beside the creek and installed a Tange three-plunger pump, which had originally supplied the City of Wodonga with water. But before the Smiths could pump water up the hill from the dam they had to dig a trench and lay about 550 yards (500m) of a four-inch (100mm) water main up to an elevated holding tank. The trench was dug with a single furrow plough drawn by an old draught horse. Living in rough conditions did not deter the Smiths, who made the pump-house their home, where they still lived when their first child was born in 1944. They later built their home at the top of their property overlooking Eltham, with magnificent views to Kinglake, the Dandenong Ranges and Melbourne. From 1946 it took them almost 20 years to complete the 36-square house with its 12-foot (3.6m) high ceilings. Material for the concrete roof and walls faced with sandstone, was ripped out of the ground on their property by plough pulled by tandem Clydesdale horses. Isa was a strong woman – two days before their second child was born – she set three huge sandstone boulders in place in the bottom wall of the garage. She also mixed all the cement for the house. A collapsed kitchen wall did not discourage her from rebuilding it in a week, while her husband was away working in the country. She later recalled: ‘We stood back to admire this beautiful wall we’d built and while we were looking at it, it came tumbling down’.3 Following Bernie’s death in 1983, Nerreman Park was subdivided, between 1993 and 1995. Local Gordon Ford designed the landscaping and the pump-house was pulled down. But the dam remains as a reminder of exceptional engineering4 – and of a remarkable couple.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, karingal drive, smiths dam, bernie smith, gordon ford, isa smith, nerreman gateway, nerreman park estate, dams

The Vietnam War still haunts Americans. It colors perception of contemporary foreign policy, give rise to lawsuits, fills novels and films, and rages on in the nightmare of many of its veterans.vietnamese conflict, 1963-1975 - united states - addresses, essays, lectures.

On 30 January 1968 the North Vietnamese communists launched a coordinated surprise attack - the Tet Offensive - across South Vietnam against the South Vietnamese and American Armies.tet offensive, 1961-1975 -- united states, vietnam war, american armies, south vietnamese, viet cong, north vietnamese army, hue, khe sanh, saigon

In 1954, as the defeated French forces left the State of Vietnam, Ngô Đình Diệm, a devout Roman Catholic, became the first prime minister. In 1956, a government-controlled referendum determined that South Vietnam should become a republic rather than stay under the control of Emperor Bảo Đại (who was living in Cannes, on the French Riviera). Ngô Đình Diệm appointed himself the first President of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). He then appointed his younger brother, Ngô Đình Nhu, to be his chief advisor and head of both South Vietnam’s secret police and its largest intelligence agency. During 1963, a campaign of civil resistance led by Buddhist monks protested religious discrimination. The government’s brutal treatment of Buddhists convinced many that Ngô Đình Diệm should go. While the United States publicly denied playing any part in the 1963 coup that overthrew Diệm, it was revealed that American officials had met with and encouraged the generals who planned the coup. Both Ngô Đình Diệm and his brother, Ngô Đình Nhu, were executed on 2 November 1963. 1st elected president of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem. 1st president vietnam, ngo dinh diem, republic of vietnam, south vietnam, assassination, execution

January 30-31 1968. Laminated coloured map of South Vietnam headed "The Tet Offensive". Three flags at the top. North Vietnam Army - Red over blue with yellow star in the middle. American stars & stripes flag. SVA Unit - orange base with purple horizontal stripes through the middle. Reverse is a map of Citadel & Imperial Palace of Peace.The battle for Hue, South Vietnam. January 31 - Feb 21, 1968.tet offensive (1968), north vietnam flag, united states flag, south vietnam flag, the battle for hue, hue

This copy is an 'uncorrected page proof".Fought as fiercley by politians and the public as by the troops in Southeat Asia, the Vietnam War - its origins, its conduct, its consequences - is still being contested. 1908-1973, 1917-1963, vietnamese war, 1961-1975 -- united states, president j f kennedy, president lyndon johnson

You Americans don't understand. You are making beggars of our children, prostitutes of our women, and Communists of our men. These words were uttered by a young Vietanese teacher.vietnam - foreign relations - united states, united states - foreign relations - vietnam, south, south east asia, communist

Australia, in 1962 committed 30 Army instructors to train the emerging Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) with the aim of enhancing a military alliance with the United States of America. The training task continued for 10 years and involved 990 Australians and 10 New Zealanders as the war escalated. This account reflects the experience of an unlikely member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) who became the last Australian Warrant Officer to srve with the highly regarded 1st ARVN Regiment.vietnam war 1961 - south vietnam, vietnam war, 1961-1975 - participation, american, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), 1st arvn regiment, john (jack) peel, new zealand, 2nd battalion

The United States Special Forces, the Green Berets were often regarded as the elite of the American forces and their mobile strike force, the "Mike Force' , was considered the elite of these.australia. army. australian army training team, vietnam, special air service regiment (australian army), united states. army. special forces, green berets, sas, mike force, the montagnards, david savage

Told by the CIA's Chief Strategy Analyst in Vietnam.The incredible history of the American role in Vietnam would have been forever poorer without Snepp's perspective.vietnamese conflict , 1961-1975, vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - secret service - united states, united states - central intelligence agency (cia)

This is the book that provoked the U.S. government to bring against the author an unprecendented lawsuit which put the basic principles of American democracy in jeopardy.united states. central intelligence agency, vietnam war, 1961-1975, fall of saigon, cia, saigon

They were the biggest Ranger company in Vietnam and the best. Charlie Company, 75th Infantry, provided the six-man hunter-killer teams that specialized in ambushing the enemy, outfighting jungle guerrillas using their own tactics.united states - army - history, vietnam war, personal narratives - american, charlei company, 75th infantry, nva

The Vietnam War and the tumultuous internal upheavals in America that coincided with it marked a watershed era in U.S. history. These events profoundly challenged America's heroic self-image.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - protest movements - united states, united states - history - 1945

Van De Mark tells the somber story of Lyndon Johnson's valiant but tragic effort to prevent the surging undertow of a far-off war from overwhelming the programs that embodied his cherished vision for America.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - united states, united states - politics and government - 1961-1975, president lyndon johnson