Why did it take so long for the Vietnamese Veterans to be recognized in Australia?

Subject  > History Term Papers  > Australian History

When the Vietnam soldiers returned from war, they did not receive a warm and friendly welcome. They were targeted by anti-war protesters as being the enemy. They claimed that they were evil and wrong to fight in a war, which they thought was useless, and none of Australia's business. They thought that all Australia was doing was following America into war. The public all witnessed the daily footage of the war, horrible images of dead women and children, homes being destroyed and the battles themselves. Soldiers were spat on, criticized and rejected. "We often felt betrayed by Australian society which questioned out sacrifice and actions. The lack of public welcome and recognition on our return added to this sense of betrayal." The ...

... were just as guilt as the Americans. The Domino Theory turned out to be wrong, which was one of the main motives in first sending troops to Vietnam. Even thought the Communists took over Laos and Cambodia, it stopped there. Australia itself was the whole time under no real threat. The Vietnam Soldiers after their return was not only faced with the public outrage, but also many personal problems. Many suffered depression and sickness that eventually led to an increase in suicide and nightmares later in life. The real blame should not be placed on the soldiers, but the government. They were the ones who mis-judged the issue in Vietnam, they were the ones who followed America into

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