Business Beagle
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Finance Industry
Songshi QuanSanity prevails at $12 a piece
September 1st 2008 04:50
Sanity prevails at $12 a piece
It may be ‘better late then never’ but as reported by the Daily Telegraph and AAP, the Australian Government’s minister for Veteran’s Affairs Alan Griffin has confirmed that veterans of the Battle of Long Tan will receive their Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry unit citation with palm without having to pay for it themselves.
Background
In 1967, the South Vietnamese Government awarded around 100 Australian veterans with the Cross of Gallantry for their heroics during the famous battle. However, the Australian authorities did not accept the ribbons at the time and as the South Vietnamese government no longer exists, apparently the “protocol” for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs was to have the individual soldiers of Delta Company pay the $12 personally if they wanted the ribbon made in the US and shipped to Australia.
Only following an independent review by a panel of retired army officers was the ludicrous bureaucratic decision overturned.
History
There are many heroic battles fought during wars since the dawn of time. It is a shame that the tragedy of war can at times produce moments of shining heroism to highlight the wonder of the human spirit. The battle of Long Tan is one such moment in history. For a full account of the events that began on 16 August 1966 and ended during the evening of 18 August 1966 I encourage everyone to read the following article Really Long Link - The Battle of Long Tan.
The word “heroism” is bandied around more and more these days, almost as a catch cry for a nice deed, perhaps because those nice deeds are seemingly more and more rare. But, please, take a moment, and read the article and you’ll see why I believe that the soldiers of D Company, and those that came to their aid in A Company and the 1st APC Squadron and the artillery men at Nui Dat are the real deal when it comes to heroes. These soldiers faced an estimated 2,500 Viet Cong on foreign soil in unfamiliar terrain and horrific weather and repelled them with only 18 of their fellow servicemen dead and another 24 wounded.
I am very glad that the Department of Veterans Affairs came to their senses, but had they not, I would have gladly paid for those ribbons myself. It is the very least these soldiers deserve.
Woof!
The Business Beagle
It may be ‘better late then never’ but as reported by the Daily Telegraph and AAP, the Australian Government’s minister for Veteran’s Affairs Alan Griffin has confirmed that veterans of the Battle of Long Tan will receive their Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry unit citation with palm without having to pay for it themselves.
Background
In 1967, the South Vietnamese Government awarded around 100 Australian veterans with the Cross of Gallantry for their heroics during the famous battle. However, the Australian authorities did not accept the ribbons at the time and as the South Vietnamese government no longer exists, apparently the “protocol” for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs was to have the individual soldiers of Delta Company pay the $12 personally if they wanted the ribbon made in the US and shipped to Australia.
Only following an independent review by a panel of retired army officers was the ludicrous bureaucratic decision overturned.
History
There are many heroic battles fought during wars since the dawn of time. It is a shame that the tragedy of war can at times produce moments of shining heroism to highlight the wonder of the human spirit. The battle of Long Tan is one such moment in history. For a full account of the events that began on 16 August 1966 and ended during the evening of 18 August 1966 I encourage everyone to read the following article Really Long Link - The Battle of Long Tan.
The word “heroism” is bandied around more and more these days, almost as a catch cry for a nice deed, perhaps because those nice deeds are seemingly more and more rare. But, please, take a moment, and read the article and you’ll see why I believe that the soldiers of D Company, and those that came to their aid in A Company and the 1st APC Squadron and the artillery men at Nui Dat are the real deal when it comes to heroes. These soldiers faced an estimated 2,500 Viet Cong on foreign soil in unfamiliar terrain and horrific weather and repelled them with only 18 of their fellow servicemen dead and another 24 wounded.
I am very glad that the Department of Veterans Affairs came to their senses, but had they not, I would have gladly paid for those ribbons myself. It is the very least these soldiers deserve.
Woof!
The Business Beagle
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Comment by Songshi Quan
These guys deserve a hell of a lot more than this, but I'm glad to see the Pollies can stand to give up one of their ivory back-scratchers (...or maybe just a business lunch...) to cough up for some blokes that have already paid for their awards with blood, sweat and hard-fought tears.
A good question would be, how much money did the Government spend saying they wouldn't pay, just to turn around and suddenly realise (SHOCK-HORROR) that the average Australian citizen would be bloody outraged at such pompous obtuseness.
To these Diggers...bloody good job mate.
Ruff!
Comment by Anonymous
Perhaps they really do sit in their ivory towers, and not deign to garner any outside points of view, until the general public gets wind of their ridiculous decision making, then they reverse an obviously stupid position.....but not because it was a stupid decision, because it is all about saving face for some "faceless" bureacrat or politcian.
If they had served in the trenches, they certainly would not be quibbling about $12.
To the war veterans I say a sincere heartfelt thank you.....the average Australian is aware of your sacrifices and are happy for you to be acknowledged, whatever the cost.
Miss J.
Comment by Business Beagle
Business News
Robert Keanalley
Hit the nail right on the head!
Politicians are elected and paid to represent the people. They are also responsible for the bureaucrats in the departments they oversee.
They failed their constituents and only made the right decision when no doubt pressed to do so. And the money wasted in making poor decisions and needing to correct them is just further fuel to the shame.
I hope, somehow, that the veterans involved learn that the public DO support them, DO thank them and DO fervently believe they deserve the medals and so much more.
Thank you Miss J and Songshi Quan
Cheers,
Beagle