VIETNAM veterans were remembered on August 18 for Vietnam Veterans’ Day.
Australians paused to remember the service and sacrifice of all those who fought in the Vietnam War.
More than 60,000 Australian servicemen and women deployed to Vietnam between 1962 and 1975, with 521 killed in service.
Many of those who survived endured great hardship during the war, and returned home with both physical and emotional scars.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Michael Ronaldson said the day should be remembered by all Australians.
“It is important that we properly acknowledge the service and sacrifice of these men and women, who upheld the finest traditions of the Anzacs during this terrible war,” he said.
Fifty-four young men from Collie served in Vietnam.
Two didn’t return –Lance Corporal Keith Dewar and Private James White.
Each year the surviving members of the Fifth Battalion spend Vietnam Veterans’ Day at the home town of one of their fallen brothers.
This year they came to Collie for Private White.
The day started with a march and sombre service at Collie Cemetery where he was buried.
A second ceremony began at 11am with veterans marching to Soldiers Park.
The guest speaker was retired Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Lovell.
Mr Lovell served in Vietnam as platoon commander and is also from Collie. He spoke about his experiences and how Collie soldiers were well known in the army.
James Mungo Thomas White
Jimmy was the second child born to Jim and Edna White.
Born on Sebtember 10, 1947, he was a little brother for big sister Irene. The Whites had three children after Jimmy:
Arthur and twins Ronald and Ross.
He attended Amaroo Primary School and Collie Senior High School travelling into town by bus.
Growing up, Jimmy loved to go fishing and marroning with family down at the Cardiff River.
They also spent many hours in the bush surrounding Cardiff collecting firewood, picking baronia and exploring. Summers were spent down at the river swimming with all the other kids.
He played football, cricket and badminton and he was a very good shot with his ‘ging’.
He was part of a very close extended family at Cardiff with several aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Jimmy started work at Lyall’s Mill when he was about 15 years old.
He worked with Arthur at the mill and they rode their bikes to Cardiff to work and home again.
Jimmy had a quiet personalty but was always there to help and protect his younger brothers when they needed him.
He became a Christian when he was 17 years old.
After the mill, Jimmy worked at the Muja Power Station until he was called to serve in the Australian Army during the Vietnam War.
