Prime Minister: please bring home the 25 Australian soldiers killed in Vietnam but remain in a lonely grave, halfway home on Foreign soil.

The issue

"My mother never got closure for her little brother's death. It ruined her life not being able to go and sit by a gravesite, that he was never honoured like other killed soldiers. Disgustingly, they're still stuck half-way home. We just want Reg brought home."

He was an Australian soldier killed in Vietnam – but our government has never repatriated Reg Hillier home. Shockingly, he's among 25 soldiers killed in Vietnam who still remain in a lonely grave, half-way home.

521 Australian Vietnam Veterans were killed or died of wounds in the Vietnam War, 496 are buried back home in Australia, let's bring the remaining 25 home, to Australia where they belong.

Relatives and the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia are asking for your help to finally right this wrong, and bring our mates home to be with us.

We've found out that for many of these soldiers, they weren't brought home because their family couldn't afford the huge costs of repatriation. It cost nearly half a year's wage 500 pounds, at the time ($30,000 today). And they'd just lost their loved one.These Soldiers fought for their Country and made the Supreme Sacrifice and the Government of the Day wanted the NOK and Families to pay for their repatriation back to Australia.

These families had no choice, either pay up or be buried in Malaysia, this is a terrible way to treat bereaved families, and it caused further heartache as these relatives had the extra burden of that huge guilt of not being able to afford to bring their loved ones home. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.


The first one killed in Vietnam, was WO2 William Hacking on the 1st June 1963, was brought home at Government (public) expense. The second was WO2 Kevin Conway killed 6th July 1964, was buried in a Cemetery in Siagon, then exhumed and removed to Ulu Pandan Cemetery in Singapore, then to allow for Singapores expansion was again exhumed and reburied in Kranji Cemetery Singapore.

This poor Vietnam Veteran has been exhumed twice and buried three times and is still not home.

It was just wrong. We'd never do this to our boys currently serving.

Keith Payne, VC, our living legend Vietnam Veteran has given his full support, saying "I agree with you, where the relatives want the bodies brought home - Bring the Bodies Home."

For years, this injustice has been ignored. Last year, we were again given a clinical and heartless response from the government to our plea for our fellow soldiers to be brought home. 

The Prime Minister can finally give these soldiers the dignity and honour they deserve, and lay them to rest here at home in Australia with the rest of our Vietnam war dead. He went to great lengths to bring home the victims of the recent Malaysia airlines downing – we just want the same respect given to our diggers.

Those soldiers buried in Malaysia, are NOT buried in a war grave but are buried in a General Christian Cemetery on a Military base in Malaysia.

It's been the dying wish for many of our relatives, to Bring Them Home. It's time for the government to have the heart to help us close this unfinished business for the NOK, widows, relatives, and veterans, and Bring Them Home.

Please sign our change.org petition asking Prime Minister Tony Abbott to bring the remaining 25 soliders killed in Vietnam home.

We need your help to assist us - Please donate to help us achieve this goal by going to:

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/85281/vietnamveteransofaustraliaoperationbringthemhome

 

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Vietnam Veterans Association of AustraliaPetition starter
Confirmed victory
This petition made change with 39,385 supporters!

The issue

"My mother never got closure for her little brother's death. It ruined her life not being able to go and sit by a gravesite, that he was never honoured like other killed soldiers. Disgustingly, they're still stuck half-way home. We just want Reg brought home."

He was an Australian soldier killed in Vietnam – but our government has never repatriated Reg Hillier home. Shockingly, he's among 25 soldiers killed in Vietnam who still remain in a lonely grave, half-way home.

521 Australian Vietnam Veterans were killed or died of wounds in the Vietnam War, 496 are buried back home in Australia, let's bring the remaining 25 home, to Australia where they belong.

Relatives and the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia are asking for your help to finally right this wrong, and bring our mates home to be with us.

We've found out that for many of these soldiers, they weren't brought home because their family couldn't afford the huge costs of repatriation. It cost nearly half a year's wage 500 pounds, at the time ($30,000 today). And they'd just lost their loved one.These Soldiers fought for their Country and made the Supreme Sacrifice and the Government of the Day wanted the NOK and Families to pay for their repatriation back to Australia.

These families had no choice, either pay up or be buried in Malaysia, this is a terrible way to treat bereaved families, and it caused further heartache as these relatives had the extra burden of that huge guilt of not being able to afford to bring their loved ones home. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.


The first one killed in Vietnam, was WO2 William Hacking on the 1st June 1963, was brought home at Government (public) expense. The second was WO2 Kevin Conway killed 6th July 1964, was buried in a Cemetery in Siagon, then exhumed and removed to Ulu Pandan Cemetery in Singapore, then to allow for Singapores expansion was again exhumed and reburied in Kranji Cemetery Singapore.

This poor Vietnam Veteran has been exhumed twice and buried three times and is still not home.

It was just wrong. We'd never do this to our boys currently serving.

Keith Payne, VC, our living legend Vietnam Veteran has given his full support, saying "I agree with you, where the relatives want the bodies brought home - Bring the Bodies Home."

For years, this injustice has been ignored. Last year, we were again given a clinical and heartless response from the government to our plea for our fellow soldiers to be brought home. 

The Prime Minister can finally give these soldiers the dignity and honour they deserve, and lay them to rest here at home in Australia with the rest of our Vietnam war dead. He went to great lengths to bring home the victims of the recent Malaysia airlines downing – we just want the same respect given to our diggers.

Those soldiers buried in Malaysia, are NOT buried in a war grave but are buried in a General Christian Cemetery on a Military base in Malaysia.

It's been the dying wish for many of our relatives, to Bring Them Home. It's time for the government to have the heart to help us close this unfinished business for the NOK, widows, relatives, and veterans, and Bring Them Home.

Please sign our change.org petition asking Prime Minister Tony Abbott to bring the remaining 25 soliders killed in Vietnam home.

We need your help to assist us - Please donate to help us achieve this goal by going to:

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/85281/vietnamveteransofaustraliaoperationbringthemhome

 

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Vietnam Veterans Association of AustraliaPetition starter

The Decision Makers

Hon. Dan Tehan MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Responded
Media statement from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Dan Tehan: Australia will welcome home 33 Australian service personnel and dependents, including 22 Vietnam War veterans, on Thursday, 2 June in one of the largest, single military repatriations in this country’s history. The returning Australians, 21 Vietnam veterans, three servicemen and eight dependents, had been interred at Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia, with the single other casualty of the Vietnam War still interred overseas returning from the Kranji Military Cemetery in Singapore. A military repatriation ceremony and private memorial service will be held at RAAF Richmond in Sydney on June 2, after two Royal Australian Air Force Aircraft C-17 Globemaster aircraft bearing the Australians land at about 10:30am. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said bringing the Australians home was an important moment for the families and for the country. “The return of these Australians will bring closure to their families who have grieved for lost loved ones,” Mr Tehan said. “They will be welcomed home with a respectful and dignified return to this country. “For every Australian this will be an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifice of all those who have died in service to their country. “Representatives of our Vietnam Veteran community will attend and for some of them this will be a particularly moving occasion as they served with the returning servicemen.” Mr Tehan said the Australian Government last year made an offer of repatriation to 36 families of Australians buried and Terendak and Kranji. “Several families made the decision not to bring their loved ones home, and I am sure Australians will respect that decision and appreciate it was not made lightly,” he said. At the conclusion of the private memorial service for the families, 33 hearses bearing the returning Australians will depart RAAF Base Richmond in a funeral procession at about 12.15pm and travel to the centre of Parramatta, arriving about 1pm. The funeral procession will proceed via a green light corridor and under escort of the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, with assistance from the Transport Management Centre. Mr Tehan encouraged members of the public wanting to pay their respects to line the route of the procession. It will travel from RAAF Richmond to Parramatta CBD via Church Street - George Street - Smith Street - Station Street - Parkes Street, where the public will be welcome to view the procession and pay their respects. Motorists using these roads at that time may experience some delays. Reinterment services will then take place in every State and Territory, except Tasmania, over the following few weeks, in accordance with the families’ wishes.
Hon. Michael Ronaldson
Hon. Michael Ronaldson
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
David Feeney MP
David Feeney MP
Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs

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