"Consulate General of Australia,
Mr. Robiliard, Mr. Biddle, representing the Honorary
Consul for New Zealand, Mr. Au, representing the Mayor
of Honolulu, BRIG. GEN. Richards, CDR 154TH Wing Hawaii
Air National Guard, fellow Forward Air Controllers,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my honour to represent the
Australian and New Zealand Forward Air Controllers who
served with the United States Air Force in Vietnam.
However, not all US FACs came into contact with Aussie
or Kiwi FACs during their time in Vietnam, and I am
aware that some still don't know of the `Down Under'
contribution. Our commitment, though modest in quantity
was, we hope and believe, large in quality and spirit,
and spanned the years of 1966 to 1971 – in all 36
Australians and 14 New Zealand FACs served in the US 7th
Air Force during the conflict. The `Down under" FACs
were fully integrated into the USAF units with their own
parent Air Forces responsible for only their pay and
allowances. Such was the integration that USAF FACs
often found themselves in support of Aussie or Kiwi
ground units and most Aussies and Kiwis spent their tour
in support of US Army units.
Many writers have described the
unique association of men thrown into combat together as
'Brothers-in-arms' – this description was never truer
than the 'brotherhood' of Forward Air Controllers in
Vietnam. Airmen from the United States of America,
Australia and New Zealand, who had a difficult,
dangerous and, arguably, a very vital role in the
conflict known as the Vietnam War, developed strong
bonds of professional respect, and in many cases, close
friendships which have continued and strengthened
through the 30 years since the end of our commitment to
the conflict. We truly feel part of the FAC brotherhood.
Vietnam was not the first
conflict in which our three countries have fought
together, nor was it the last. As we gather here today
our countries are joined together in the `War Against
Terror". Australian Special Air Service personnel have
played a vital role in the current Afghanistan campaign
fighting on the ground alongside US Special Forces, and
Australian Air Force F18s are deployed in support of the
operation at an undisclosed location in the Indian
Ocean. The reason we find ourselves together in these
conflicts is because our countries, our societies, share
similar moral standards, a love for freedom and
democracy, and a fierce determination to protect our
countries from anyone or anything, which threatens our
freedom.
We also share a willingness and
the courage to help our friends and others, who through
being weak, militarily or economically, find themselves
in danger of subjugation by evil regimes. We are here
today to dedicate a memorial to Forward Air Controllers,
who did not question the need for their service to their
country, and many of whom paid the ultimate price for
their loyalty and dedication. We do this because our
countries owe those who gave their lives a debt, and we
do not want them to be forgotten. Moreover, we must
ensure that we not only remember those who died, but
that we do not forget why we served, what we were
fighting for; for if we allow our countries, our
societies to forget or ignore those basic beliefs and
moral standards which I mentioned earlier, then we will
truly have failed those who have given their lives in
the pursuit of freedom and democracy.
In commemoration of our mates,
who we are honouring here today, we Australians and New
Zealanders have shared with you the special ODE which we
reserve for our fallen warriors. The ODE is inscribed on
the marker we dedicate today and comes from World War I
when Australia and New Zealand banded together to form a
Corps known as the ANZACS – they fought an unwinnable
battle and endured incredible hardships with great
bravery at a place called Gallipoli in Turkey.
The ODE, which is a verse from
the poem by Laurence Binyon entitled "For The Fallen",
has been used since 1921 in commemorative services for
Australian and New Zealanders who have given their lives
in service of their countries in war. The ODE is also
recited every evening at sunset in our Returned
Servicemen Leagues Clubs, and today we wish to share it
with you, our brothers in arms – the ODE says it all:
THEY SHALL GROW OLD, NOT AS WE
THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD; AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM, NOR
THE YEARS CONDEMN. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN
THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM LEST WE FORGET"
Left
to Right: Col. Mike Connors (in the back, only his
head is visable),USAF, Ret.; Mrs. Doris Day; Col.
Alvin Au,USAR, Ret.; Col. Bud Day, USAF, Ret. (Medal
of Honor); Col. Gene Castagnetti, USMC, Ret. Director
of National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
(Punchbowl)
Col.
William Ernst, USAF, Ret., Master of Ceremonies,
Rustic FAC
FACs,
family and friends
Col.
Gene Castagnetti, USMC, Ret., Director of National
Memorial
Cemetery
of the Pacific (Punchbowl)
B/Gen.
"Putt" Richards, Cmdr. 154th Wing, HANG, Hickam AFB,
0V-10
FAC and F4 pilot
Mr.
Paul Robilliard, Esq., Consulate General of Australia
presenting
Australian wreath
Mr.
Scott Biddle, President of New Zealand/USA Connection
Club
presenting
New Zealand wreath. (Mr. Peter Lewis, Honorary Consul
for
New Zealand, was away on a trip and could not attend)
Col.
Alvin Au, USAR, Ret. presenting Mayor of Honolulu
wreath
15ABW Honor Guard, SSgt. Ed Sarmiento, NCOIC
Punchbowl
Cemetery before a crowd of about 330 people. The 15th ABW
Honor Guard provided the Color Guard, Firing Party and
Wreath Bearers; the 15th ABW provided a Chaplain; the Air
Force Band of the Pacific provided the music, anthems and
taps; the University of Hawaii AFROTC detachment provided
cadets to greet, usher, and seat attendees; the Australian
Consulate General attended; the New Zealand Honorary
Consul and the Mayor of Honolulu sent representatives to
participate; and the FAC Assn., both Consulates and the
Mayor provided four large floral wreaths to honor the
fallen. Two local pilots flew an O-1 and an 0-2A over the
ceremony as the monument was unveiled.
The Hawaii Reunion 2002 committee members want to
thank all of the donors for making it possible to create and
install a lasting tribute to all of the American, Australian
and New Zealand aviators who served together in Southeast
Asia.