DAVO'S VIETNAM WAR HOMECOMING TO AUSTRALIA, JULY 1968

The Year was 1970

I had many a trip into Concord Hospital after my return to Australia from Vietnam in 1968. The wards were usually full with guys who were either fighting alcohol addiction, PTSD, claims assessments etc. When I went in for assessment for all my physical ills in 1970, I was treated as a crazy (was just plain suffering from severe ulceration of the stomach I thought), had my belt removed and my razor blades taken away so I couldn't do myself in. I protested loudly over this treatment and was informed all Vietnam Vets were treated the same. It seemed we were a dangerous bunch and suicidal rejects. There were guys in the ward who had major surgical problems from wounds and they were treated as crazy. We weren't crazy - we just needed help to adjust back into a hostile society and get back on track to what we were before we went overseas. Not too much to ask surely?

I hated travelling from Liverpool into the city for appointments

I remember clearly that my specialist (who was at the time a Local Medical Officer (LMO) for Veteran's Affairs) had a nice greeting on entering his office - "What's your problem fellah?" I would always say, "Nothing, I was sent here to see you." I hated that guy and his indifference to my problems. I was sick physically, losing weight, given to alcohol and couldn't control my anger. I wasn't crazy, mad or a loony. I just wanted some compassion, understanding, someone to explain to me what was going on and why Australia hated us vets so much, to be accepted as a 'Digger' and a simple thank you for serving my country. That wasn't too much to ask?

Hospital Routine

We spent most of our day in hospital playing table tennis or lawn bowls. Every now and again (more 'again' really) we would all troop up to the pub on the corner for therapy. The tenders would come and round us all up and herd us back to the ward where the sister would tell us what rogues we were and send us all off for relaxation therapy (soft music in a dark room). Most freaked out and escaped to do other things. The system really didn't have a clue on PTSD in those days. Thank God those days have gone and at least today there is help for the tormented veteran.

The reality in 1970, and on, was that the nation couldn't give a stuff about us - so why should we. Pretty silly thinking, but at the time my friend, it was all about surviving. Vietnam was bad enough, but to have to survive the onslaught against us by the media and the public was more than most could bear. Every time there was a problem - off to Concord - my local MO used Concord like a pharmaceutical script.

The Family

My kids suffered terribly through this period. They shouldn't have had to, but they did. No help for them - take out medical insurance and pay your bills like any other tax payer. My wife and children were victims of the Vietnam War. They were just as much a casualty as I was. My wife suffered many bouts of severe clinical depression, was hospitalised and the institutions remedy for her was over 40 shock treatments. Why did she have to suffer all that? There was no government help for her or my children.  It wasn't her fault, so why should she have to suffer all that and my children suffer watching their mother and father on the road of self-destruct? Why should innocent children suddenly have their quality of life torn to pieces because of the indifferance of a nation?

Even to this day there is no doubt in my mind that most of her physical illness was as a direct result of those years immediately following my return from Vietnam.  Having to deal with a changed husband was enough, but she also had to deal with the stigma of being a Vietnam Veteran's wife.  That alone was enough to topple the strongest of will's.  Yet in all these years following my return our family still suffers, and there is no financial relief for the illnesses caused to them by the Vietnam War.  WHY?   Years of political ret eric hasn't solved the issues with our families.  Is it too hard?  I think so! (Click here to read about it.)