LTC Michael Ahern, Australian Army Liaison Officer to the Maneuver Center for Excellence has set this event up because the 173d Memorial is the only place in the US containing the names of those from the Vietnam War who made the supreme sacrifice.
“The 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial is a magnificent memorial, and the only one in the US to have names of fallen Australian and New Zealand soldiers included alongside their US Mates. In this way, the Memorial not only captures the spirit of ANZAC, but also the close relationship between the ANZACs and the US; shedding blood together in combat now for nearly a century. The story of the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and 161 Field Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery deploying to South Vietnam as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in 1965-66 is an amazing one and historic for the three Countries in so many ways. The story is so fitting for an ANZAC Day Service at Fort Benning that I would like to incorporate that 1965-66 deployment to Vietnam by the 173rd as the theme for our ANZAC Day Dawn Service.”
Thanks to LTCOL Ahern for his initiative and his selection of the Brigade’s Memorial as the site for this event. The ceremony is open to the general public and Sky Soldiers of all generations are invited to attend. Dress is Jacket and tie.
For queries, and to RSVP if you plan on attending please contactSGM Scott Oben at 762-822-9695 or at scott.oben.fm@mail.mil
Pappy Patchin B 3/319th 65-68
Taken in part from 4/503 Newsletter (4/503 replaced 1RAR)
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