Alan Davidson was a 20-year-old plumber working on the dockyards at Newcastle when that dreaded bloody letter came.
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Report for medical, you’ve been called up for national service.
It was a letter that pitched the young man from the Hunter into the steamy tropics of Vietnam, where “it was hot and rained every day at 3 o’clock".
Joining the Royal Australian Navy, Alan was tasked to serve with the Helicopter Flight Vietnam crew – an experimental military unit specifically formed to provide support to American forces during the war.
Alan was part of a team of Aussie mechanics attached to the 135th American Army Assault Helicopter Company.
Based north east of Saigon in the wild and woolly Dong Nai Province, mechanics were kept busy repairing bullet-riddled helicopters between missions.
Sometimes they (returning helicopters) would just bring back bodies – we had quite a few memorial services over there
- Vietnam veteran Alan Davidson
“We dealt with a lot of shot-up aircraft,” Alan said.
He would spend a year and two days in Vietnam (“I wasn’t counting,” he joked), forming a comradery with his fellow serviceman he said was unique to war.
“You build up a mateship when you’re in a war zone that civilians would never quite get. I suppose it’s because in war you’re with these blokes 24/7, whereas you go home at night when you’re a civilian,” he said.
However, there was no escaping the reality of living and working in a hotbed of conflict.
“War affects you all in different ways,” he said.
“There were five of us who were inseparable over there, we were all aircraft mechanics.
“One of them was a bloke from North Queensland – he was hard as a Mallee bull – but something over there affected him.
“He committed suicide when he got back.”
In Vietnam they were reminded daily of war’s toll.
“Sometimes they (returning helicopters) would just bring back bodies – we had quite a few memorial services over there,” he said.
The experimental military unit tag saw the Americans dub the Aussies ‘Emus’. Alan said he reckoned the unit’s aim was to see how American and Australian forces worked together.
“Like anyone, there was good ones and bad ones,” Alan said of their relationship with the Americans.
Alan said he doesn’t think of Vietnam everyday, but admits there’s certain things that are quick to remind him of his time there.
The sound of a helicopter buzzing overhead during the interview is one. Does that sound bring the memories rushing back?
“It sure does,” he smiled.
With only about 200 Australian soldiers serving with the Helicopter Flight Vietnam unit over four years, Alan said they weren’t as “well known” as the larger infantry battalions such as the 4RAR and 3RAR.
However, in recent years the unit has been increasingly recognised for its work. Last year Alan and his compatriots were awarded the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry in recognition of the unit’s distinguished service.
He said the importance of ANZAC Day rested in carrying on the memories of those who served.
“It’s good to see how many young kids from schools in the area get here for the ceremony, I think it helps carry that legacy on,” he said.
He’s closing in on a decade as Maitland RSL committee member and hopes ANZAC commemorations encourage the next generation to join their local sub-branch.
“It’s still got a very important role to play,” he said of the RSL.
“We need that younger generation to come through.”