tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post7533446762465664195..comments2024-01-11T20:02:03.237+11:00Comments on Reflections of a Former Sprog: I Am a VeteranKen Marsh (Swampy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-64307639858516241102018-04-28T09:53:27.607+10:002018-04-28T09:53:27.607+10:00No mate. Claudio Dare (and I am sure I have spelle...No mate. Claudio Dare (and I am sure I have spelled the surname wrong) in my time. I had a Honda SL350.Ken Marsh (Swampy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-51089817977385533682018-04-28T08:13:31.620+10:002018-04-28T08:13:31.620+10:00Did you ride 69? That's enough to get you in!...Did you ride 69? That's enough to get you in!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13345316058428533035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-9769395925259560372018-04-27T11:47:40.026+10:002018-04-27T11:47:40.026+10:00Thanks PaulThanks PaulKen Marsh (Swampy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-37423596808405946272018-04-27T11:47:21.864+10:002018-04-27T11:47:21.864+10:00Thanks Sam.Thanks Sam.Ken Marsh (Swampy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-47681163746153517562018-04-27T11:46:57.223+10:002018-04-27T11:46:57.223+10:00Appreciated mateAppreciated mateKen Marsh (Swampy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-89214845552583441522018-04-27T11:40:00.217+10:002018-04-27T11:40:00.217+10:00Well said, Swampy. Paul Rourke Sgt. RAAF 71-92.Well said, Swampy. Paul Rourke Sgt. RAAF 71-92.Paul Rourkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408891119012048563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-45691375469691773302018-04-27T07:37:33.218+10:002018-04-27T07:37:33.218+10:00Completely concur. I joined the RAAF in 1970 retir...Completely concur. I joined the RAAF in 1970 retired as a FSGT in 1990. I was one of those down the tarmac in 486SQN working to keep the hercs flying during Tracy airlift. I was also heavily involved in designing the mods to the herc that allowed the RAAF to sucessfully land hercs on unlit strips using NVGs but like you I thought I was not worthy to march on ANZAC day. It was not till I 'accidently' joined the Air Force Cadets (another story) that I discovered that my service was valuable, that I did contribute and could still contribute. I started marching on ANZAC Day more because it was necessary for me to supervise and support the cadets but this year was the first year I attended as veteran not as an AAFC staff member. In my time in the AAFC I have met a large number of veterans that like you & me served between wars and have also never considered themselves as veterans; some like me had also never considered themselves eliglble for DVA assistance for problems that were obviously directly related to their time in the military. Noel Redden ex RAAF FSGT now WOFF(AAFC)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-69454426438524864972018-04-26T23:36:52.052+10:002018-04-26T23:36:52.052+10:00Thanks Ken - well summed up.
Sam vdWThanks Ken - well summed up.<br /><br />Sam vdWCachedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04877104084331591808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-72717034905675045932018-04-26T22:31:51.174+10:002018-04-26T22:31:51.174+10:00I’m in the same mind set all my mates went to Timo...I’m in the same mind set all my mates went to Timor , Iraq they wear their gongs and I feel inferior and somewhat embarrassed to be in the same category as them. I am starting to wear my defence medal but small steps to doing the march, maybe next year. I am proud of my service I did over 7 years RAAF but still struggle feeling that Anzac Day acceptance within my mind. Thanks for your story hopefully one day soon it can be mine Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122488184474242620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-64703030534982658202018-04-26T21:24:50.453+10:002018-04-26T21:24:50.453+10:00Hi Ken, I say to all be proud in your own achievem...Hi Ken, I say to all be proud in your own achievements and what you were prepared to do. Deploying isn’t always the the best outcome. I spent 10 years trying to get deployed to the Middle East. When I finally got there, I faced a different aggressor. I was ruthlessly bullied by my supervisor - who got away with it. I didn’t complain because I didn’t want to get sent home. So I put up with it, I was isolated and actively ignored by the rest of our small team who “went along to get along” with the supervisor. I became depressed and suicidal. I bottled it up and got on with the job. I have spent the last 8 years still being haunted by that deployment and trying to get over it. Self-medicating through excessive alcohol and finding myself emotionally distant from my family. I try and put on a brave face and self-identity as a Middle-East veteran but secretly wish I didn’t deploy. <br />So too all those who didn’t deploy, still be proud of what you have and what you were willing to sacrifice. I can’t help but feel if I didn’t deploy, it may have been a blessing in disguise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-73992196156580004232018-04-26T17:18:24.209+10:002018-04-26T17:18:24.209+10:00Thanks for your comments. I agree. The medal shows...Thanks for your comments. I agree. The medal shows they contributed to the operation, not that they were necessarily where the 'action' was. Ken Marsh (Swampy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-24270213890827525512018-04-26T17:16:51.281+10:002018-04-26T17:16:51.281+10:00Thanks Brian for your comments. As you say, not ev...Thanks Brian for your comments. As you say, not everyone who wears an active service medal came under attack. That medal simply acknowledges that they took part in the operation even if somewhat remote from the action.Ken Marsh (Swampy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16618831964712788062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-81842005575148317902018-04-26T16:12:16.983+10:002018-04-26T16:12:16.983+10:00Ken
You should be justly proud of your service wit...Ken<br />You should be justly proud of your service with the RAAF and not having served on Active service does not take anything away from it. Not all service personnel who were posted to these Active Service theatres experienced the trauma of conflict nor did more than what their mustering called on them to do. This is not to deny their service, for without them a service could not operate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932236371358313049.post-44906446122340825022018-04-24T20:51:23.625+10:002018-04-24T20:51:23.625+10:00Well written Mr Marsh. I too served in that peri...Well written Mr Marsh. I too served in that period where our governments were loath to commit large amounts of ADF personnel to anything other than Humanitarian work. I too experience the same "Who am I to claim the Veteran tag?" I have only worked in the RAAF and the NSW Police over the past 41 plus years and have worked nearly every ANZAC Day during that period. I was fortunate enough to secure a spot at the 100th Anniversary at Gallipoli in 2015. To be there as the sun came up was truly amazing - knowing that I was standing on the unmarked graves of those brave men (of both sides of the conflict) still makes me tingle. Those men are the ultimate Veterans - but as you have said, we all contributed in some way to the maintenance of their military and personal traits in the service of this country. Thanks again Ken - We will remember them.<br /> <br />Brian Butt FSGT RAAF 77 to 98.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01482487228438488931noreply@blogger.com