Australian Politics Forum - I Was Only Nineteen

MeisterEckhart

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #15 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:55am

Jasin wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:12am:

If you look at the international 'reviewers' listening to that song for the first time. It's his accent that always captivates them above and beyond the song itself.

Americans are fascinated by the Australian broad accent.

The British are more snooty about it, seeing it as a marker of backwardness.

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #16 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 9:01am

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:20am:

The Diggers loathe that song - they don't consider themselves 'victims' etc in the main.... they consider themselves honourable men who did their duty and did it well, and most do not subscribe to the modern day fantasy of victimhood on all sides.

When John Schumann ⁠wrote the song he went to great lengths to ensure he had the approval of ex-Vietnam vets before he performed the song publicly or recorded it.

The story, as he tells it, was that he played it to senior vets at a remote location in Australia giving his assurance that he would take their advice on lyrics or, if they didn't like the song, he would not record it or perform it publicly at all.

As it turned out, they not only liked it, they insisted that Schumann record it and perform it publicly.

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Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #17 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 9:03am

MeisterEckhart wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 9:01am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:20am:

The Diggers loathe that song - they don't consider themselves 'victims' etc in the main.... they consider themselves honourable men who did their duty and did it well, and most do not subscribe to the modern day fantasy of victimhood on all sides.

When John Schumann ⁠wrote the song he went to great lengths to ensure he had the approval of ex-Vietnam vets before he performed the song publicly or recorded it.

The story, as he tells it, was that he played it to senior vets at a remote location in Australia giving his assurance that he would take their advice on lyrics or, if they didn't like the song, he would not record it or perform it publicly at all.

As it turned out, they not only liked it, they insisted that Schumann record it and perform it publicly.

None of the ones I know like it as a representation of them.

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“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
― John Adams

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Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 90154 Proud Old White Australian Man Gender:	Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release Reply #18 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 9:27am mothra's gone again! Poor soul - always was too high strung to be in that hot kitchen playing chess with pigeons... I did notice the reference to 'remote areas' or similar..... how many Diggers live in 'remote areas'? That sounds a bit strange to me.... explanation required...
Back to top	« Last Edit: Dec 8^th, 2023 at 10:12am by Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM » “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” ― John Adams IP Logged

Brian Ross

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #19 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 11:25am

Way back in 1983, I attended a benefit concert at the Bridgewater Pub in the Adelaide Hills after the Ash Wednesday bushfires. Red Gum were there and they performed for the first public performance, "I was only 19". It sent shivers down my spine and it did the same for rest of the crowd and Red Gum received a standing ovation. The lyrics are repeated today on the Vietnam Memorial on ANZAC Parade in Canberra. They are still powerful and resonate today. Not all veterans were volunteers, some were volunteered, Graps. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

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It seems that I have upset a Moderator and are forbidden from using posting to the general forum now. So much for Freedom of Speech. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

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Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 90154 Proud Old White Australian Man Gender:	Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release Reply #20 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 2:27pm History changing to suit a new narrative - all were asked if they would go and those who said YES went. Modern generation out of touch.
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Brian Ross

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #21 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 2:59pm

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 2:27pm:

History changing to suit a new narrative - all were asked if they would go and those who said YES went.

Modern generation out of touch.

Not according to many veterans that I have asked, Graps. Often officers "volunteered" their units without consultation.

Quote:

The Battle of Nui Le, the last battle to involve Australian troops, took place in September 1971. Four days later, Minister for the Army, Andrew Peacock, announced no national servicemen would be required to go to Vietnam if they did not want to go.

[Source]

Which implies they could be ordered, before that date, to go to South Vietnam, against their will. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

This is further emphasised in the article, which I don't have full access to, called,
"Volunteers with a legal impediment: Australian national service and the question of overseas service in Vietnam"

Quote:

A close reading of both the historiography and the primary source documents definitively debunks the myth of the volunteer national serviceman in Vietnam, suggesting that veterans cling to this myth to align their Vietnam War experiences with(in) Australia’s Anzac mythology.

This was further detailed in Wikipedia as being:

Quote:

The Defence Act was amended May 1964 to provide that national servicemen could be obliged to serve overseas, a provision that had been applied only once before, during World War II. The 1964 amendments applied only to the permanent military forces and excluded the Citizen Military Forces. In 1965, the Defence Act was again amended to require the CMF to serve overseas, which had not been included in the 1964 amendments.[27] In March 1966, the government announced that national servicemen would be sent to South Vietnam to fight in units of the Australian Regular Army and for secondment to American forces.[28] Requirements for overseas service were detailed by the Minister for the Army, Malcolm Fraser, on 13 May 1966.[29]

[Source]

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« Last Edit: Dec 8^th, 2023 at 3:29pm by Brian Ross »

It seems that I have upset a Moderator and are forbidden from using posting to the general forum now. So much for Freedom of Speech. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

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John Smith Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 78311 Gender:	Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release Reply #22 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 5:45pm Great song no matter who sings it Only the those with doctrines in victimology would cry about it being re released .... cue crappler
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Aussie

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #23 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 5:58pm

mothra wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:36am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:34am:

mothra wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:25am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:20am:

The Diggers loathe that song - they don't consider themselves 'victims' etc in the main.... they consider themselves honourable men who did their duty and did it well, and most do not subscribe to the modern day fantasy of victimhood on all sides.

Are you still pretending to be a Vietnam Veteran on this thread?

What would anyone expect from you?

That's not an answer.

And me? I'm not a Vietnam Veteran. I was born after the war.

And that is demonstrated in your silly posts, but really, you ought to be showing better after your about 50 years.

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John Smith Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 78311 Gender:	Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release Reply #24 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 6:03pm Aussie wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 5:58pm: And that is demonstrated in your silly posts, but really, you ought to be showing better after your about 50 years. have you covered the mirrors in your place?
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Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #25 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 6:08pm

Aussie wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 5:58pm:

mothra wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:36am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:34am:

mothra wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:25am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:20am:

The Diggers loathe that song - they don't consider themselves 'victims' etc in the main.... they consider themselves honourable men who did their duty and did it well, and most do not subscribe to the modern day fantasy of victimhood on all sides.

Are you still pretending to be a Vietnam Veteran on this thread?

What would anyone expect from you?

That's not an answer.

And me? I'm not a Vietnam Veteran. I was born after the war.

And that is demonstrated in your silly posts, but really, you ought to be showing better after your about 50 years.

Entering the fear-filled fifties..... anything can happen... heart can give out.... early dementia (bit late) .... cancer ....bowel cancer.... emphysema ... diabetes .... kidney failure ....... AIS or DIS sets in forever .... schizophrenia though that usually begins in the teens.... late onset gender dysphoria (LMFAO) ....panic hysteria leading to arrest on an airliner .... Gretaphilia .... brain damage ....lung disease ... brained by an Abo after walking safe at night after making peace with them .... foolishly buying a second youth open top sports car and being clobbered by Drop Bear....

Mothra is one of those people you see driving on the highways - it took many years of practice to get everything so wrong....

... and now for a little more triggering from our sponsor...

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“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
― John Adams

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Black Orchid Gold Member Offline Posts: 5824 Gender:	Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release Reply #26 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 6:21pm mothra wrote on Dec 8^th, 2023 at 8:49am: Are you still pretending to be a Vietnam Veteran on this thread? Trying to denigrate Vietnam vets is really poor form!
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Sophia

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #27 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 6:42pm

That is such an iconic song. Glad it’s been brought up.
It has evoked so many memories … the National conscription was mandatory and my then BF was next…
It was fearful TBH.
Lucky Labor was voted in and that conscription was abolished.
A few viet vets I know never spoke of it.
Only one I met briefly whom found meditative peace in his life was able to open up and talk about some things that happened.
Even I find it hard to recount it in here. Undecided

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Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM

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Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release
Reply #28 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 7:02pm

You see - no Nasho was nineteen - a few guys who enlisted at a young age were.... more than one such was killed... but Nashos were all 20+.

1971 that Brian referenced the war was winding down... had been since 1969 when the US decided to hand it over to the ARVN, though 1968 had the highest number of US casualties after that decision had been taken - just sorting the place out to hand over cost them many more than the first three years or so, and Oz fought the NVA at Coral/Balmoral. Bloke I know was in the last 6RAR company in the joint and they had some ferocious battles in 1972.

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“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
― John Adams

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Agnes. Gold Member Offline St Agness Posts: 1248	Re: I Was Only Nineteen - New Release Reply #29 - Dec 8^th, 2023 at 7:23pm I love that song so much! It's perfect.!
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