WEBB, Michael Stephen
| Service Number: | 38537 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Cavalry Regiment |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia, 11 September 1946 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 11 Feb 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 38537, 3rd Cavalry Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 38537 | |
| 24 Sep 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 38537 | |
| 24 Sep 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 38537, 3rd Cavalry Regiment | |
| 2 Oct 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 38537 |
Non Warlike Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2) |
|---|
"A Christmas that was almost a blast"
"A Christmas that was almost a blast"
South Vietnam, Christmas 1969
Three armoured personnel carriers (APCs), three 52-tonne Centurion tanks and an infantry platoon of 8 RAR stuck in neighbouring Long Kanh province because of a no-movement restriction during the annual truce.
We were a small group a long way from our home base at Nui Dat.
Christmas morning commenced like any other day in Vietnam: everyone awake 15 minutes before first light to stand-to for any potential attack upon us.
Suddenly the absolute silence was broken; an infantry bloke began screaming "Mummy Mummy, look, look, Santa has left me a TANK!" The supposedly-secure position erupted.
Coloured smoke grenades were detonated, parachute flares were fired vertically and laterally and vehicle horns blared. It was a magnificent Australian mess.
Exchanging Christmas gifts meant swapping the same tins of rations that were eaten every day and the vehicle commanders made brews (with rum) on the direction of their crews.
The infantry, in their shell holes, were allowed to watch as The Gentlemen of The Cavalry lay in their hammocks, or donned new socks, or quickly heated water for showers using C4 plastic explosive. December 25 1969 was a very relaxing day.
Boxing Day was return-to-base day. Radio messages had assured us that our Christmas cheer was secure. It was time to leave the lumbering tanks behind and for the APCs with the infantry on board to race "home".
Exhorted to hurry, I was the lead APC commander. The only crossing point between the provinces was over a creek and we had used it two days earlier on our move north. "No worries, let's go" was the message. "We've had a truce, she'll be right."
For some reason I hesitated and decided to use our Engineers to sweep the ground for mines. The troops were NOT HAPPY! The promise of a delayed Christmas was just 23 Kms away.we could easily be there by lunchtime.
There it was though: a 20kg, anti-Armour mine left as a belated present from our enemy.
Obviously they had had a more productive Christmas day.
As the mine was on the border of two provinces, permission to destroy it took most of the day, but there was definitely no pressure to rush home now.
By the time we arrived home it was night and Christmas 1969 had passed us by.
The memories of that festive season are with me still.
As are possibly, the lives of 13 on my vehicle.
Written by Michael Stephen “Red” WEBB - published in 'The Australian’ 2011
Submitted 5 January 2015
Biography
'Red' Webb served in South Vietnam with A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment 11 Feb 1967 - 6 Feb 1968 and returned to South Vietnam to serve a serve another tour of duty with B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment 24 Sep 1969 - 24 Sep 1970. Upon return to Australia he applied to undergo the SASR Selection Course and after successfully completing it served with SASR and various training units until honourably discharged as a Warrant Officer in 1986.
Some years ago following the ANZAC Dawn Service at the 'Rock' he and his mates returned to the 'House' for breakfast where among their 'brothers' they remembered those who could not be with them.
It was this that inspired him to later pen his thoughts about things to hard to say.
For many years the words he wrote were forgotten but are here today perhaps to remind us all to celebrate life and mateship now for there will come a day when we too, like our 'brothers' before us, must walk alone. - A Boonrar 'Brother'
Note:- The SASR memorial site commonly referred to as the ‘The Rock’ with the names of all who lost their lives in the service of Australia is located at Swanbourne Barracks Western Australia. See Photograph below
The Dawn Service
After The Rock.
At The House..
In this new dawn light
At the end of this bar
Together.
Together & warmed again
Like the end of every other same dark night.
In our own thoughts of
The needing
Succeeding, of our being,
In the knowledge of pain
With our giving of comfort, to each other
We Warriors..with the humour of the insane.
We remember them
Those of us today not here.
Those younger and older,
Some scattered, some serving,
In places.
Places and names others can never hear.
Our friendship and ability is how others judge,
Our life,
Rife..
With success we have shared my friends.
Remember these ,
And you & them,
All of your good years.
© March 2013 Former SASR Warrant Officer M S “Red” Webb
Click images to start slideshow.