The fallen return home after 42 years RIP.

[jango]

Today the bodies of two Australian soldiers killed in Vietnam in 1965 have been brought home. As a son of a vietnam veteran I am grateful to all those who worked so hard to bring back the remains of our fellow Australians who gave their lives in the defence of their country.

I hope that the familys and friends of the soldier know how much we feel for them at this time and that they know that that all of Australia is praying for them at this time. Rest in Peace.

[digrar]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-17001,00.html

Lost remains of diggers return home

June 05, 2007 08:18pm

Article from: AAP


THE long journey home for two Australian Vietnam war diggers will end tomorrow when an official ceremony is held to repatriate their remains.
Lance Corporal Richard "Tiny" Parker, 24, and Private Peter Gillson, 20, were declared missing in action while serving in South Vietnam with A Company of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR).
They were killed on November 8, 1965 during a battle in Dong Nai province, east of Saigon, but repeated attempts to retrieve their bodies failed under intense enemy fire.
Their mates, however, never forgot.
A search conducted by the group Operation Aussies Home located their remains earlier this year after an old Viet Cong soldier revealed that the bodies had been buried in a trench at the battle site and not moved elsewhere.
A RAAF Hercules transport aircraft touched down at Darwin this morning after flying their remains overnight from Hanoi, a defence spokesman said.
Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson said the stopover in Darwin was to allow family members time for private reflection ahead of the official welcome home ceremony at the Richmond RAAF base northwest of Sydney tomorrow.
The two diggers will be ceremoniously received by current and former members of the 1st Battalion.
Robert Gillson, who was just four months old when his father was killed by enemy fire, said he never he knew his father but could now bring him home.
"It's something that I thought that I would never get the opportunity to do," he said before leaving Hanoi on Monday.
Four other Australians remain missing from the Vietnam War.

RIP boys.

[wotsnext]

Home at last...RIP

[wicked_hind]

I'm not Australian, but I'll drink a few for them. RIP

[ShotOver]

Rest In Peace, you're home now Digs.

[Opening Batsman]

I've been following this story since the search party set off, good to see they were successful.

[Bushranger]

Vietnam MIAs welcomed home in Sydney


Wednesday Jun 6 17:20 AEST


More than 40 years after they died on a battlefield in Vietnam, two Australian soldiers have been welcomed home as heroes and returned to their loved ones.
The remains of 24-year-old Lance Corporal Richard "Tiny" Parker and Private Peter Gillson, 20, were flown from Hanoi on Monday, touching down in Darwin before arriving in Sydney on Wednesday morning for an official repatriation ceremony.
Corporal Parker and Private Gillson were killed on November 8, 1965, during a battle in Dong Nai province, east of Saigon.

RELATED LINKS

• VIDEO: Remains return

Intense enemy fire stopped repeated attempts to retrieve their bodies and they were unaccounted for until a team of Australian veterans unearthed their remains in April.

A RAAF C-130 Hercules carrying their remains landed at Richmond airbase just before 10am (AEST) to the applause of relatives and veterans.Two coffins draped in the Australian flag topped with flowers and an army slouch hat were carried from the plane through an honour guard.
Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson, who gave an address on behalf on the nation, said the men were "soldiers in the finest Anzac tradition".
"Denied for more than four decades, but now in the reach of many, is the prospect of a new-found serenity, certainty and closure," he said.
The minister thanked the veterans from Operation Aussies Home who spent five years locating the remains of the missing servicemen.
Some of those involved in the operation had served with the two soldiers.
"Let the final chapter read and record: two brave servicemen lost, now forever young, never forgotten, found, recovered and repatriated with great care and dignity, carried home by the hands of mateship, returned to those who love and were loved, honoured and laid to rest by a grateful nation," he said.
Chaplain Ted McMillan described Corporal Parker as a "sincere, fun-loving and genuine guy" who loved serving in the army.
He said Private Gillson, nicknamed Gilly, was a "lovable rascal" who enjoyed a practical joke.
But both were known for their courage, determination and valour, Mr McMillan said.
"These two brothers-in-arms, these family men, these heroes, are now home thanks to the true mates who never forgot," he said.
Land Commander of Australia, Major General Mark Kelly, presented the fallen diggers with United States Meritorious Unit Citations and Infantry Combat badges, before their former platoon sergeant, Trevor Hagan, recited The Ode.
A lone bugler sounded the Last Post and two Iroquois helicopters flew overhead before the coffins were driven away to the strains of Waltzing Matilda.
Private Gillson's son Robert Gillson, who was just four months old when his father was killed, said he always hoped this day would come.
"It was unimaginable for many years, but now it's here," he told reporters.
"The difficult time was not having him around, but now is the best time because I can go to where he's going to be buried and have a chat with him - not just in my thoughts but physically."
Corporal Parker's widow, Wendy Mudford, released a statement saying: "I am truly happy knowing that both Tiny and Peter have been found and returned home to their own country where they belong".
Corporal Parker and Private Gillson will be buried in Canberra and Melbourne respectively later this month.

©AAP 2007

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=78057

Channel 7 video below is better. just clicl on apprpriate 1.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/

RIP Digs.

[makavelli]

RIP...
i wonder how they located em..

[playtym]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...urn+home+years

[digrar]

Merged. Just saw it on the news again.

STATEMENT BY MS WENDY MUDFORD


The Department of Defence has been requested to release this statement on
behalf of Ms Wendy Mudford, the widow of Lance Corporal Richard Parker.

Ms Mudford has requested her privacy be respected and that she will not be
conducting any media interviews at this time.

I am truly happy knowing that both Tiny and Peter have been found and
returned home to their own country where they belong.

It's been a long time since I lost Tiny and almost unbelievable to know he
has been found which is due to the perseverance of some very special people.

It's been a major task for the team of Operation Aussies Home headed by Jim
Bourke. I can not speak highly enough of what they have been through and
finally achieved.

I have some very special friends, Jim, Trevor, Peter, Gordon and they are
only the ones I know. There are many more and I thank them all most
sincerely.

I am happy for the Gillson family and can especially relate to Lorraine as I
know and understand what she is going through. You can't help reliving this
time 41-and-a-half years ago.

It's a very private and emotional time for me and to share my feelings and
thoughts with those close to Tiny and myself. I am so fortunate having such
special friends, and my husband, here supporting me.

Tiny can now rest peacefully and we will all have peace of mind.

I trust you will respect my wishes.