As important days in military history slip through the cracks, Kapooka’s commandant says there is “dignity in being understated”.
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It comes as less and less Wagga residents attend memorial services, like Vietnam Veterans Day, every year.
Colonel Mick Garraway this week addressed a small crowd, commemorating the city’s veterans, whose actions in Vietnam had been “largely undervalued”.
The day honoured almost 60,000 Australians who served, the 521 who never came home and the soldiers who fought in the battle of Suoi Chau Pha 50 years ago.
Uranquinty man Private Robert “Bob” Croft was one such soldier.
Pte Croft took part in the battle, during Operation Ballarat, an Australian search and destroy operation.
Alpha Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) came unwittingly face-to-face with a large Viet Cong unit.
Both sides suffered heavy losses across several hours, until the Australian artillery forced the Viet Cong to withdraw.
Pte Croft was back in his home country when he died at the age of 26.
But the former infantryman legacy was lost when the wooden cross that marked his grave at Uranquinty cemetery was turned to ashes in a fire.
In an effort to reclaim their brother in arms, members of Pte Croft’s former battalion, 7 RAR, on Friday came together to provide re-dedication.
A new headstone, plaque, and burial site were unveiled in the presence of friends, family and current and past serving defence force members.
Col Garraway, a fellow 7 RAR member, said some organisations thrived on being the centre of attention, but it was the “roll up your sleeves and get on with it” attitude of our forebearers that made soldiers “skillful, tough and unassuming”.
Col Garraway said the “blissful ignorance” of many residents was a testament to the actions of the soldiers who fought for their freedom.
Col Garraway said: “Citizens feel safe enough they forget about our most important days”.