Vietnam50 Story Series - Call for stories

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, Veterans SA is gathering the stories of South Australian Vietnam veterans and their families to capture and preserve these personal histories for the benefit of future generations.

These stories will be published on this website to build a deeper understanding of the role and the experiences of South Australians in the Vietnam War and the sacrifices they made to serve our country.

These stories will not retell specific facts about the war, but instead provide a personal insight into the individual experiences of those who served; before, during and after Vietnam.

Vietnam veterans are recognised for their service in the Vietnam War. We honour those who served and the families that support them and look forward to sharing their stories.

How to share your story

Personal stories can be submitted via:

The below online form. (Please note that progress cannot be saved so this submission must be completed in one sitting).

Email to veteranssa@sa.gov.au (Subject: Vietnam50 Story submission). Download the list of questions and provide responses to all questions in your email submission.

Download and complete the questionnaire in Microsoft Word and email to veteranssa@sa.gov.au (Subject: Vietnam50 Story submission)

Contributors may also submit supporting photos from their service with their story.

Note: Veterans SA reserves the right to edit submissions as needed for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Some follow-up consultation with the contributor may be required following editing.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Vietnam50 Story series, please contact the Veterans SA team.

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

First name*

Last name*

Current Suburb/Town*

Service Joined*
AirforceArmyNavy

Dates/years of Vietnam service*

Military positions held throughout service
(lowest to highest rank)*

Awards or citations received for service in Vietnam

How did you enter military service?

How old were you when you were drafted/enlisted?*

Describe your life prior to serving in Vietnam (growing up, schooling/education, occupation, family life etc.)

If you enlisted, what were some of the reasons that you joined the military?

Can you describe your experience serving in Vietnam (first impressions, living conditions, contact with family etc.)

What did your service experience entail? (training received, job assignment, daily routine, where you were stationed, injuries sustained)

How would you describe morale in your group/unit? Why do you think it was that way?

What did you do for leisure/in your off-time?

What was the biggest challenge you experienced during your service in Vietnam?

What is something positive you remember about your deployment?

What was it like returning home to Australia?

What lessons did you learn from your experience in Vietnam that you have carried throughout your life?

Have you returned to Vietnam since the war?

What does Vietnam Veterans Day mean to you?

Is there any other information you would like to mention?

You can upload up to 10 photos here if you wish.

Max file size 10MB. The accepted file types are JPG/JPEG, PNG, HEIC and WEBP. Photos over 1200px on the longest edge will be automatically reduced.

We may like to contact you to clarify any information provided. Please provide your preferred
contact details.

Email Address*

Phone number*

Vietnam50 Story Series – Call for stories

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, Veterans SA is gathering the stories of South Australian Vietnam veterans and their families to capture and preserve these personal histories for the benefit of future generations.