1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit

November 2019 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit File:1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit soldier distributes clothing to children.jpg 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit soldier distributes clothing to children in 1968 From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository 1967–1972 Australia Australian Army Civil affairs Australian Force Vietnam Civic action ~40–60+ men Nui Dat, South Vietnam Peter Gration Kevin Latchford The 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit (1 ACAU) was raised in 1967 to coordinate the Australian Army's contribution to the US and allied Pacification Program during the Vietnam War, operating in Phuoc Tuy Province. Although other Australian units also conducted civic action projects in South Vietnam at various times, 1 ACAU had the primary responsibility for them once it was deployed. It was withdrawn from South Vietnam in November 1971. Background Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War During the 1960s and early 1970s, civic action projects were undertaken on an increasing scale by the US, Australia and other countries of the Free World Military Assistance Forces throughout South Vietnam.Smith 2002 229 According to Barry Smith civic action was not primarily motivated by altruism, but rather the political imperative of winning the support of the South Vietnamese people for the central government in Saigon. Civic action, wherever and by whoever performed, was part of a nationwide program with long-term political and military objectives. From the Australian point of view, civic action was also used to help promote goodwill towards Australian forces in South Vietnam and Australia generally.Smith 2002 232–233 When the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) first arrived in Phuoc Tuy Province in mid-1966, the military security situation was poor. The province had not been under government control for several years before the task force arrived. Most roads could not be travelled by single vehicles. Some roads required fully escorted convoys before they could be traversed.Smith 2002 237McNeill 1993 222–224 The province's population was about 104,000, the large majority of whom lived in and around Baria, Hoa Long, Long Dien and Dat Do in the central and southern parts of Phuoc Tuy Province.McNeill 1993 210–211 The main religions were Buddhism and Catholicism.Ham 2007 179 Members of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) had conducted civic action projects while deployed in Bien Hoa Province in 1965.Frost 1987 166 However, when Australia assumed responsibility for Phuoc Tuy Province it did not have a dedicated civil affairs capability.Kelly 1999 252 Consequently, four warrant officers from the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) were attached to 1 ATF under Captain Bob Rooney in May 1966, and the small group began carrying out civic action-type projects to assist the local population in Phuoc Tuy Province. It was taken over in mid-1966 by Major John Donohoe.Smith 2002 230–231McNeill 1984 233McNeill 1993 417 At the time there was also a US Army unit operating in the province conducting civic action projects. This was the 14th AA Platoon, 2nd Civil Affairs Company, which was attached to 1 ACAU after the latter arrived in Nui Dat.Smith 2002 231The US platoon remained after 1 ACAU arrived in June 1967, and continued to operate in Phuoc Tuy Province for approximately another 18 months, but in practice the two operated separately.Smith 2002 231 Note Despite these measures the Australian civic action program remained ad hoc, and was found difficult to sustain due to the other operational demands placed on 1 ATF.Kelly 1999 254 History Formation The 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit (1 ACAU) was raised at Middle Head in Sydney on 10 April 1967https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxhdXN0Y2F1bml0fGd4OjJjMDJhMzQ0MzVhMzQ0ZDA Australian Military Forces Raising Instruction 9/67 10 July 2015 with an establishment of ten officers and 39 other ranks.McNeill Ekins 2003 189 Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John McDonagh, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), in June 1967 it moved to Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.Smith 2002 231Following the arrival of 1 ACAU in Vietnam AATTV personnel were no longer detached to 1 ATF for civic action duties.McNeill 1984 234 Note During its time in South Vietnam, 1 ACAU was co-located at Nui Dat with 1 ATF; however, it was a unit of Headquarters Australian Force Vietnam (HQ AFV) in Saigon, and was not part of 1 ATF. 1 ACAU's Commanding Officer had direct access to the Commander AFV. On day-to-day operational matters, CO 1 ACAU worked closely with Commander 1 ATF.Smith 2002 231 1 ACAU consisted of a headquarters/administration group plus operational detachments with specific responsibilities.Smith 2002 233 It had detachments specialising in engineering, medical support, education and agriculture.Frost 1987 166 In addition to the section at Nui Dat, a small section was also established at Vung Tau with the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG).McNeill Ekins 2003 190 This section was established with just one officer and no technical or support staff other than a driver and an interpreter, and operated entirely using contract labour.Smith 2002 235 Operations Funded through the Department of External Affairs, and in part by the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO), the activities, size and shape of civil affairs changed constantly between 1967 and 1971.Smith 2002 233 During the first three years (1966–69) of Australian operations in Phuoc Tuy Province the civil affairs unit was often used as an "adjunct to military operations", providing assistance during village cordon and search operations and being heavily involved in the population resettlement program. It was also involved in providing aid to the local population when they were affected by the fighting, for instance in the aftermath of the Battle of Binh Ba in June 1969 when much of the village was heavily damaged. In the final years of 1 ATF's deployment (1969–71), the unit was more independent, primarily undertaking its own programs to assist the villages and South Vietnamese administration.Frost 1987 166–167 The activities of 1 ACAU were based on principles calculated to achieve maximum impact on the civilian population, while bearing in mind that the primary aim of civic action was to win the support of the local population for the Saigon regime. Firstly, the local population had to "own" the project. If they felt a sense of ownership, and the project was subsequently damaged or destroyed by the Vietcong (VC), then the outcome would be antagonism towards them. Ownership involved encouraging the local population to suggest or otherwise originate projects, and to actively participate in their construction, either wholly or partly. Secondly, the projects had to extend over a reasonable period of time to allow the participating soldiers to become known and trusted by the villagers. Thirdly, they were initiated in the name of the appropriate South Vietnamese ministry, for example education and health. Fourthly, it was desirable that the projects lent themselves to publicity. Fifthly, the results had to be observable, measurable and tangible, and ideally impact beneficially on as many people as possible. Lastly, wherever possible, credit was always given to the South Vietnamese government (even if in reality it was quite obvious to the villagers that it was Australia and Australians providing the project).Smith 2002 233 Construction was one of 1 ACAU's main activities, and the commander of the unit was often an engineer.Frost 1987 168 The Engineer Detachment typically installed Southern Cross windmills (14 were built in all) and constructed schools and school rooms, market buildings, fences, and medical dispensaries. Major projects included designing and building a new village called Soui Nghe beside Route 2 north of the task force base, and Project 399 which involved the construction of 600 houses for Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers around the province.Smith 2002 233–234 Main areas of effort included the construction of village markets and the provision of water supplies. Other significant construction projects included repairing, widening and rebuilding roads and bridges and the renovation of the hospital in Baria.Frost 1987 168 The Medical Detachment was heavily involved in operations known as Medical Civil Action Programs (MEDCAPS), conducted every day in provincial villages. By 1969, MEDCAPS were incorporated into Integrated Civil Action Programs (ICAPS), which were conducted by medical and other teams that would deploy overnight to a village and treat anyone who requested assistance. A movie screen would be erected nearby and those in the queue for treatment, and other villagers, would watch the films that were chosen to promote the South Vietnamese government at the expense of the VC and North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces. Dental Civil Action Programs (DENTCAPS) were also carried out by 1 ATF units other than 1 ACAU. The 1 ACAU Medical Detachment co-ordinated all MEDCAPS and DENTCAPS conducted by 1 ATF units. The detachment's head was also the province Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development (CORDS) adviser on medical matters.Smith 2002 234 Typical tasks for the Education Detachment included providing advice on where new schools could be built, providing educational supplies to schools, and conducting English language classes. These classes were delivered by Australian soldiers who would spend time alone in villages at schools and proved very popular. In early 1969, the North Vietnamese authorities placed a price on the head of the then commander of the CAU, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Latchford, suggesting their concern about the positive impact the unit was having on the local population. During 1969–70, when 1 ACAU was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Peter Gration, the Education Detachment also became responsible for youth and sports activities in Phuoc Tuy Province. At this time, the detachment commander was also the Province CORDS adviser on Education, and its second-in-command was the Province CORDS adviser on youth and sports matters, co-coordinating sporting activities in Phuoc Tuy Province.Smith 2002 234 The Liaison Detachment consisted of Vietnamese-speaking Australian officers trained at the RAAF School of Languages in Point Cook, Victoria. Described by Gration as "the eyes and ears" of 1 ACAU, the Liaison Officers (LOs) were responsible for interacting with the civilian population on a daily basis, assessing where projects might be warranted, preparing feasibility studies, and developing close contacts at village level. Working with only their drivers, LOs were widely known and accepted by local Vietnamese. They spent most of their time, including at one point up to three nights a week, in local villages. Apart from watching for opportunities for civic action projects, LOs would also deliver mail from VC prisoners of war incarcerated around the country to their families in Phuoc Tuy Province, and collect mail and gifts from the families for the prisoners to be delivered to them. LOs gave Vietnamese language presentations to former VC and PAVN soldiers who defected to the south under the Chieu Hoi (Open Arms) program, and disbursed compensation payments to local Vietnamese families when required. On occasions, when visitors to the province required an Australian interpreter, LOs were often tasked. For example, politicians and journalists visiting from Australia often preferred to use Australians as guides and interpreters.Smith 2002 235 thumb|right|Members of an Australian civic action team confer with Vietnamese village officials on plans for local improvements The Agricultural Detachment provided advice on, and delivered supplies for, projects such as "miracle" rice and sorghum demonstration crops, and other crop growing techniques. It was also responsible for animal husbandry projects when these developed from about 1969 onward. A typical project was provision of the necessary supplies and animals for local civilians to start their own chicken or pig farms.Smith 2002 235Frost 1987 169 Due to the nature of their work 1 ACAU personnel were quite vulnerable to enemy action and potentially could have suffered heavy casualties if the VC had decided to target them. Many members spent time alone in villages while civil affairs vehicles often traveled routes with just a driver and one passenger. Yet overall, there was little hostile action against members of the unit. In the early days after the unit's arrival in Nui Dat, there were sniper incidents in Hoa Long, and a medical team became involved in a contact in Hoi My, south of Dat Do, during which several 1 ACAU members sustained minor gunshot wounds. There were other minor incidents later also, for example, when the VC destroyed the water reticulation system on Long Son island, just days after it came into operation. However, by 1969–70 the security situation in the province had greatly improved.Smith 2002 237 Towards the end of the 1960s the US emphasis on Pacification increased throughout South Vietnam.Hunt 1995 28 The volume of civic action projects being carried out by Australian forces also increased during this time. Whilst previously they had been predominantly carried out by 1 ACAU, units from 1 ATF increasingly assisted with such activities during 1969–70.Frost 1987 167A total of around 300 Australian personnel were employed full-time on civic action projects during this period. These included 1 ACAU personnel who were assisted by two engineer construction squadrons and six-to-ten man teams provided by infantry and artillery units within 1 ATF.Frost 1987 167 Note By this time, 1 ACAU's commanding officer was responsible for the co-ordination of all military civic action by Australian troops in Vietnam, including those at Vung Tau and Phan Rang (where the Royal Australian Air Force had units), and Saigon, although the major focus of Australian civic action efforts was in Phuoc Tuy Province.Smith 2002 236 In 1969 every individual unit of 1 ATF at Nui Dat was at one stage directed to put resources into civic action projects. For example, 5 RAR built a two-room school in Ong Trinh hamlet, alongside Route 15 between Baria and Bien Hoa.Smith 2002 232 However, as the civic aid program wound down as part of the process of Vietnamization, 1 ACAU again became the main agency for such programs from mid-1970 until late 1971.Frost 1987 167 By 1970 the unit had grown to a strength of 55 men.Frost 1987 166 By early 1971 Australian civic action programs in Vietnam had included the construction of market places, six dispensaries, 71 classrooms, four community centres, 17 playgrounds, enhanced water supplies for 14 villages, as well as providing medical treatment for 200,000 people and another 100,000 dental treatments. In addition engineers had also rebuilt a number of the provinces main roads including Route 2 which ran from Baria to the northern provincial border, Route 44 from Baria to Long Hai, and Route 23 between Dat Do and Xuyen Moc.Palazzo 2006 114 1 ACAU remained in Vietnam until 25 November 1971, after which it returned to Australia as part of the withdrawal of its forces from the country.Ekins McNeill 2012 776 Association Following their participation in the 1987 Welcome Home Parade in Sydney, former 1 ACAU members formed the 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit Association on 10 April 1988. Its aims and objectives are to:https://sites.google.com/site/austcaunit/ 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit Association 9 July 2015 create and cherish a bond of comradeship between all members of the Association; assist members and the families of deceased members whenever necessary; facilitate communication between members; keep members informed of the Association's activities and other relevant information; and support projects that aim to improve the well being of the citizens of Vietnam. Commanding officers The following officers commanded 1 ACAU:Ekins McNeill 2012 826–827 Lieutenant Colonel John McDonagh, RAE (1967–68); Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Latchford, RAAC (1968–69); Lieutenant Colonel Peter Gration, RAE (1969–70); Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Outridge, RA Inf (1970–71); and Lieutenant Colonel Laurie Wright, RAE (1971). Notes Footnotes Note Citations 30em References Ekins Ashley McNeill Ian Fighting to the Finish: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1968–1975 The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 9 Allen & Unwin St Leonards, New South Wales 2012 978-1865088242 Frost Frank Australia's War in Vietnam Allen & Unwin North Sydney, New South Wales 1987 004355024X Ham Paul Paul Ham 2007 Vietnam: The Australian War Harper Collins Sydney, New South Wales 978-0732282370 Hunt Richard A. Pacification: The American Struggle for Vietnam's Hearts and Minds 1995 Westview Press Boulder, Colorado 9780813334592 Kelly Michael J. Restoring and Maintaining Order in Complex Peace Operations: The Search for a Legal Framework International Humanitarian Law https://books.google.com/books?id=BqiiSlhomfYC 2 1999 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers The Hague 9789041111791 McNeill Ian 1984 The Team: Australian Army Advisers in Vietnam 1962–1972 Australian War Memorial Sydney, New South Wales 0-642-87702-5 McNeill Ian To Long Tan: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1950–1966 The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 2 Allen & Unwin St Leonards, New South Wales 1993 1863732829 McNeill Ian Ekins Ashley On the Offensive: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1967–1968 The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 8 Allen & Unwin St Leonards, New South Wales 2003 1-86373-304-3 Palazzo Albert Australian Military Operations in Vietnam Australian Army Campaigns Series 3 Army History Unit Canberra 2006 1876439106 Smith Barry The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1962–1972. Proceedings of the 2002 Chief of Army's Military History Conference Dennis Peter Grey Jeffrey Army History Unit Canberra 2002 The Role and Impact of Civil Affairs in South Vietnam 1965–1971 http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Conference%20Papers%20and%20Images/2002/2002%20Chief%20of%20Army%20Conf%20-%20Vietnam%20War.pdf 229–239 0-642-50267-6 2015-06-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150404025107/http://army.gov.au/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Conference%20Papers%20and%20Images/2002/2002%20Chief%20of%20Army%20Conf%20-%20Vietnam%20War.pdf 2015-04-04 dead https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-career-officer-and-leader-to-the-end-20130408-2hguc.html> Further reading King Charlotte The Men who Courted the Hearts and Minds ABC Mildura-Swan Hill http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/08/18/3296286.htm 18 August 2011 10 July 2015 MacLennan Doug The Doves of War: The Viet Nam War from a Different Perspective: Personal Stories of the Experiences of Members of the 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit 2013 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit Association Brisbane, Queensland 9780987591401 Moremon John Vietnam: Our War – Our Peace 2006 Department of Veterans' Affairs Canberra 9781920720704 External links 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit Association 2nd Civil Affairs Company, US Army Category:Civil affairs Category:Military units and formations of the Australian Army Category:Military units and formations of Australia in the Vietnam War Category:Military units and formations established in 1967 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1972