Lời Tòa Soạn: Bài phóng sự Peacetime Medal Delights Veterans được ký giả Duane Schultz của báo Messenger trực tiếp phỏng vấn anh Nguyễn Văn Tây, nguyên chủ tịch hội CQNQLVNCH Nam Úc. DĐNGVNSA đăng vào trang Văn Hóa-Lịch Sử, nhằm tuyên dương người chiến sĩ VNCH được chính phủ Úc tưởng thưởng huy chương cao quí OAM.
Vietnam war veteran Tay Van Nguyen still considers himself a freedom fighter nealy four decades on from the end of the conflict.
Now 63, the Burton resident’s weapons are his communication and diplomacy rather than machine guns and grenades.
 Mr Nguyen was born in Saigon and at 18 served in the Republic of Vietnam Navy alongside US troops on the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam war.
It was the scene of some of the most savage fighting between Vietcong guerillas and US Navy’s gun boats and hovercrafts during the 18-year conflict.
“ It was hard fighting against Vietnamese people, and the Vietcong did not wear uniforms so you could not tell.” he recalls.
“ Along the Mekong Delta, I fired a lot of bullets from machine gun from the boats.”
“ I felt like I had my hand on the trigger the whole time.”
Mr Nguyen migrated to Australia in the 1980’s, settling in Burton in 1986.
He has since worked tirelessly setting up support systems for the northern Adelaide Vietnamese community and helping Australia’s Vietnam veterans
The former president of the Vietnamese veterans Association of South Australia (VVASA), worked for three years to get a Vietnam war Memorial erected at Torrens Parade Ground in 2006.
“ We worked very hard, fundraising and trying to get support,” he says.
“ It was worth doing because the future generations need to remember what happened and the suffering which took place.”
He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his good works.
“ I was very surprised and honoured to receive the recognition.” Mr Nguyen said.
“ My family was thrilled but it is more the work I do, rather than awards, which helps give me peace.
“ When I came to Australia with my wife and children, it was lonely so I had to make friends so I got involved with the community..
“ I have had a lot of support from the community. Iwill not forget that.”
The horrors of war will never leave Mr Nguyen but he chooses to remember to his fallen comrades rather than be bitter.
Every evening he prays to the photographs of six Republic of Vietnam generals on his loungeroom wall.
They are died during the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
“ They died for our freedom and I will always remember that,” Mr Nguyen said.
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