CGS visits troops in Vietnam DPR/TV/440

Lieutenant-General T.J. Daly has visited Vietnam for the first time since his appointment as Chief of the Australian General Staff earlier this year. He was welcomed at Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport by the Commander of the Australian Force, Vietnam, Major General K. Mackay and the Chairman of the Free World Military Assistance Organisation, Lieutenant General Tran Ngoc Tam. Lieutenant-General Daly saluted the Vietnamese National Emblem and the Vietnam Paratrooper regiment's colours at the airport and went on to inspect a Guard of Honour provided by the paratroopers. After leaving the airport, General Daly was driven to Saigon to meet the Commander of United States Forces in Vietnam General Westmoreland. General Daly flew by helicopter to the 1st Australian Task Force Headquarters in Phuoc Tuy Province. During his stay in the Task Force area General Daly talked with men of several units including members of "D' Company, 6th Battalion who had been engaged in the epic land battle of Long Tan. He also went into the jungle to visit the 5th Battalion RAR which was on operations. The men were patrolling an area where Australian troops had had several clashes with the Viet Cong in past operations. General Daly later called on members of the Australian Logistic Support Group at Vung Tau, on the South China Sea Coast. On a number of his visits to Australian bases, Lieut.-General Daly was accompanied by Major-General Mackay. Lt.-General ended his whirlwind on week tour on September 11.