Graeme Arthur Unmack as a craftsman A Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment Light Aid Detachment, South Vietnam 1970 [recorded letter]

Places	Asia: Vietnam Asia: Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy Province, Dat Do Asia: Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy Province, Long Hai Hills Asia: Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy Province, Nui Dat Asia: Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy Province, Nui Tai Vai
Accession Number	S03048
Collection type	Sound
Measurement	33 min 1 sec
Object type	Recorded letter
Physical description	1/4 inch sound tape reel; TDK Tape 150; 3 3/4 ips/9.5 cm.s; half track mono; 3 inch
Maker	Unmack, Graeme Arthur
Date made	19 February 1970
Access	Open
Conflict	Vietnam, 1962-1975
Copyright	Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Copying Provisions	Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.

Description

Recorded letter by Craftsman Graeme Arthur Unmack, 1 Armoured Regiment Light Aid Detachment, Vietnam, 19 February 1970. Recording is made to his family, narrating his role in Operation Hammersley.

History / Summary

Unmack details his involvement in Operation Hammersley which began on 10 February 1970 when C Company, with tank, APC and mortar support, deployed to the western side of the Long Hai Hills to protect quarry operations being undertaken by 17 Construction Squadron. C Company established Fire Support Base ISA near the quarry site and ambushed likely enemy routes leading from the hills.

Unmack speaks of his of his experience of the operation, including the number of Australian casualties; how his platoon was sent in to rescue some engineers trapped at the quarry; his unhappiness at Prime Minister John Gorton ordering the troops to be pulled out; how he misses his family and his disillustionment with the war.