Narrabri man leads the fight for Vietnam National Servicemen’s campaign medal

Narrabri’s Richard Barry OAM, a National Service veteran of the Vietnam War, has for many years been leading a dogged and tenacious fight for official campaign medal recognition for a cohort of Australia’s National Service soldiers who served in the war.

The ‘nashos’ put their lives on the line, but have been denied a Vietnam campaign medal because of a technicality. Mr Barry’s campaign seeks to have the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM) awarded, “on grounds of equity, fairness and justice”, to some 2,500 Australian national servicemen from around the nation who served for at least 60 days, but fewer than the ‘required’ 181 days to qualify for the RVCM.

There are many in the North West including in the Narrabri region.

They were sent home from Vietnam before the statutory 181 days had elapsed when their national service obligation ended, and hence did not ‘qualify’ for the medal recognition.

Mr Barry’s decades-long campaign, with growing support, on behalf of the servicemen has been quietly ongoing.

But now, he and his fellow advocates see the need to take their battle out into the public arena. They have the backing of former National Servicemen, retired senior military officers, retired members of the former Vietnam armed forces, members of the Vietnamese community and Members of state and federal parliaments on both sides of politics.

On February 28, 2024, Queensland LNP (Liberal-National Coalition) Senator Paul Scarr made an impassioned address in the Senate urging support for Mr Barry’s campaign.

“The servicemen deserve this medal as a matter of equity, fairness and justice” Senator Scarr said.

“This cohort of exceptional service men is being supported in this campaign by an outstanding advocate, Mr Richard Barry, an ex-national servicemen who served in Vietnam in 6th battalion, and other advocates including retired Lieutenant Colonel Bert Hoebee who is here today in the parliamentary public gallery with other supporters of this campaign including veterans along with members of our Australian Vietnamese community.”

After many years, the Vietnam medal recognition campaign had finally gained real traction, with commitments from both sides of politics, but then the current minister declined to make a decision on the issue, the RVCM proponents said.

With the passage of time, more than 50 years, recognition and understanding of Australia’s role in the Vietnam War has faded for many.

However, for the people who served, and their families, the Vietnam War is far from ‘forgotten’ and an advocacy group led by Richard Barry OAM, is determined that proper recognition must be awarded to a cohort of National Service soldiers who served in the long running and costly war.

Mr Barry, a National Service veteran of the Vietnam War, has for many years been fighting for their recognition.

Mr Richard Barry and his supporters’ campaign seeks to have the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM) awarded, ‘on grounds of equity, fairness and justice’, to some 2,500 Australian national servicemen from around the nation who served for at least 60 days, but fewer than the statutory 181 days to ‘qualify’ for the Vietnam campaign medal.

They faced the same dangers and traumas as their comrades who were in Vietnam for the 181 days.

Many of the 2,500 ex national servicemen in the cohort come from the Narrabri and North West region.

A major milestone in the long running RVCM campaign came when LNP Senator Paul Scarr addressed the Senate on February 28 to support Mr Barry and his co-advocates.

Due to a medical appointment, Mr Barry was unable to attend the Senate to hear the address but praised the Senator’s commitment and full support.

“Senator Paul Scarr is a strong and consistent advocate and supporter for the case,” Mr Barry said.

“He will not let go while ever he is in parliament.

“Senator Scarr made a very powerful and moving speech in the Senate which should leave no-one in any doubt about feelings on Minister Keogh’s ‘decision’ to not make a decision about this Vietnam campaign medal” said Mr Barry.

Senator Scarr made a strong case in his presentation to the Senate.

“How can it be that US veterans serving towards the end of US involvement in the Vietnam War could be issued the medal for 60 day service that our National Servicemen are denied,” he said.

“How is that equitable?

“The Australian government should have fixed it back then 50 years ago it’s not too late to fix it now.

“These men were compulsorily taken away from their civilian careers to serve in the Australian army that fought in a foreign country in the name of peace and democracy at the behest of our government,” said Senator Scarr.

“We owe it to them.”

The full speech can be seen on Senator Scarr’s YouTube Channel.

Senator Scarr was well supported in the Senate public gallery by 26 members of the Vietnam community of Australia, most of whom travelled from Sydney.

“Many in the contingent were members of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), Rangers and Red Berets who fought alongside the Australians against a common enemy in the name of freedom and democracy,” said Mr Barry.

“Others were national presidents of several senior Vietnamese ex-service organisations.

“These Vietnamese, now proud Australians, have been solid in their support and advocacy throughout and given their numbers and status, might well be considered to represent the government of the Republic of Vietnam’s position on the matter had it still been in existence.

“Several senior Australian Vietnam veterans were also present in the gallery including ex-national servicemen and ex-regular service members.”

Mr Barry has assembled a list containing pages of supporters for the Vietnam campaign medal including politicians from all sides, several ex-servicemen’s associations, including the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia, Vietnam Veterans’ Federation of Australia, select RSL sub-Branches and others, several ex-prime ministers and deputy prime ministers, state governors, Vietnamese community members including, Vietnamese veterans, senior community leaders and retired senior Australian Vietnam veterans.

“This is a vital and bipartisan matter and many families of the since deceased are also deeply affected by the non award of the RVCM,” he said.

“I haven’t made a concerted effort to find how many of the affected 2,500 come from the North West,” said Mr Barry.

“There could be scores not personally known to me.

“However, I do know that 2784935 Lance Corporal George Sanderson was a National Serviceman and lived in Narrabri. He passed away on November 7, 2023. He served 169 days in South

Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

“Two others, from Narrabri and Wee Waa, were called up the same day as myself. One served 126 days in South Vietnam with the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

“The Vietnam service recognition is also for the families of those who have passed away since coming home.

“These families want members to march on Anzac Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day proudly wearing the full complement of medal entitlements”said Mr Barry.

“The RVCM is a formal ‘thank you’ from a grateful foreign government.”

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