Terry Bruce Loftus as a Corporal 1 RAR interviewed by Greg Swanborough for 'The sharp end'

Corporal 1RAR 26 May 1965 to 26 October 1965. Staff Sergeant 1RAR 17 May 1968 to 4 February 1969. Scene 7, Take 1; Describes arriving in Vietnam and seeing lights of Vung Tau city. Australian correspondents Pat Burgess (John Fairfax and Sons Ltd) and Don Simmons (ABC) became important part of Platoon and not ‘dead wood’. Loftus wounded in first tour and sent home. Rejoined in early 1966 with 1 RAR and sent back to Vietnam. His second tour in 1968-69 more a logistics role and included the identification bodies after battles. Also supplied food and ammunition to soldiers. After Battle of Fire Support Base (FSB) Coral, Loftus part of team to identify bodies. October 1965 in the Iron Triangle, Ho Bo Woods heavily mined and booby trapped. Describes casualties and close contact with enemy. Forward scout tripped on a mine and lost his leg. Loftus wounded in stomach and leg by same mine. Both survived. During second tour in May 1968 saw heavy losses for Americans that exceeded those for the Viet Cong. Observed how bodies were prepared for shipment home. The war profoundly effect rest of his life and casualties not just on the battlefield. Scene 7, Take 2: Homecoming painful for many. The rejection from large sections of Australia hard to cope with. Many .returned soldiers have never contacted other veterans since coming home. Discusses politicians and their handling of the war.