First visit of the Commanding General of MACV, General (Gen) Creighton Abrams, to the Australian ...

First visit of the Commanding General of MACV, General (Gen) Creighton Abrams, to the Australian Task Force Base. It was the first time General Abrams had visited the Australians. In a whirlwind, three hour visit, he saw the forward headquarters of the 1st Australian Task Force at Fire Support Base (FSB) Julia; 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR), at Fire Support Base Diggers Rest; and 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) at FSB Margaret. At FSB Julia he was met by the Commander of the Australian Force Vietnam, Major General A L MacDonald, and the Commander of the 1st Australian task Force, Brigadier C M I ‘Sandy’ Pearson. He was briefed on the progress of Operation Goodwood, an Australian directed operation in its sixth week. During which more than 150 Viet Cong and NVA had been killed and numerous, extensive, enemy bunker complexes had been found and destroyed. During his visit Gen. Abrams talked, informally, with Officers and Soldiers alike. Gen Abrams took over command of MACV from Gen William C ‘Westie’ Westmoreland as the Commander of the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, in July 1968.