Rebuilding in Phuoc Tuy DPR/TV/831

In a combined Australian and Vietnamese project, the civil affairs unit with the Australian Task Force in Vietnam, has been given the task of building 139 houses in the Long Dien district. The houses are being constructed to replace those destroyed by the Viet Cong during their Tet (TET) (Lunar New Year) offensive in Phuoc Tuy Province. Thirteen of the houses under construction are here in the hamlet of Tam Phuoc, about two miles south of Long Dien. Cement for the houses has been provided by the Vietnamese Government, while the timber and galvanised iron has been provided by the civil affairs unit. Led by the engineer with the 1st Civil Affairs Unit, the building team comprises four Vietnamese soldiers and three civilian Vietnamese carpenters. Australians employed on the building programme are a bricklayer, a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician and 12 soldiers who assist with general construction. The rebuilding programme started two months ago, and all 139 houses are expected to be completed by July. (Also identified: Private Mike Piper of Griffith, NSW; Pte Howard Pride of Bankstown, NSW; Corporal Bob Bruce of Ayr, Qld.