Concert at Nui Dat DPR/TV/907

The 11th Government-sponsored concert party to visit Vietnam played two concerts at Luscombe Bowl, Nui Dat, during a two-week tour of Australian and United States bases. Headed by comedian Eddie Mendoza the party arrived in Vietnam on August 20 to play 22 shows for more than 25,000 Australian, New Zealand and American troops. At Nui Dat the group performed for two hours for more than 1,200 troops, who arrived early to ensure a position close to the stage. Although artillery fire and aircraft sometimes drowned out the singers the acts ran smoothly and to the great enjoyment of the troops. Other highlights of the concert were the singing of Brisbane vocalist Merriel Hume, and The Prestons, a swinging band from Wollongong. In many of the musical numbers, the audience joined in with singing and clapping. At the end of the concert, the soldiers did not want the entertainers to leave and it was some time before they were able to break away from photographers and movie camera fans among the soldiers. For the entertainers it was their first tour in Vietnam but they all agreed that if the opportunity arose they would be back.