User:Tonydebont/55 AESS/EWPS Vietnam Veterans

The 55 AESS/EWPS Vietnam Veterans
We represent the Vietnam Veterans who served in the Australian Army's Engineer Stores unit from April 1966 to February 1972. The unit was designated as Detachment 55 Advanced Engineer Stores Squadron which later became Detachment 55 Engineer Workshop and Park Squadron (55 AESS/EWPS) and was located on the sand dunes of Vung Tau in South Vietnam.

The unit's role was to acquire, assemble and distribute construction materials in support of the Field and Construction Engineers. The range of materials was extensive from barbed wire, star pickets and sand bags to timber, plywood, bitumen and cement. We carried plumbing fittings and electrical gear. We also supplied and maintained the Army's refrigeration, air-conditioning and power generation equipment and held the spare parts. We held stocks of herbicides and other industrial chemicals. The materials came from Australia, Singapore and the US Army and what we couldn't get we fabricated. The trades within the unit covered a wide range; clerks, store-men, cooks, drivers, plant operators, fitters, electricians, refrigeration mechanics, welders, carpenters and even a plumber.

We maintain the contact list of the more than 450 soldiers who served in the unit and maintain contact with about 315 of them though a six monthly Newsletter. The Newsletter has been published since 1992 with all funds being raised by member subscription and donation. The members live all over Australia with a small number in Asia, New Zealand and North America. Of the original number over 70 are known to be deceased and there are about 80 whose whereabouts are unknown.

We are staging a re-union in Longreach from 16 to 21 August 2009. There have been a number of Reunions over the years with the most successful being Alice Springs in 2005 and Canberra in 2007. We are expecting upwards of 100 attendees comprising veterans and their partners. We look forward to enjoying the 'Out Back' hospitality of Longreach.

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