Major John Boyd Healy as officer commanding A Company 1 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), South Vietnam, 1965-1966 and Mrs June Healy [recorded letters] Accession Number: S03710

Description

Correspondence between Major John Healy in Vietnam and his wife June Healy in Australia.
Tape 1. John Healy describes his tape recorder; talks about the base and how noisy it is due to the large amount of aircraft traffic; how they are improving the camp; recreation leave and entitlements when home; diggers unhappy as not much recreation leave; purchase of Thai silk.
Tape 2. (Artillery in background) John Healy talks of how morale is low as football not going to plan; Tina (sister) appearing in talent contest; received her letters; tapes better that letters as can fit more on them; new operation starting tomorrow; will be glad to get out of camp; B52s from Guam where bombing this morning.
Tape 3. John Healy talks of previous operation in which a friend (Smithy) was killed by a sniper; HMAS Sydney arrived in Singapore; first company social function helped to raise morale; had miserable birthday in bush; received the photos of baby (Dale).
Tape 4. Wednesday 17 November. John Healy talks of losing two lads at end of last operation; discusses troop movements; unhappy in regards to some published material about his battalion; visits by Colonel Morrow and Shanahan; talks of items needed including lighter flints, shirts, cigarette tins, more photos and tapes; happy with new camera.
Tape 5. Sunday 28 November (previous recording can be heard in background) June Healy and friends give Christmas message to John from a party.
Tape 6. June Healy talks of difficulty with time; sorry he was away at Christmas; Colonel Warr and Brumfield came to Christmas; will ignore return home rumours as they get hopes up; will use silk for dresses.
Tape 7. (Artillery in background) John Healy talks of rumours concerning date of return home; Americans keeping up supply of items; New years eve; received letter from Tina; new operation starting soon; new Colonel settling in; new camera broken.
Tape 8. June Healy talks of their daughter Daele and how she loves the water; Peter Walker took Tina and I for dinner; bought you a surprise.
Tape 9. John Healy talks of missing trip to Da Nang as missed plane; had two days in Saigon; relays casualties/injuries from an operation; got pearls for Tina; met the Pat and Peter Young at the Continental; tape recorder playing up; looking forward to return home.
Tape 10. (Artillery in background) John Healy talks of having two operations in succession so no time to send letters; first operation west of Saigon, second operation west of Bin Kat; operational movements and VC tunnels; looking for a movie camera; photos he has had developed.
Tape 11. June Healy, introduces a friend, Tom. Tom apologises for a letter he sent containing anti-war sentiments and wishes to discuss this more with John one day; Tom talks about June staying with his family; his new house; invites John to stay; talks about playing golf and football. Introduces Peter Walker. Peter talks about leaving Sydney; football; jokes about thinking a VC was a medal and that he didn't understand why John was talking about VC shooting at him; talks about starting his own business. June introduces Pip who talks about meeting June and loved having June and Daele to stay. June talks about everyone being gathered on this occasion to watch the film of a barbeque and also film of her and John's wedding. Reports that Daele is walking and running and kissing "Daddy's" photograph. John's mother starts to talk about the baby, Daele, but tape ends.

Details

People

• Colonel John Boyd Healy MG

Conflicts

• Vietnam, 1962-1975

Units

• 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Tags

• Correspondence
• Recorded letter