Vietnam veteran and former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Lieutenant Colonel John Salter (Rtd) describes war as “bloody horrible” reflecting on what Remembrance Day means to him.

Written by TESS IKONOMOU, Townsville Bulletin

VIETNAM veteran and former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment Lieutenant Colonel John Salter (Rtd) describes war as “bloody horrible,” reflecting on what Remembrance Day means to him.

Mr Salter a Coral-Balmoral veteran, was a 2nd Lieutenant and commanded an infantry rifle platoon, also fighting in one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.

“It’s bloody horrible, absolutely terrible, but it’s like anything – you sign up to the job and do it the best of your ability,” he said.

“There wouldn’t be too many people in this world who have been to war and reckon it was great, it’s a dirty, dangerous game … you defend your country and do your country’s will.

“Soldiers don’t send themselves to war, politicians do. And we do it, because that’s our job. The pointy end of the bayonet is hard work and it’s nasty.”

Mr Salter said his understanding of Remembrance Day had evolved to include all suffering and devastation experienced by all who served in an armed conflict as well as their families.

“We should be remembering everything about the conflict and the horrible consequences of the aftermath of conflict,” he said.

“It’s those that have suffered mental problems and who have to keep on suffering.

“Their wives, girlfriends and children suffered while they were at war, and then suffered when they came back.”

Mr Salter said the effects felt from war were “lifelong and lasting”.

“In those days someone may have not come back with a physical wound, but they came back with a variety of mental wounds,” he said.

“They festered and boiled over and a lot of very sad things occurred to a lot of people years and years after the conflict.”

Mr Salter said Armistice Day changed to what it is now to remember the impacts felt by all people affected by war.

“To me it’s about remembering both sides for all people who were,” he said.

All locations across Australia will host Remembrance Day services at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate Australia’s war dead.