AUSTRALIAN POW/MIAs

In 1984, the Australian government sent delegates to Vietnam to find fresh evidence on missing Australians. It was abandoned when the party failed to learn anything about the men's fate. Australian foreign affairs minister, Bill Hayden, recommended the cases be closed, that the Vietnamese government had cooperated fully with the search and the subject of the missing men, and it should no longer be an issue between the two countries.
Yet reports continue to be received in the U.S. from refugees and intelligence sources convincing many authorities that hundreds of servicemen are still being held captive. The veterans of Australia, like those of Canada and the U.S. refuse to accept their governments' dismissal of the issue.
At least five Australians are missing who were not directly associated with U.S. forces.

PRIVATE GILLSON, Peter Raymond MIA 8 November 1965		Gillson, P R Number: 37857 Rank: Private [Pte] Unit: 1 RAR (RA INF) Service: Army Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death: 08/11/1965 Place of Death: South Vietnam Cause of Death: Killed In Action Memorial Panel: 3 Cemetery or Memorial Details: Next Of Kin: Wife - Mrs L K Gillson Notes: Source: AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam
LANCE CORPORAL PARKER, Richard Harold John MIA 8 November 1965		Parker, R H J Number: 213963 Rank: Lance Corporal [L Cpl] Unit: 1 RAR (RA INF) Service: Army Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death: 08/11/1965 Place of Death: South Vietnam Cause of Death: Missing presumed dead (battle casualty) Memorial Panel: 4 Next Of Kin: Wife - Mrs W K Parker Source: AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam
PRIVATE FISHER, David John Elkington MIA 27 September 1969		Fisher, D J E Number: 2787344 Rank: Private [Pte] Unit: 3 SAS Sqn SASR (RA INF) Service: Army Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death: 27/09/1969 Place of Death: South Vietnam Cause of Death: Missing presumed dead (battle casualty) Memorial Panel: 5 Cemetery or Memorial Details: Next Of Kin: Father - Mr W A Fisher Notes: Source: AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam
PILOT OFFICER CARVER, Robert Charles MIA 3 November 1970		Carver, Robert Charles Number: 0119223 Rank: Pilot Officer [PO] Unit: 2 Sqn Service: RAAF Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death: 03/11/1970 Place of Death: Vietnam (air operations) Cause of Death: Missing presumed dead (battle casualty) Memorial Panel: 5 Cemetery or Memorial Details: Next Of Kin: Father and Mother - Mr & Mrs S W Carver Notes: Source: AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam
FLYING OFFICER HERBERT, Michael Patrick John MIA 3 November 1970		Herbert, Michael Patrick John Number: 044310 Rank: Flying Officer [FO] Unit: 2 Sqn Service: RAAF Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death: 03/11/1970 Place of Death: Vietnam (air operations) Cause of Death: Missing presumed dead (battle casualty) Memorial Panel: 5 Cemetery or Memorial Details: Next Of Kin: Father and Mother - Mr & Mrs J P Herbert Notes: Source: AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam
LANCE CORPORAL GILLESPIE, John Francis KIA 17 April 1971 - Body not recovered		Gillespie, J F Number: 3170244 Rank: Lance Corporal [L Cpl] Unit: 8 Fd AMB (RAAMC) Service: Army Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1972 Date of Death: 17/04/1971 Place of Death: South Vietnam Cause of Death: Killed In Action Memorial Panel: 5 Cemetery or Memorial Details: Next Of Kin: Wife - Mrs C P Gillespie Notes: Source: AWM153 Roll Of Honour Cards, Vietnam
	Pics from The Age - Australia 1987	Info from Australian War Memorial Honour Roll

These Australian men do not appear on most U.S. lists since they were not U.S. citizens. However, as thousands of U.S. veterans would confirm, the "Aussies" were welcome additions to any mission. Their bravery was well known, and they were well-liked. 53,000 Australians were sent to Vietnam between 1961 and 1971; 508 were killed and over 2,500 were wounded.

None were captured -- or were they?

The Australians sent their young men to help in a war that was not their own. It is fitting that Americans should include their missing in their quest for freedom for those still prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.

Lance Corporal Parker and Private Gillson.

Army. A Company 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment forming the third battalion of 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), 8 November 1965.

Private Fisher.

Army. 3 Squadron Special Air Service Regiment, 27 September 1969.

Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver.

Royal Australian Air Force. No. 2 Squadron, 3 November 1970.

Lance Corporal Gillespie.

Army. 8 Field Ambulance, 17 April 1971