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Page 7
A
LETTER FROM KHRIS
Dear Alan,
Thank you once again for your help. I have sent away for his medals and am
eagerly awaiting the arrival of the service history of my Uncle, Keith (Pommy)
Shaw, who was killed in action in Viet Nam with D Coy 4RAR on 08 October 1968.
As a child, I remember that my Uncle Keith's photo sat on our TV. He was the
`uncle killed in Viet Nam' but nobody spoke about him. This led to a lot of
unanswered questions; who was this man, why didn't anybody talk about him and
why did my brother have the middle name of Keith?
Many years ago, my Granddad told me that a sniper killed Uncle Keith.
After moving to Bowral, I discovered the Cherry Tree Walk, a beautiful war
memorial for those who fell in South Viet Nam. Uncle Keith's name is on it and
every few weeks, I place flowers next to his name. This started the questions
again. Why, who was this man that no one was willing to talk about, what
happened to him, was he alone, did he suffer, was he humorous, what did he do
for fun, what were his goals in life and what were his plans on coming home?
After a lifetime of unanswered questions I became more determined to find out
more about this man.
I have been extremely lucky to come across new friends who, after a lifetime are
more than willing to talk about this hero of mine.
Bob Dunn, B Company, has been a wonderful supporter as well as helping me making
contacts. He has also answered the many questions that I had. It is fantastic to
be getting to know my uncle through his friends. My brother and I laughed for
ages with the story I got from Gordon Irvin about Keith taking off Chad Morgan
and singing `The Sheep from Shabby Creek'. Who knew that he had a sense of humor?
I have also found out that he was not alone and that he did not suffer. Thank
you to all who were with him. I have had some wonderful stories from his many
friends. I do understand that it may be hard for a lot of you to go back to the
past, which I am sure is in some ways upsetting for you, but I know this; you
are all making me so proud to know you all and I am very grateful for all your
help.
I would like to say a big thank you to Mike Sinclair who sent me my first story
of Uncle Keith. His section commander, Wayne Foster who was wounded in the same
action as Uncle Keith, was able to give me the truth about what happened that
day. Don Zerner was able to fill in a lot of gaps for me and gave me my first
colour photograph of Uncle Keith. I would be happy to hear from anyone else who
is willing to talk to me. I can be contacted by phone on;
(02) 4861 5584 or by Email:
khrisandgeorge@bigpond.com.
I can't wait to see you all at the Melbourne reunion. Once again a big thank you
and in my eyes, you are all heroes.
Khris Stevens
Dear Khris,
Pommie was the hero; we were simply his proud mates and his brothers in arms.
EMU
BOB
We Were There in the
RAR
This is the third
book written by Bill Parry and each time he writes he discovers new ways to keep
alive the history of the Army and the Royal Australian Regiment.
This book comprises first hand stories by 18 serving and ex members of the RAR.
You will know most of them because we were there in the RAR together. You will
embrace their stories because with a change of name, date and theatre, each
story could have been written by you or about you.
From Korea to Iraq you will recognise stories, faces and names that have been
and are, synonymous with the initial forming of the RAR to the continual
reclaiming of the RAR by those `bloody new, young diggers who don't know mud
from clay." From the old soldier to the new, Bill takes each one through their
paces and proves that, not only can each generation quite readily identify clay,
but also that they can mould it into a much improved and better product at every
evolution.
Copies of We Were There in the RAR are available from Alan at the special rate
(subsided by us) of $25.00 plus $5.00 P&H and yes, we do get a cut. Bill's other
two books are also on sale at a cost to be advised. Please contact Bill Parry on
(07) 3204 2707 for copies of `A Walk Through Life' and `Just a Nasho'.
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