Australian Troops Depart For Vietnam

In the spring of 1965, Australia became the first nation outside the United States to commit combat troops to the Vietnam War. An initial force of 800 soldiers was dispatched, forming the core of the 1st Australian Task Force (ATF), which established its headquarters in the Nui Dat rubber plantation in Phuoc Tuy Province, southeast of Saigon. Australia’s decision reflected its close alliance with the United States and its broader commitment to containing communism in Asia under the ANZUS and SEATO agreements. The ATF was later reinforced by additional Australian battalions and supported by artillery, engineers, and logistical units.

New Zealand soon joined its ally by sending troops of its own, often working in integrated units alongside the Australians. Together, the two countries maintained a steady presence in Vietnam until the early 1970s. Over the course of the conflict, 47,424 Australians served, of whom 494 were killed and 2,368 wounded. New Zealand, though contributing on a smaller scale, suffered 35 dead and 135 wounded. For both nations, Vietnam became a divisive issue at home, sparking debates similar to those in the United States about the cost and purpose of the war. Nevertheless, the deployment marked a significant moment in the internationalization of the conflict, as the war in Vietnam drew in not only the United States but also its key Pacific allies.