BARRY HUGHES spent Anzac Day reflecting on service to his country when attending the Inglewood commemorative service.
He had joined the Australia Army in the last 1960s “because I lost my job at Christmas”.
Barry was in the same platoon as future Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and had a tour of Vietnam in 1969-1970.
“It was a different type of warfare for me. I was in a defence and deployment platoon attached to headquarters and rode around in tanks,” Barry said.
He was medically discharged soon after returning from the Vietnam War and then joined the Metropolitan Fire Brigade..
“There were quite a few of us Vietnam veterans joining at the time ... they didn’t have to teach us how to march.”
After five years he left the fire service and made his way to Inglewood in 2001.
“You’d never get me back living in Melbourne,” Barry said.
Metres away from Barry stood Bob Neat whose time in Vietnam was short.
He was a member of the 4/19th Prince of Wales and was flown in for three days to repair an army vehicle.
“Flew over, did the job and came home. Not there long enough to qualify for any medals,” he said.
Bob spent 17 years in the military and was discharged with the rank of sergeant, wearing his great coat with three chevrons on Anzac Day.

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