4. Vietnam War -The "Sorrow"

Vietnam War – ‘The Sorrow’

Saluting their Service - Grahame Old

2782149 Gunner Philip NORRIS – Missing, Presumed Dead

Gunner (Gnr) Philip Charles Norris was born on the 19th of February 1945 and was called up in the first intake for national service in September 1965 (remember when the marbles were drawn out of the barrel). He married his childhood sweetheart, Maryanne, on the 7th of May 1966 and on the 20th May he was on his way to Vietnam. The following story has been the subject of much debate over the years; it has been told in newspapers and aired on radio. The story highlights the sorrow of war, a young Vietnam Veteran who spent 44 years in hospital care.

Battle of Long Tan (The Night Before)

From a letter sent by Gnr Peter Manucci, who served with Philip Norris, to his sister dated 22 August 1966 (post battle of Long tan); “On the morning of Wednesday 17 August at 0245hrs, we got hit by mortars. I heard the things whistling through the air, and the first two go off. I jumped out of bed and hit the floor. The Guns (artillery) commenced firing, and everyone was told to go down to the guns where they could stay in contact, because the tent lines were being hit the worst. At 0500hrs we got stand down. About 100 mortar rounds were received, with 30 odd landing in our lines. Following the attack Gnr Norris was found walking around badly dazed but conscious with a wound to his head and temple. Our Corporal medic took him to see the Medical Officer who found traces of blood and a tiny sliver of metal protruding from his head. Phil was medevaced to Vung Tau, and the word got back to his mates that he had died. His belongings were packed up and returned to his next of kin in Australia”.

26 Years Later – Oct 1992

26 years later at the opening of the Vietnam War Memorial in Canberra on 3 October 1992, members of 103 Field Battery attended and later walked on to the Canberra War Memorial to pay their respects to Phil Norris. Only to find his name was not on the Wall of Remembrance. Why was he not there – he was on his units memorial at Wacol, QLD (see photo). The search began.

Enquiries to the Dept of Veterans Affairs revealed that Gnr Norris was not deceased however privacy regulations prevented them from releasing any further information. Every attempt made to find detail was unsuccessful. Later, enquiries were made to Hospitals with the result that a nursing Sister, Elizabeth Miles, who had been Phil’s carer from 1998, made contact and the story of Gnr Norris unfolded.

From Vietnam Phil was returned to Hollywood Repatriation Hospital in Perth WA where he was stabilized. He was then transferred to Concord Repatriation Hospital in Sydney. In 1970 he was relocated to Callan Park Mental Hospital which later became ‘Rozelle’ Psychiatric Hospital. Sadly, Phil was losing his mind; he needed constant care and was required to stay in hospital. His wife Maryanne had visited him in hospital on a regular basis until they were divorced. Phil’s mother Olive had visited several times a week until her death in 1999. Phil now only had Sister Elizabeth Miles.

The Rozelle Hospital closed in 2007, with most patients being transferred to Concord Hospital; Sister Miles was responsible for arranging the necessary accommodation for the remaining five service veterans, including Phil who was then moved to a nursing home in Croydon. Sister Miles was aware that Phil had a daughter and Phil had made it known that he wanted his daughter to be found. An application was made to the Salvation Army Family Tracing service in Sydney and within a month his daughter Mary Elizabeth was found, Sister Miles and a social worker then made contact. Mary was confused, she had vaguely remembered her mother telling her that she had married a young man who went to war and never returned, his name was Phil and he had been killed in the Vietnam War. Sister Miles then arranged a family meeting. Despite his mental impairment, Phil Norris knew he was meeting his daughter and grandsons, and Mary was overjoyed with seeing her father for the first time. Mary visited Phil regularly and in February 2009 she had him moved to a nursing home in Mosman, closer to her residence. He returned to hospital only for the last weeks of his life, finally passing away on 3 august 2010. Philip is officially commemorated on NSW Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood Wall 50 Row B.

In conclusion Gunner Philip Norris was wounded in action, he was assumed to be dead by his fellow soldiers. In 1992 it was established by his mates that he was alive. However, no one knew the circumstances. In 2006 he was found and meets his 40-year-old daughter and three grandsons for the first time. Philips remaining years of joy with a family he had never known were a result of the persistence of his old Army mates and a nurse’s compassion.

2782149 Gunner Philip NORRIS had languished in psychiatric hospital wards for 44 years.

A truly remarkable Vietnam War story (Peter Manucci, a fellow Gunner who served with Philip Norris in Vietnam)

Simple, salt tears, full often will redden his eyes;

No one shall hear what he hears, or see what he sees;

He shall be mocked by a flower, and the flush of the skies!

He shall behold the kissing of sweethearts — close by him, here, under the trees —

Oh! yes, the soldier is home!

Footnote:

Sister Miles was invited by Phil’s daughter Mary to join her and Phil’s fellow members of the 103rd Field Battery at the 45th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan memorial service on 18 August 2011. Sister Miles was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2011 for her service to nursing. 103 Fld Bty believe she received the award for her fine nursing care to Philip Norris.

Gunner Norris did not meet the eligibility criteria for remembrance on the War Memorial Honour Roll in Canberra because he had died more than two years after returning to Australia (see AWM Roll of Honour eligibility).

Vietnam-The Cost

Australian troops were first sent to Vietnam in 1962 and the numbers increased over a 10-year period that saw more than 60,000 serving in the conflict by the end of the war. Of this number 521 were killed and more than 3000 were wounded, many missing limbs and severely disabled. Many more suffered and died after the war, some taking their own lives. Suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, broken marriages, divorce, psychiatric problems all became prevalent among Vietnam Veterans. Repatriation Hospitals around Australia became home for many veterans.

Collie-Cardiff RSL Sub Branch

It is our duty to tell stories of the endeavours, valour and sacrifice of Australians who served in Vietnam - to see beyond the politics of the war and rightfully honour the soldiers, their character and their deeds. It is estimated around 35,000 Australian Vietnam veterans are still living, most aged 70 or older. Our Vietnam veterans continue to carry the burdens of their service. They will always be remembered as a remarkable generation of men and women who, together with their families, have fought hard to ensure that their service is never forgotten. And to those veterans we say: