Photograph courtesy of Chris Ison from News Corp. Thank you for providing this image of Harry Gympie Mi Mi to the family to include in the Serving Country exhibition.
Wakka Wakka
Private
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Royal Australian Infantry Corps
Australian Army
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp Vietnam
Vietnam Medal
Reserve Force Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Infantry Combat Badge
“When I joined the Australian Army, I went to defend this nation, but when home, we need to remember that as Aboriginal people, we are here to protect our country as we are the Custodians of the land, waterways, and seas.”
I was born in Gayndah, Queensland, in 1944, and I was one of 13 kids. I spent most of my childhood with school, sports and work life. I enlisted in the Army after a recruitment drive came to Gayndah. After completing my training, I was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR); when the battalion deployed to Vietnam, most soldiers left on HMAS Sydney on a two-week trip to Vietnam. I was one of 103 men chosen to fly into Bien Hoa that night when I was 21. I was one of the first Australian soldiers to arrive, and our job was to make it safe for the others to arrive. We set up base with the American 173rd Airborne Brigade and began our mission. I served in Vietnam in 1 RAR 1965-66. After returning, I continued my military service in the Army Reserve.