New Zealand Assistance in the Vietnam War
Although very small, but New Zealand provided medical assistance in the Vietnam War. New Zealand confined its assistance initially to a civilian surgical team; giving support in the injured Vietnamese civilians. New Zealand regardless of which side the Vietnamese were on, even to Vietcong, they tried to provide the same treatment as to everyone else. To the enemy pateints with badly broken legs that were handcuffed to their beds, the New Zealand doctors insisted they be released for the treatment. New Zealand doctors treated all Vietnamese patients equally providing them effective medical assistance. From 1963 to 1975 the New Zealand team opereated quietly but effectively at Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh province and also in Bong Son from April 1967.
Furthermore, also in 1964, New Zealand sent a small noncombatan miliatry force to South Vietnam based at Thu Dau Mot, where the New Zealand Army engineers engaged in recontruction projects such as road and bridge, buildings to help recover the homes of Vietnamese. The army engineers stayed there until the July 1965 giving a hand in putting the Vietnam back into a place for the Vietnamese to live in.
New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War was notable for the strength and difference they made in Vietnamese lives, and for its ongoing positive effects within families of the Vietnamese and the land of Vietnam even after 40 years the war ended.
Although very small, but New Zealand provided medical assistance in the Vietnam War. New Zealand confined its assistance initially to a civilian surgical team; giving support in the injured Vietnamese civilians. New Zealand regardless of which side the Vietnamese were on, even to Vietcong, they tried to provide the same treatment as to everyone else. To the enemy pateints with badly broken legs that were handcuffed to their beds, the New Zealand doctors insisted they be released for the treatment. New Zealand doctors treated all Vietnamese patients equally providing them effective medical assistance. From 1963 to 1975 the New Zealand team opereated quietly but effectively at Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh province and also in Bong Son from April 1967.
Furthermore, also in 1964, New Zealand sent a small noncombatan miliatry force to South Vietnam based at Thu Dau Mot, where the New Zealand Army engineers engaged in recontruction projects such as road and bridge, buildings to help recover the homes of Vietnamese. The army engineers stayed there until the July 1965 giving a hand in putting the Vietnam back into a place for the Vietnamese to live in.
New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War was notable for the strength and difference they made in Vietnamese lives, and for its ongoing positive effects within families of the Vietnamese and the land of Vietnam even after 40 years the war ended.