Farewell at Whenuapai 1965

My first memory of the Vietnam War came about in July 1965 whilst standing at the edge of the runway at Whenuapai airbase waving GOODBYE to my Dad and other members of the 161 Battery of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. My Dad was 350915 LBdr Francis (Frank) Toko.

I believe that my Dad's experience in Vietnam was one of great disappointment and sad memories. I can only assume and speculate on his tour of Vietnam as Dad would never talk about Vietnam. What Dad would always point out was: 'What about our mates who never came home!!!'. I know that Dad would have been present when Sgt Al Don and Bdr Jock White were killed in September 1965 as that was only a couple of months after their deployment.