A Mandurah Vietnam War veteran has reflected on the changing attitudes towards those who served in the conflict ahead of Anzac Day commemorations.
Local resident Kevin Fowler served in Vietnam from 1967-68 at the age of 23, where he held a role in the communications division and was involved in the Tet Offensive.
Mr Fowler said returning to Australia following his service, he and other veterans experienced hostility from the general public.
The veteran said in one incident, he was taking part in an Anzac Day march in Melbourne that was thwarted by anti-war protesters.
“The police warned us that they were going to attack us … they were going to throw paint over us,” he said.
“What actually happened was by the time we got there, they attacked the police and the main street there in Melbourne was under nearly three inches of red paint.
“So when we tried to march, we marched through sticky red paint.
“There was a lot of animosity between those who didn’t get called up (for military service) and those who did.”
Mr Fowler said attitudes towards Vietnam veterans have changed significantly over the following generations and said he had particularly noticed a shift when schools began to teach about the war in history lessons.
Mr Fowler now visits schools in Mandurah every year to educate them about his story as well as the broader history of war in Australia and Mandurah’s local history.
He also serves as the Mandurah RSL’s historian and will be the MC for the Mandurah RSL’s main service held from 10.15am, which begins with a veterans’ parade.
He is set to draw on his historical knowledge during the service and will acknowledge several significant anniversaries occurring this year, including the 110th anniversary of the start of World War I and the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Mr Fowler said he was anticipating this year’s commemorations.
“I think people now are prepared to listen,” he said. “When we first came back, nobody was prepared to listen.”