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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Vung Tau, Vietnam, 1966-08

by William Cunneen

Vung Tau, Vietnam, 1966-08

Private Barry (Custard) Meller, 11 Platoon, survivor of the Battle of Long Tan, lying in a hospital bed with a bullet wound to his cheek and leg, smoking a cigarette. Meller was found leaning against a rubber tree, by Delta Company, the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), on its return twelve hours later.

Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

The jungle look
(More information, View all 10 images)

Vietnam, 1966-06
An Nhut, South Vietnam, 1969-08
Vietnam, 1970-07
Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, 15 Jan 1969

Related information

Thua Tich, South Vietnam, 1969-06 by Christopher Bellis
Thua Tich, South Vietnam, 1969-06 by Christopher Bellis
Thua Tich, South Vietnam, 1969-06 by Christopher Bellis
Thua Tich, South Vietnam, 1969-06 by Christopher Bellis

The jungle look

Magazine article by David Gist, 2019

David Gist steps beyond the public relations veneer of Australia’s official Vietnam War portrait photographs.
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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