We are about to see many Friends after 30 years of service
At a time of celebration, during the period of 22/25 April 2023, we are about to see many friendly faces, this time with no uniform to identify each other, just a friendly smile that most of us will remember even 30 years ago.
It will be a time of reflection, where has 30 years gone from a time of great stress and upheaval in a far off place of Mogadishu, Somalia.
Many of us still carry some scars of our service, many have withheld those scars due to personal pride but in the main, even for a short time, all of that will be forgotten with the sight of some friendly smiles.
Sometime in the future, we will receive an insignia that not too many Defence members will ever receive and that is the Meritorious Unit Citation. This award is reflective and recognition of our service in Somalia from 19 October 1992 to 25 November 1994.
It is now 87 days plus when the 30th Year Anniversary celebrations will begin. Enjoy the moment with your fellow Somalia Veterans.
24 January 2023
Meritorious Unit Citation Certificates with the Journal
All Registered Hardbound Australian Somalia Journal buyers have an envelope attached to the rear inside of their Journal. This envelope is to hold copies, hopefully of both Meritorious Unit Citations, although I will need a lot of luck gaining a copy of the 1 RAR Citation but you never know.
After gaining these certificate copies, I will prepare a B5 sized copy of the citation/s and
email them to all Journal buyers. All you need to do is print off the B5 sized certificate/s,
cut away the excess from the A4 copy and place face up into the special envelope. No folding
of the citation/s will be involved.
There is still no word from the Governor General's Office on any MUC announcements apart from a possible announcement by the Governor General at his Somalia Veterans Reception at Government House as stated by the Operation Solace Organising Committee earlier.
Expressions of Interest sought
Expressions of Interest are now being sought to order a copy of the soft covered book "Australian Tri-Service Contingents in Somalia 1992-1994" commonly known as ASC UNOSOM.
From 1992 to 1994, Members from Australia's Army, Navy and Air Force served an average of 6 months or more in Somalia as part of a Movement Control Group with a mandate to arrange the movement of people and food from the Mogadishu International Airport and the Mogadishu Seaport to get to the starving population of Somalia.
This is their story or stories of ther deployment in assisting the Somali Population at a time in serious famine.
The soft cover book's cost of production is unknown at present as its content has not yet been finalised. This expression of interest is withdrawable if the eventual production cost is prohibitative to anyone. The end cost will be AT COST plus postage as determined by Australia Post.
This request for expression of interest will be a guide to complete the Book or cease work on it due to a lack of interest.
A skeleton of the book's content is provided under the NEW ASC BOOK tab on top of this page. A final list of the book's content will be advertised when all promised articles have been received by
31 March 2023.
If you are interested in a copy please email admin@veteransofsomalia.au or use the CONTACT US Email facility on this main page to advise of your tentative interest in gaining a copy of "Australian Tri-Service Contingents in Somalia".
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST WILL BE ACCEPTED NLT 31 MARCH 2023 WHEN IT WILL BE DETERMINED WHETHER TO PROCEED TO PRINT OR NOT.
Thank you
Gary Conquest
Editor
Updated 24 February 2023
Pictorial Content
ASC I to IV
Photos from members of all UNOSOM Australian Tri-Service Contingents from 19 October 1992 to 25 November 1994.
SASR J Troop 3 SQN
Stories and photos of members of J Troop 3 SQN SASR who supported ASC III and ASC IV from April to November 1994.
Somalia Videos
A large variety of YouTube Videos on stories and events by Australian and US military
BAIDOA Stories
An excellent number of stories provided by Corporal Wayne Cooper RAAC and Private Ash Shinner RAINF on their Service in and around Baidoa with the 1 RAR Bn Gp.
ASC II Event
The remnents of the Mortar round that struck the roof of Australia House after June 1993. It has now put together and has been placed on a Plaque and is believed to be in the hands of the AWM.
