Anzac Day Special: Home Coming of a Vietnam Veteran

Send us Fan MailIn this moving special edition of The Grief Ocean Podcast, producer Kellie takes the reins to interview her father-in-law Keith, a proud Vietnam Veteran, in honour of Anzac Day.Keith shares heartfelt reflections on the meaning and importance of Anzac Day, his own experiences serving in Vietnam, and the deep pride he felt for his father, who also served his country. Spanning generations of service, sacrifice, and remembrance, this powerful conversation offers personal insight into courage, family legacy, and the enduring spirit of those who served. It also gently explores the often-unspoken grief carried by veterans and their families—the grief of trauma, loss, silence, and the lasting impact war can leave across generations. Keith also speaks to the heartbreaking reality many Vietnam veterans faced on returning home, often met with misunderstanding, silence, and being left to their own devices to carry what they had endured, alongside the grief of leaving families behind and the complex emotional toll of returning to life after war.Amid this, he reflects on the enduring power of friendships formed in service—the deep bonds between fellow veterans, and how these connections have often been a vital source of strength, understanding, and survival long after the war ended.A particularly moving part of this family’s ANZAC story is Keith’s son (Kellie’s husband), Leigh, who last year marched alongside his father, pushing Keith in his wheelchair due to health challenges. Leigh also carried and wore his grandfather’s medals, sharing in a powerful intergenerational moment of remembrance. Moments like these reflect how the next generations continue to honour, remember, and keep the ANZAC spirit alive through lived connection, presence, and shared remembrance.A deeply touching and meaningful episode, created to honour all veterans and their families this Anzac Day.