In honour of Vietnam Veterans Day, Warwick Stanthorpe Today asked John Telfer who he thought deserved to be highlighted. While it is a day of recognition and remembrance for all, Warwick-born Tommy Suter stood out for Telfer. Below is an excerpt of Telfer’s new book written for Assumption College.
Thomas “Tommy” Suter was born in Warwick, Queensland on 26 March 1945. He was the fourth child of Kevin and Joan Suter of 157 Palmerin Street, one of 11 children in the Suter family. His father Kevin was a prominent businessman in the town and in the social and sporting community. Having a large family ensured the children would all have school and sporting interests.
Tommy received his early education in Warwick at the Catholic Primary School St Mary’s, and later, at the Christian Brothers College, before his father moved the family to the Brisbane suburb of Hendra because of employment opportunities. Tommy then attended Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School in Hendra, and later the Christian Brothers College, St Columbans, in Albion.
Here, Tommy proved to be a very capable student, was very involved in the sporting and academic life of the school, and stood out in their rugby union teams between Years 8 to 10. In his final year at St Columbans, he became academic Dux of his Year 10 cohort, and gained his Junior Certificate.
On leaving school, Tom was unsure of a career, so he began a cadetship in financial accounting at the Administration department of Arnott’s Biscuit Factory on Coronation Drive in Brisbane. With Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, and the threat of communist expansion in South East Asia, a sense of patriotism was gripping the nation. Tommy saw the army as a chance for travel and adventure, so elected to enlist in the Australian Regular Army as a trooper. After his initial recruit training at Kapooka and Singleton camps, he began his career in the army. His engaging personality and enthusiasm for military life made him a popular soldier and he appeared to have a great future in the forces.
Tommy really began his military life when he was posted to the 1 Royal Australian Regiment to Bien Hoa, South Vietnam on 5 June 1965. It was here in Vietnam that Tommy began to be recognised with leadership qualities and was recommended for promotion to Corporal. He was placed as Second in Command of 4 Section, 2 Platoon, A Company. Tommy’s combat experience was imminent in 1965 when the Australian Government dispatched the 1RAR, to serve alongside the United States 173 Airborne Brigade in Bien Hoa Province. They were the first Australian combat unit to enter the Vietnam war.
Tom’s duties were mainly doing patrols in the region to help protect the unit’s local villagers from Viet Cong insurgents. After coming back from a patrol on 27 February 1966, Tommy’s life and army career unfortunately ended. While resting in his weapon pit, for some unknown reason, an unstable hand grenade exploded in the pit killing Tom immediately. Warwick resident Warrant Officer Gordon Nielson, who was a member of the 1RAR Australian Army Training Team, also attached to the U.S. 173 Brigade at Bien Hoa, was only 50 metres away and heard the blast. Although medical assistance was rendered immediately, Tom died from his substantial injuries.
Tommy Suter was one of the first Vietnam War casualties to be sent home to his family’ for burial. He was given a full military funeral at Brisbane’s Mt. Gravatt cemetery. He now rests in Plot Anzac-1-F-335. Tom’s family responded to this tragic event fifty years later when reflecting on his life, they said:
The tragic loss of this beautiful young man, son and brother had a profoundly devasting impact on the Suter family which continues to be felt half a century on since Tommy’s death.
The depth of emotion and loss that remains is indeed a testament to the indelible imprint that Tommy made in his all too short life. We mourn for him and for a life that could have been. His life though, however brief, is a life not forgotten.
Thomas “Tommy” Suter will never be forgotten in Australian military history as his service and sacrifice for his country appears on many memorials. His service with the 173d Brigade, United States Army is so well respected, that the Americans insisted on including their Australian and New Zealand brothers on their memorial at fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia, USA.
Tom will always be remembered in his home town of Warwick where his name is inscribed on the Shrine of Remembrance in Leslie Park. He is further honoured on the Roll of Honour at Assumption College.
Tom has a memorial tree planted in the Avenue of Honour located at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, Brisbane, and the Suter family have placed a wall plaque at Pinaroo cemetery at Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane, on Wall 1, Row 1.
