Operation gets Aussie soldier home (Vietnam MIA's body found

Family, government representatives, veterans and current Defence Force members gathered at RAAF Base at Point Cook in Victoria where a ramp ceremony was held to officially welcome Lance Corporal John Gillespie home, after nearly 40 years missing in action.

The remains of Lance Corporal Gillespie, a medical assistant, formerly of 8th Field Ambulance, were repatriated from Hanoi to Australia today.

In recent times, a group of former servicemen formed an organisation, Operations Aussies Home (OAH), dedicated to finding and repatriating the remains of the six Australian servicemen left in South Vietnam after Australia withdrew from the country. So far, OAH, in conjunction with the Australian Army, has identified and repatriated three of the missing servicemen.

Chaplain Ted Macmillan leads the bearer party for the remains of Lance Corporal John Gillespie who haves been returned to Australia after almost 40 years of missing in action.

Soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion form the bearer party for the remains of Lance Corporal John Gillespie whose remains have been returned to Australia.

Soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion form the bearer party for the remains of Lance Corporal John Gillespie.

Jim Bourke of Operation Aussies Home, at the ramp ceremony for Lance Corporal John Gillespie in Victoria.

Corporal Tara Neilson plays the Last Post at the ramp ceremony for Lance Corporal John Gillespie whose remains have been returned to Australia after almost 40 years.

Fellow Veterans at the ramp ceremony of Lance Corporal John Gillespie on his return to Australian soil.

Fellow Vietnam Veterans of Lance Corporal John Gillespie carry his casket at the ramp ceremony on his return to Australian soil.

Widow of Lance Corporal John Gillespie, Carmel Hendrie and daughter Fiona Pike, at the ramp ceremony on his return to Australian soil.

Soldiers from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion form the bearer party for Lance Corporal John Gillespie, whose remains have been returned to Australia after almost 40 years missing in action.

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