Some things never change.
It had been 15-20 years since many of the Vietnam War veterans from Otago and Southland last saw each other, but Whiskey 3 radio operator Len Tallentire, of Mosgiel, said it felt like it was only yesterday.
The friendships forged during the conflict were renewed on Saturday at the Mosgiel RSA, during a gathering to mark the 50th anniversary of the first shots fired by New Zealand on July 15, 1965.
Mr Tallentire said he and many of the other 35 Vietnam War veterans had been relishing the chance to catch up again, because it was the only place they could share their wartime experiences.
''I still have flashbacks of our time there. I think everybody does. It's not a personal thing; it's an effect of the war.
''We don't talk about it in public, or with family.
''Most of us were still just kids when we arrived in Vietnam. I think I turned 21 after I had been in Vietnam for nine months.
''I can remember getting off the plane and thinking, `What the hell have I done?' All you could hear was guns getting fired and helicopters flying around and I thought, `Christ, where am I?'.''
''We enjoy each other's company. You've got to remember, we lived together and fought together all that time - a couple of years at least, most of us were together.
''We were like family - closer than that, probably.''
The veterans also discussed in each other's company their return to New Zealand.
Mr Tallentire said it was one of the most ''hurtful'' times of his life.
''We were all professional soldiers, and we had been in Southeast Asia for two years, and when we arrived back at Whenuapai air base, they made us take our uniforms off and put civilian clothing on.
''They wouldn't allow us out with our uniforms. They reckoned they couldn't protect us from the public.
''There were no family members there to greet us. There was no official welcome home, whatsoever.
''The Government didn't recognise us when we got home.
''I don't think anyone really got over it. It was quite hurtful.''
Mr Tallentire said one of the aspects of the 50th anniversary gathering that made it so successful was the attendance of a large cross section of veterans, including people from medical teams and the media, as well as from the military.
''There were a lot of good stories to remember. That's what it's all about.''
