War remains vivid today

IT WAS an emotional day for veterans across the South Burnett.

Diggers donned their medals and flocked to Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour their fallen comrades.

For Vietnam War veteran Don Davey, the day was one of many to pay tribute to his fellow soldiers.

"To me every day is a Remembrance Day," Mr Davey said, "because you never forget those that you've known and you've lived with and in some cases, you've grown up with".

Mr Davey joined the army when he was 22 and served in the Second Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Infantry, during the Vietnam War from 1971.

During his 14 months in Vietnam, Mr Davey said he travelled through the southern parts of the country doing whatever was required.

"We would go out and do different operations or activities," he said.

But his experiences from the Vietnam War have stayed with him throughout his life.

"It's something I live with every day. It's a part of you and you can't disassociate yourself from it," he said.

"You don't just turn off. It's still as vivid today as it was then. I haven't dealt with it well, but hopefully I have learnt to live with it.

"It's the camaraderie and mateship that lives with you for the rest of your life."