Giving Back to the Veteran Community

In line with our commitment to support the veteran community, in November 2022 Provocatus provided financial sponsorship to a current serving member of the Special Operations Engineering Regiment (SOER) who was selected to accompany members from the Tunnel Rats Association during their annual tour of Vietnam. The trip included a remembrance ceremony to honor 35 fallen Tunnel Rat soldiers at the site of the former 1 Field Squadron HQ area in Nui Dat, Vietnam.

An account of the selected SOER soldier’s tour experience is provided as follows:

"Due to the generosity of SOER Association corporate sponsor Provocatus, I was able to go on the Tunnel Rats Tour of Vietnam in November 2022 as a currently serving member of the Special Operations Engineer Regiment. About thirty people attended the tour, the vast majority of whom were original Tunnel Rats from the Vietnam war, together with a few sons and friends of the original Tunnel Rats. Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) and Vung Tau were our primary destinations during the ten-day tour of South Vietnam that took us to the former stomping grounds and base locations of the Tunnel Rats. Even though the country has modernised and the scenery has changed, hearing the stories from the old fellas was like going back in time. 

Emotions ran high as members relived memories and thought about their fallen Tunnel Rat comrades. In memory of the 35 Tunnel Rats who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we staged a short ceremony at the Long Tan cross and another at the site of their former camp in Nui Dat. While it was an emotional moment for everyone, it was clear from the comradery and support shown by those still around that even though many had drifted apart over the years, their friendship and comradery was as strong as ever when they reunited for the tour. "

-LCPL S – Special Operations Engineer Regiment