FORT SILL, Okla. (May 1, 2014) -- The first major military test for Australia as a relatively new country was the Gallipoli Campaign, which began April 25, 1915, against the Ottoman Empire, or Turkish Empire.
Gallipoli was a pretty ill-conceived campaign and had vague objectives, and generally historians considered it as a significant defeat for Australia and its allies, said Australian Army Maj. Simon Nebauer, Field Artillery Captains Career Course exchange instructor here. However, the aftermath of the battle increased awareness of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and its veterans.
Today in those two countries, ANZAC Day is celebrated as a national day of honor and remembrance to service members past and present.
Fort Sill held its annual ANZAC Day ceremony with a dawn service -- the time of the original landing -- April 25, on the grounds of the Old Post Chapel here.
Nebauer welcomed the attendees, and he spoke about the heroism of individuals during the eight-month campaign, which resulted in many casualties on both sides.
"The attributes of mateship, courage, sacrifice -- those stood out and shone, despite the failures of the broader campaign," the major said.
Australian Army Capt. Christian George, Air Defense Artillery Captains Career Course exchange instructor, said ANZAC Day services on U.S. military installations are the ANZAC's way of saying: "This is our day, thank you for the help, thank you for the friendship and thank you for honoring our history."
George had previously worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and said it was great working with Americans.
"There is not a more professional, well-equipped and integrated air defense force anywhere else," George said. "It's an amazing experience for me to come from a small air defense force, and work in such a large one."
He noted the Australian air defense force consists of two regiments, or about 200 air warriors.
During the ceremony, Nebauer and George placed a wreath at the ANZAC soldier memorial. Audience members were also welcome to place flowers.
Then U.S. and exchange instructors from the CCC read Bible verses and poetry as part of the service.
Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, attended the service. He said he has worked with Australian and New Zealand soldiers.
"They're top quality: tough and dedicated," McDonald said. "They get the job done."
The general said one of the unique things about ANZAC Day is that some of the ANZAC campaigns that are celebrated weren't victories.
The ANZACs use the M777 howitzer and other similar U.S. equipment, and study American doctrine in Australia, Nebauer said. Every couple years an Australian soldier will come to Fort Sill for training.
"I've actually taught more Turkish students here than I have Australians," Nebauer said.
As part of the commemoration, a traditional breakfast was provided. Guests helped themselves to ANZAC biscuits. The biscuits were made without eggs, and described by George as "trench food" -- designed to have a long shelf life for shipping and storing.
The meal included a gunfire breakfast, or coffee with rum. Decorative sprigs of rosemary herb, as a symbol of remembrance and constancy, adorned the table. Rosemary grew all over the Gallipoli Peninsula, Nebauer said.
1st Lt. Robert Elliott, ADA CCC student, said it was his first ANZAC Day ceremony. He said he had read about it, but wanted to see what it was about. He sampled the gunfire breakfast.
"It's good," Elliott said.
Lt. Col. Robert Krieg, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery commander, and his command sergeant major, brought one platoon of their FA Basic Officer Leader Course Class No. 02-14 students to the ceremony.
"I wanted them to observe the ceremony," Krieg said, "not only to learn from a professional experience, but also to learn a little bit about the culture of an ally nation and a great partner we have."
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