Vietnam Veterans Day in Australia - 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-17-2016 20:02

The 18th August is commemorated as Vietnam Veterans Day here in Australia. It was the date of the battle of Long Tan in 1966 when the 100 soldiers of Delta Company 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment supported by Australian, NZ and US artillery and later Australian APCs, and resupplied from the air by helicopters of No.9 Sqn RAAF, fought off an estimated 2000+ NVA and VC troops of the 275th Regiment in a rubber plantation near the 1ATF base at Nui Dat. 18 Australian soldiers were killed in action or died of wounds with another 24 wounded. The Vietnamese confirmed casualties were between 240-300 dead and another 350 wounded, with documents captured later indicating the casualties could have been as high as 800 killed and 1500 wounded.

Please join with me in saluting the service and sacrifice of those men of D Company 6RAR and all those who served in Vietnam during that long, bloody and difficult war. Their road was not easy either in country or back home.

**Biggles downunder** · 08-17-2016 20:14

**Naharaht** · 08-17-2016 20:38

Let us salute their courage and sacrifice.

**Stumptonian** · 08-17-2016 20:48

**gully_raker** · 08-18-2016 03:18

Amen to that Carl!

I have two very good mates (younger than I am) that both were at the Long Tan battle.
One in the Artillery & one in the Infantry.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-18-2016 03:29

Originally Posted by gully_raker

Amen to that Carl!

I have two very good mates (younger than I am) that both were at the Long Tan battle.
One in the Artillery & one in the Infantry.

In the 1980s as a young soldier I served with Long Tan veterans Laurie Drinkwater and Buddy Lea. Laurie is still going strong as the patron of the Sunshine Coast Vietnam Veterans Association. Buddy had some health problems and passed away last year. Both good blokes, loved a beer and a yarn.

Yesterday the Vietnamese government decided to cancel a service at the Long Tan Cross they have known about for 18 months, then after the Australian PM contacted his opposite number in Vietnam they agreed to allow groups of 100 to attend as a compromise - but no medals to be worn, no speeches, no phones, no cameras, just the laying of wreaths and a minute's silence. Now I hear they have reneged on that deal with the Vietnamese police turning away bus loads of veterans and their families, some back in the country for the first time in 50 years.

Very, very disappointing.

Click image for larger version.

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Veterans and their families at a previous commemoration. The Long Tan Cross is located on 11 Platoon's position during the battle. The platoon lost 11 men killed out of a strength of 29, with many more wounded.

**zenlizard** · 08-18-2016 05:57

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

Yesterday the Vietnamese government decided to cancel a service at the Long Tan Cross they have known about for 18 months, then after the Australian PM contacted his opposite number in Vietnam they agreed to allow groups of 100 to attend as a compromise - but no medals to be worn, no speeches, no phones, no cameras, just the laying of wreaths and a minute's silence. Now I hear they have reneged on that deal with the Vietnamese police turning away bus loads of veterans and their families, some back in the country for the first time in 50 years.

Still a lot of open wounds there. I'll salute the soldiers for their efforts & their sacrifice.

**Walter Nowotny** · 08-18-2016 06:53

To the Honor and Courage of those great men

**BobP** · 08-18-2016 13:05

A salute to my Australian brothers and welcome home. A good movie showing the Australians in Viet Nam is THE ODD ANGRY SHOT.

**Baxter** · 08-18-2016 14:17

Bad times and brave men

**milcoll73** · 08-19-2016 00:58

salute to our Australian cousins who fought in that awful war.

**Rebel** · 08-19-2016 02:37

I've read the book about this battle and have the greatest admiration for the guys who took part. Salute.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-19-2016 05:42

Originally Posted by BobP

A salute to my Australian brothers and welcome home. A good movie showing the Australians in Viet Nam is THE ODD ANGRY SHOT.

One of my favourites. My mates and I used to know the dialogue off by heart.

Great scene - "Grey, Green, Brown and Oakover" https://youtu.be/Q3Njy0EnIuk

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-19-2016 05:50

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

One of my favourites. My mates and I used to know the dialogue off by heart.

Great scene - "Grey, Green, Brown and Oakover" https://youtu.be/Q3Njy0EnIuk

Another one "Specialists in arson, murder and drinking" - https://youtu.be/UZl3QoT5Kq0

**BobP** · 08-19-2016 11:41

Carl I like the part when they give the wanking machine to the padre and he shocks them by his reply. Very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIBmc4pn8LY

By the way I was at Phu Bai Aug 71- Aug 72. Was 30 years until someone acknowledged my being a veteran other than another veteran.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 08-19-2016 15:02

Originally Posted by BobP

By the way I was at Phu Bai Aug 71- Aug 72. Was 30 years until someone acknowledged my being a veteran other than another veteran.

Australian veterans shared that experience Bob. Even 10 years after the war ended anti-military feelings in the community were still running high. I remember on ANZAC Day in 1985 protesters were throwing blood on memorials, and we were practicing forming a square around the battalion colours with fixed bayonets in case some lefty tried to grab them while we marched in the parade.

I am happy to say 30 years on that attitudes towards service personnel have changed.

Thanks Bob