Vietnam Veterans day

[mrsmackpaul]

Today is Vietnam Veterans Day and today we remember.

The day was originally known as Long Tan Day, chosen to commemorate the men of D Company, 6RAR who fought in the battle of Long Tan in 1966. On that day, 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought a pitched battle against over 2,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation not far from the small village of Long Tan. The Australians prevailed, but only after fighting in torrential rain for four hours. They were nearly overrun, but were saved by a timely ammunition resupply, accurate artillery fire from the nearby Australian base, and the arrival of reinforcements by armoured personnel carrier. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and 24 were wounded, the largest number of casualties in one operation since the Australian task force had arrived a few months earlier. After the battle the bodies of 245 enemy soldiers were found, but there was evidence that many more bodies had been carried away.

On the third anniversary of Long Tan, 18 August 1969, a cross was raised on the site of the battle by the men of 6RAR. Veterans from the battle gathered at the cross to commemorate the fallen, and the day was commemorated by them as Long Tan Day from then on. Over time, all Vietnam veterans adopted the day as one to commemorate those who served and died in Vietnam. In 1987, following the very successful Welcome Home parade for Vietnam veterans in Sydney, Prime Minister Bob Hawke announced that Long Tan Day would be known as Vietnam Veterans Day. Since then, it has been commemorated every year as the day on which the service of all those men and women who served in Vietnam is remembered.

The Vietnam War was Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century. Almost 60,000 Australians fought in the war and more than 500 lost their lives.

Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated on 18 August every year. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan which would become one of the most extraordinary chapters in Australia’s military history.

 

I have copied and pasted this as quicker than me typing a mess up here and making a hash of it

to all the blokes who fought in that war and all the wars that Australia gets involved in thank you 

 

Paul

[HeavyGunner]

Bless all the allied soldiers who keep the world safe as possible. 

[Timmyb]

Thanks for sharing Paul. Brave men indeed, and if it weren't for these brave men I wouldn't be living the life I am. 

Thanks. 

[Tbear]

Thanks Paul for reminding us of the sacrifice all those who have fought in that war those be fore and those yet to come. I thank them all that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live the life we live both here in the US and around the world. Thanks ,Ted

[mowerman]

thanks for sharing that....very interesting....and special thanks for all involved...especially the solders and thier familys hoping they all atleast return....thank you all.....bob

[terry]

Thanks for that info. Spent "69" there myself.

[41chevy]

1 hour ago, terry said:

Thanks for that info. Spent "69" there myself.

I was in the tail end of operation Fish Hook til Nixon decided that Kent State was more news worthy.

Nice to see a country honor them. .   Paul

[mrsmackpaul]

Funny thing about the Vietnam war in Australia, at least it has turned full circle I feel 

You never hear boo from the peace protesters you never even hear them mentioned and havent for 30 years I reckon , I guess they have all gone onto to tree hugging and farmer bashing instead

It is something Australia is, I feel ashamed of the way we treated our veterans that returned from the Vietnam war back in the day and have spent the last 25 years or so as country trying to make amends for the way the veterans got treated on their return 

I feel and I have nothing to back this up but I feel just from the stuff I see on TV that we treat our veterans a lot better than almost any other country in the world and as a country today we have a lot in place to help our veterans and their families for the rest of their lives 

There was concern back in the 80's that ANZAC day and remembrance day would be forgotten as the crowds dwindled but the exact opposite has happened crowds are bigger than ever  at least in my part of the country 

And whats even stranger is all veterans from all countries are allowed to take part in our ceremonies 

I think Australia must come across as a very strange and unusual country to the rest of the world Gallipoli (Turkey) were we invaded back in WW1 and promptly ground to a halt and failed big time , that campaign one of our biggest stuff ups ever would be the most remembered and spoken about and whats even stranger a 100 years later Turkey as they have for many years embraces the day !!!! there is 1000's of Australians go to Gallipoli every year school kids raise money and take whole classes over there for the ceremony each year

We sure are a funny breed us Skippy the bush kangaroo Aussies LOL

 

Paul  

 

[Timothy Maikshilo]

Good on ya Pauly!

[mrsmackpaul]

Well today the 18th August in the US is what we call Vietnam Veterans day in Australia 

please take a moment to think of the men that gave so much 

 

Paul

 

[hatcity]

Thank you

[Hobert62]

Thanks to all near and far

[mowerman]

again ,,hats off to all involved,,,,and god love them....i didnt even realize australia and new zealand were involved with vietnam....bob

[mrsmackpaul]

Bob Australia sent around 60,000 troops to Vietnam 

 

Paul

[Swishy]

ALL GAVE SUM

 

 

SUM GAVE ALL

[mowerman]

 

Bob Australia sent around 60,000 troops to Vietnam 

 

Paul

thats amazing....thanks paul....bob

[mrsmackpaul]

Well it's 12 months and I still haven't forgotten 

 

I came across this the other day and thought I will share it here

 

 

 

I  hope the link works

 

Thank you to the men and women that served doing a thankless job for others 

 

Paul 

[kscarbel2]

Paul, I just recently read this article.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/11/recalling-the-horror-of-long-tan-i-was-too-bloody-busy-to-be-frightened

[mowerman]

No one can imagine less they were there ....terrible special thanks to all of them...bob

[41chevy]

Funny but 48 years later a smell or sound (particularly at night) or even just the way the day feels will evoke a tons of memories from there, some okay some not so much. But we did what we had to do and never thought of not doing what was asked.

My best friend who was also my M60 gunner died in the beginning of the year from A.O. induced lung problems, last  of my unit.  I bring a lot of dimes and quarters when I go to "see" them.

[terry]

28 minutes ago, 41chevy said:

Funny but 48 years later a smell or sound (particularly at night) or even just the way the day feels will evoke a tons of memories from there, some okay some not so much. But we did what we had to do and never thought of not doing what was asked.

My best friend who was also my M60 gunner died in the beginning of the year from A.O. induced lung problems, last  of my unit.  I bring a lot of dimes and quarters when I go to "see" them.

Yes I came home 50 years ago this year, just had my prostate taken out in Dec. caught it before it spread. Like you said lots of memories.     terry

[mrsmackpaul]

I came across this a couple of days ago

Since it appears many Americans dont even realize that Australia had troops in Vietnam 

Come to think of it many young Americans probably don't even know that the U.S. had troops there either

Anyway, this was made in 66

 

Paul

 

[terry]

Good film clip, I was there in "69" terry

[mrsmackpaul]

Came across this the other day 

Some might find it interesting,  if you do watch it read the comments and it will give you some idea on just how badly we treated our troops from Vietnam 

 

Our veterans have given us the freedoms we enjoy today, people poo poo Vietnam and Korean wars, what people fail to realize is that we may very well be communist countries today as these unpopular wars really put the brakes on communism 

 

Have a look if you like

 

I still have trouble coming to terms with the way we treat our veterans and their families, it still isnt anywhere near good enough in my opinion for what its worth

 

Paul 

 

 

[mrsmackpaul]

To all the men who went, to all the Mums who let their sons go, thankyou

People always seem to forget the Mums and Dads

 

#OTD – Opening shots of the Battle of Long Tan

At 0243 on the 17th of August 1966, the Vietcong launched an artillery strike on the Australian position at Nui Dat. This bombardment marked the opening shots of one of the defining battles of Australian Military History – the Battle of Long Tan.

By August 1966, the Australian position at Nui Dat was only three months old. Concerned at the establishment of such a strong Australian presence in their midst, the Vietcong decided to take early offensive action to remove the Australian presence from the area.

In the early hours of the 17th, the Vietcong fired over 100 rounds from several 82mm mortars, 75mm recoilless rifles and an old Japanese 70mm howitzer in a bombardment that lasted 22 minutes. Numerous vehicles and equipment were damaged, and 24 men were wounded, one of whom later died.

Despite coming under fire, the 1st Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery quickly commenced counter-battery fire at 0250, just seven minutes after the attack was launched. After plotting the likely enemy position, the Regiment fired a total of 240 rounds on the enemy position from 24 guns and the mortaring ceased.

After the Vietcong barrage, the defenders stood to expecting a further assault but none came. Searches of the area later that day located the mortar sites, but found no bodies.

Although the Australians had withstood the first attack with only minor injuries, worse was yet to come… On the 18th, the Vietcong would launch another attack in force.

Image: Members of 101 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, operating "D" Delta 105 mm L5 Pack Howitzer at Nui Dat, 1966. The four shirtless gunners are firing from a weapon pit surrounded by corrugated iron and reinforced with sandbags. Identified are: 1731284 Gunner (Gnr) Barry Faulkner; 215074 Bombardier (Bdr) Trevor Madeley, operating the gun's breech after firing; 4410891 Gunner (Gnr) David Vonbertough, carrying a ranging disc to determine the charge and range to be used in fire support; and 13538 Sergeant (Sgt) Allan Grice. The numbers and arrows marked on the corrugated wall are direction finders in milliradians.
Note: This image was coloured by AI. 

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