Almost 40 years ago

Zip

Zip

Zip

Soldato
Joined
26 Jun 2005
Posts
20,224
Location
Australia
During the Vietnam War There was a battle where 108 Australian Soldiers Held back and Defeated a force of 2500 Vietnamese Soldiers.

During the Battle Australia sustained 18 dead and 24 wounded compared to Vietnam that sustained At least 245 dead 750 wounded with Some documents and Prisoner interrogations suggesting that the VC actually Sustained 500-800 deaths and around 1,000 wounded men.

The battle was fought in a Rubber plantation and the battle conditions where bad with heavy rain.

Even though there was this huge win i only just heard about this battle today, it seems that the Australian Government didnt recognise as much it should have been, Probably due to it being a part of the Vietnam war.
I Just hope that more and more people get taught about this battle and it gets the recognition that it deserves.

The Battle was Battle of Long Tan

Hearing things like this make me proud to be Australian :)

If you want to learn more about it i got the Wikipedia Article about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Tan


:)
 
I had no idea that the Aussies fought in vietnam but you have to remember, the people they were fighting against weren't the "baddies" so this isn't a "Yay for the goodies" day really. I'm not saying that's how you're displaying it, but that's how some people are bound to interpret it.

I feel for all those that died, VC included.
 
naefeart said:
I am going to show my ignorance here and say that I had no idea that the Aussies fought in Vietnam.
Click to expand...

We fought, it was controversial, they put in conscription aswell so a lot of people got conscripted to go if there number came up.

Those at the battle of long tan got a nice friendly welcome home like they deserved.
But the poor guys that came after had Offal thrown at them and were spat on :(
It wasnt there fault they were fighting there yet they still got treated like it was :(
 
messiah khan said:
Its also quite unknown the the UK also served a small part in the Vietnam war. Again as Zip said, probably not recognised due to the disaster that the Vietnam war turned out to be.
Click to expand...

I read about this in a magazine a few years ago (not sure exactly which mag) but it's quite true. We had quite a few 'specialists' attached to US, South Korean and Australian forces. Most were classed as Military Advisors although it's generally thought they were in the main SF and their specific roles and duties were never explained fully. Off to google for more info.
 
Seems the official line is still that no British Military were on active service during the Vietnam War. However, there are lots of snippets on various web sites which refer to British involvement. In the main, SAS, and in the main secondments to other SF units.
 
naefeart said:
I am going to show my ignorance here and say that I had no idea that the Aussies fought in Vietnam.
Click to expand...
i also was going to say, i didnt realise jonny69 was from austrialia, damn sig swappers :mad: :p

edit :corrected name
 
Last edited:
da_mic_1530 said:
i also was going to say, i didnt realise jonnyG was from austrialia, damn sig swappers :mad: :p
Click to expand...

You mean Jonny69 :p
I should give it back soon because its starting to grow on me and become normal :o
 
Chasser said:
This makes for interesting reading. :cool:
Click to expand...

That seems pretty conclusive that the brits went over there :)

Just a bit more to my OP that i didnt mention before
After the Battle of Long Tan the VC never fought the Australians Head on again like they did in that battle :cool:
 
Respect goes out to all those unnamed and unrecognised soldier who have fought in so called 'secret' wars over the years, be they British, Australian or any other nationality. It must be bad enough serving and potentially dying in a war, but for you and your family not to have any recognition of what you have done must be hard.
 
Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of long tan.

They have now have made a day called "Vietnam Veterans Day" and the prime Minister him self has apologized to the Vietnam Veterans him self for the way they were treated when they first came home from the war and there were big speeches in parliament that had people braking down in tears when they read them out yesterday.
They were all invited to some Dinner thing hosted by the PM and Australia's big people.

Its taken 40 years but finally they are being recognised :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom