The Battleof Long Tan
ANZAC Day, on April 25,th is commemorated in both Australia and New Zealand; and it honours those fallen in war. Among those who are remembered are the eighteen Aussie soldiers who died at the Battle of Long Tan, along with the 22 wounded. This battle has been described as the most desperate battle fought by Australians in the Vietnam War.
It occurred on August 18,th 1966 when 105 soldiers of D Company - of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment(6RAR) and three NZ Artillery men - defeated an estimated three battalions from the Viet Cong's 5th Division, with the entire division then in the immediate area. The Aussie officer commanding in the field, Major Harry Smith, described it as a chance encounter between the 108 ‘diggers' and approximately 2,500 VC and NVA troops in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan. That is, the mainly young Aussie conscripts were outnumbered 25 to 1.
The three-hour battle commenced mid-afternoon, and was fought during a deluge of monsoon rain that was so heavy that USAF jets were prevented from dropping ordnance in direct support - instead, the ordnance was directed to the east of the almost surrounded Aussies and into the VC rear areas, taking a heavy toll there. However, two Royal Australian Air Force helicopters managed to re-supply the troops with ammunition, doing so under heavy enemy fire, and in the pouring rain.
The enemy onslaught occurred in continuous waves but they were cut down by machine gun and rifle fire - and by allied artillery batteries of 24 big guns, which fired over 3,000 rounds in support of our troops. That means an intensity of about 17 artillery shells per minute (or 1 shell every 3 seconds) for three hours. Some 245 enemy dead were counted and buried after the battle; though VC records captured later put the casualty toll in the order of 500 dead and 750 wounded.
Yet although both the South Vietnamese and USA Governments wanted to honour these Australians with gallantry awards, such was forbidden by the Australian Government of the day. An award ceremony had been arranged by the Provincial South Vietnamese Governor, with all those attending the ceremony already in place - then just before it was due to officially begin, word was received from Australia that the policy of non-acceptance of foreign awards was to be observed. This was embarrassing to both the Vietnamese and Australians already present there, and a hasty compromise was reached. The heroic soldiers of D Company were presented with dolls in Vietnamese national dress, and with cigarette-cases and lighters!
Only some of the men subsequently received Australian military decorations for their actions at Long Tan. Most of these awards were on the very low side of acceptability, being service awards and not those for gallantry. Ever since, this has been a source of festering bitterness with these men. But last year, the Prime Minister of Australia issued a long overdue apology to them for their treatment by the then Australian Government (and of the same political party), but he still refused to address their grievances. No medals or official recognition are to be conferred!
However, D Company, 6 RAR, was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation by Lyndon Johnson. Among other things, the Citation said:
".... The enemy maintained a continuous, intensive volume of fire and attacked repeatedly from all directions. Each successive assault was repulsed by the courageous Australians. Heavy rainfall and low ceiling prevented any friendly close air support during the battle. After three hours of savage attacks, having failed to penetrate the Australian lines, the enemy withdrew from the battlefield carrying many dead and wounded, and leaving 245 Viet Cong dead, forward of the defence positions of D Company.
The conspicuous courage, intrepidity and indomitable courage of D Company were to the highest tradition of military valour and reflect great credit upon D Company and the Australian Army."
Lyndon B Johnson
The White House May 28, 1968
Lest we forget.
(And there but for the Grace of God was I.)
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Comments: 27
I've learned much about the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia while researching my own thing; how they've had to struggle long and hard against government indifference to finally win some recognition. Initially it seemed our society, led by a political expediency, was determined to blame the troops, who had bravely done their duty, for the national guilt experienced over that criminal war. The vets weren't officially welcomed home until 1987, the Vietnam War Memorial wasn't dedicated until 1992. There is still a long way to go in correcting these injustices, as the Association's motto reminds us "Honour the dead, but fight like hell for the living."
As we see new waves of veterans coming home from new unpopular wars, perhaps our most important commemoration shouldn't take place in April each year. Perhaps it should take place every day in our loud persistent insistence that once we have taken from these young people their health and peace of mind, we should with gratitude ensure they are justly cared for and remembered upon their return.
Age shall not weary them.
Thank you.
Various mates of mine went to Vietnam - they had to sneak back home to avoid being sworn at and spat on, and were not afforded any counselling of any sort. They were even initially denied membership of the Returned Servicemen/women League. And they came back psychologically scarred - most still are. Broken marriages and suicides were also their lot after returning home.
At the time I was serving in the Royal Australian Signal Corp of the Australian Army - I was in the very strange position of opposing the war and would have refused to go there if I'd been posted. Years in prison was the alternative, and I would have accepted this. But I wouldn't have shut up in my opposition.
I totally endorse your astute observation:
Perhaps it should take place every day in our loud persistent insistence that once we have taken from these young people their health and peace of mind, we should with gratitude ensure they are justly cared for and remembered upon their return.
The politics that ignores what happens is the politics that puts our soldiers there in the first place.
I'm guessing that the ideas of conscription and foreign intervention are a sore point with Howard right now...
Until Spartan's article "Forgotten Heroes...The ANZAC In Vietnam " (URL:http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976965205 )
I had no idea that the ANZAC had sent troops to Vietnam!
Between you, Carolyn and Spartan I've learned a lot that was not previously openly discussed regarding the Vietnam war and the people who served there!