Long Tan Remembered

>I was a tunnel rat & not at Long Tan.

You had one hell of a rotten job - thank you for doing it.

Mike Harding

Mr F, I watched the service this morning with considerable regret and hearing the names and ages of those lost, one at 19, one at 22 and the rest just 20 and 21. I consider I was extremely fortunate not to have been called up.

My thoughs were certainly with those there at the service and of course those who were present in Vietnam. I am sure there is that intrigue and I am not sure I understand why either, even when it is explained. I am pleased that so many of those who were there, have been able to go back and reach out.

Good on ya Mr. F. My elder went there, I joined at 17, was then from the bush, to go my self put it finished before I turned 19, what a lucky boy I was. But I grew up with a lot of fine men who went there. I ended up spending 9 years in the Army and that did not hurt me one little bit.
Cheers Bruce.

Mr Fawlty ,

I watched the service too . It was a very sad occasion , especially knowing the sort of trauma the returning soldiers have gone through .

I also thank you and all those who fought with you , and I am really glad that you fellas are finally getting the thanks you deserve .

Willie .

" I think there is far to much intrigue remaining in the truth about our whole involvement in Vietnam to allow that to happen... "...so true. Most of us would be horrified to find out exactly how we managed to get involved.

And we were involved in more ways than one. A lot more ways.

I was at the demo where LBJ rolled into town and a certain pollie said "run the b's over. I have rarely been so angry with the whole shebang, the
pollies and the behaviour of the crowd.

Later I was to get a wee bit closer to the war, but nobody shot at me or tried to blow me up. I was one of the lucky ones...but that's another story.

However I still get p*ssed off when watching those films made by our govt at the time. I get up and walk in disgust.

So, despite where you stood at the time, and perhaps stand now, these three words say so much.

"Lest We Forget."

I am also one of the lucky to have been exempted from the forces to Vietnam.,also with all that is said above in the other posts.
"LEST WE FORGET"
Bob.

Hi people,
Well, I also attended the service for Long Tan ( invited guest).
I served in the RAAF during those times, and work in Intell in RAAF Support Unit.
Had a little to do with 9 Sqn personnel from time to time, and gained a great respect for the helicopter pilots and crew. Although I only visited the place from time to time, those servicemen who served the full term deserve all the respect of thier fellow countrymen. In fact, those diggers who survived Long Tan deserve the Military Medal, as far as I'm concerned. God bless them.
Bronco

I was in 11plt D Coy 5 RAR who served in Viet-nam in 1966-67.Being the sister Coy. to D Coy 6RAR we went out to the battlefield at daylight on the morning after the Battle of Long-tan to assist in the aftermath of the previous day.I beleive that every man from D Coy.6RAR who took part in that fight deserve every praise and a lot more that has been bestowed upon them.Also if it was not for the supporting fire from our Aust. and N.Z.Artillery Battery's ,the brave men who were flying the Choppers that that resupplied them with ammo and the Turret heads in the APC's with the men of A & B Coy 6 RAR, the outcome next morning would have been a lot worse than that which we had to face on the morning of the 19th Aug 1966. It is very rarely that you will see D Coy 5RAR mentioned in the aftermath of the Battle. It is very frustrating at times when it is mentioned in passing at reunions and fellow Diggers look at you as if you are trying to embelish your own service for self gratifatation. I have just attended the march in Townsville on Frid. 18-8-06 and it was stated in the Townsville paper that 400+ attended. It was a great ceromeny with a fly over of the old faithfuls (2 Caribu's and 2 Hueys) . Just my thoughts,
DUKE

Hey Mr Fawlty...how can i contact you. Like to have a 'chin wag' some time..I did the same tasks over there with Sgt Hobbs. Cheers Mate
"up the mighty Red Roosters"

Very interesting Long Tan program on ABC Melb. TV this afternoon (20AUG06) in which many of the surviving main players on both sides were interviewed, including the commander of D445. Apparently made a few years ago.

Good on you Mr Fawlty and all those others who have put their lives on the line for their country.

"I was a tunnel rat." That is not a job I could have done, ever.

Regards

Pete

I can relate to those experiences of long ago too.

My "Birthday marble" came up and I duly registered and would have gone without any argument, being young and carefree at the time.

Because I was an apprentice at the time though, I received an Indefinite Deferment.
Still have the document tucked away in my kit somewhere.

I feel both saddened and angry when I heard of the treatment given to our blokes when they returned from the conflict, by ignorant people of "alternative ideals".