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SUNRAYSIA’S Vietnam Veterans were honoured during a brief yet emotional commemoration service at the Seventh Street Memorial on Thursday.

The commemoration also marked the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of the last of Australia’s combat elements from Vietnam, and the 56th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

Mildura RSL president Paul McDermott also acknowledged the Battle of Long Tan as a “significant moment” in the Australian efforts in Vietnam where Australian soldiers fought one of their fiercest battles of the war at a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan.

“An isolated infantry, Delta Company, 6th Battalion with 105 men, were cut off and heavily outnumbered by 2500 North and Vietnamese troops near the village of Long Tan,” Mr McDermott said.

“At day’s end, we lost 18 Australians who died and 25 were wounded with the enemy forces suffering 245 (losses).

“This was the largest number of casualties in a single operation since the Australia base was established in April the previous year.”

But Mr McDermott laments the harsh treatment of those who returned from Vietnam who received no universal embrace after arriving back on home soil.

“I find it disappointing that not more of our Vietnam Veterans haven’t made the effort to join us in today’s commemoration, however I understand their unwillingness to be here today,” he said.”I consider the woeful, outrageous reception we received on return from active service to be the root cause.”

Mr McDermott said the day was about commemorating all battles fought by our Australian Army and New Zealand Army in Vietnam, as well as the Royal Australian Army which supported land operations and the Royal Australian Air Force that served in combat.

About 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War with 521 lives lost.

Article written by: Allan Murphy

Article provided by The Sunraysia Daily
https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au