Long Tan Day or Vietnam Veterans Day
The Veterans and their families and friends visit Pandanus Park for
a number of reasons but most importantly they visit to remember their
fallen mates on
Vietnam Veterans Day, the 18th August.
The 18th August
is also known
as Long Tan Day in recognition of the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam.
It was on the 18th August 1966 at 3.15pm that the lead
platoon (11 Platoon) of 'D' Company 6RAR encountered a small group of Viet
Cong in the jungle some 5 kilometres from the main base for the 1st
Australian Task Force (1ATF) at Nui Dat. Following that contact the patrol
continued to pursue the fleeing enemy until at around 4.08pm that day the
main body of 275 Regiment of the Viet Cong was encountered resulting in a
large and vicious battle being fought in pouring rain and fading light.
The battle was close fought with platoon weapons and artillery from the
nearby Nui Dat Base firing in support of the Australian forces.
As the battle raged close air support was called for but could not be used
due to the weather and appalling visibility. However two No. 9 Squadron RAAF
Iroquois helicopters which had been at Nui Dat ferrying a concert party were
diverted to fly in at tree top level in pouring
rain to deliver much needed boxes of ammunition for the ground based troops.
'D' Company continued the contact until, with artillery support,
they turned the battle in their favour though the Viet Cong continued to
fight and manoeuvre in the hope of gaining the ascendancy. Meanwhile 'A'
Company of 6RAR had been ordered into the battle to support their fellow
diggers. As they moved in using amoured personnel carriers (APC's) they
encountered a substantial enemy force whom they pursued yet still the Viet
Cong continued the battle with machine guns, rifle and mortar fire whilst
attempting to regroup, But with light fading and 'A' Company arriving to
reinforce the beleaguered 'D' Company the Viet Cong chose to disperse into
the jungle. As night fell the Australians dug-in and began to evacuate their
wounded using APC lighting to guide the No. 9 Squadron dustoff
helicopters.
Under cover of darkness the Viet Cong then began to
remove their dead and wounded though this task was not completed for the
following morning the Australians located 245 Viet Cong bodies, the remains
of what was estimated to be a 2500 strong force.
The Viet Cong
force, it is assumed, were originally planning to launch an attack in force
on the 1 ATF base at Nui Dat.
The Australians lost 18 killed, 17
were from 'D' Company (including the platoon commander of the platoon that
first encountered the Viet Cong) whilst one was lost from the 1st APC
Squadron. In addition 24 Australians were wounded.
This battle was a
pivotal engagement during the Australian involvement in Vietnam and as such
has been chosen as the Vietnam Veterans Day, the day when all Vietnam
Veterans pause to remember their fallen and wounded mates from that war. At
Pandanus Park we pause for a short service at the Pandanus Park War Memorial
at 0700hrs.
We remember those who served, especially those who are
no longer with us.
On active service in Phuoc Thuy province,
Vietnam
Sunset over the dustoff Pad at Nui Dat