The Vietnam veterans service will be at Memorial Park. Michael Borg (insert). Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith residents have been asked to show their appreciation for Australian troops who served in the Vietnam War, by attending a short service at Griffith Memorial Park at 4:30 pm on 18 August.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day takes place on the anniversary of the 1966 Battle of Long Tan, a conflict at a rubber plantation that resulted in 17 Australians losing their lives.
Michael Borg, an RSL member who served in Timor, said there needs to be more gratitude for those who risked their lives and endured such trauma during the decade-long conflict in South-East Asia.
“We need to attend these events,” he said. “More than 500 Australians died in Vietnam. We should be honouring these guys … I really want to get more young people involved.”
The Vietnam War was a conflict between communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam, who were backed by the United States, Australia and New Zealand, among others. The stated objective for supporting the South Vietnamese was to prevent the further spread of communism into Asia.
In total, about 60,000 Australians — ground troops, air force and naval personnel — served in South Vietnam between 1962 and 1972. At least 521 died as a result of the war and more than 3,000 were wounded.
“People need to read about the Battle of Long Tan. It was savage. One moment [a solider] would be standing there next to their friend, the next moment their friend would be gone,” Mr Borg said.
An exhibition will be at Griffith War Memorial Museum Inc. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
It was during a late afternoon on 18 August, 1966 that Major Harry Smith led 108 mostly young and inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers against an enemy force of 2,500 North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong (a guerrilla force of South Vietnamese who supported the North). The bravery and sacrifice of these Australians is now commemorated each year on this date.
The anniversary service will be attended by Hank Veenhuizen, president of the Griffith RSL Sub Branch, who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.
“In the past, just a few veterans have attended … but the general public is welcome to come along,” he said.
The harrowing August conflict also led to the establishment of the Long Tan Bursary in support of Vietnam veterans.
Each year, 37 bursaries are awarded to the children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans, providing education support and helping them to acquire qualifications in their chosen careers.
More information on the Long Tan Bursary, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, can be found on the Long Tan Bursary page of the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Vietnam veterans will also be remembered via the Griffith War Memorial Museum Inc.’s Vietnam displays on Friday 19 August (10 am to 2 pm) and Saturday 20 August (11 am to 3 pm). Audio-visual material, such as a sound CD, a documentary DVD about Long Tan and a compilation of super 8mm film clips, donated by a local Vietnam veteran, will be part of the special exhibition.
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