Vietnam Veterans Day gifts supplies and resources at farmers market online

Vietnam Veterans Day at Cameron Corner

The battle of Long Tan was a defining event in Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. On 18 August 1966, a rifle company of 108 men, cut off and outnumbered by at least ten to one, withstood repeated, massed Viet Cong attacks for four hours. The bravery and tenacity of the Australian soldiers became legendary.

The "D company" became only the second army unit in Australian military history to be awarded a United States Presidential unit citation.

World Youth Demographics

An account of the battle, published in the Stawell Times News, details the sequence of events.

Just before 4pm, moving through a rubber plantation north of Long Tan, 11th Platoon encountered a small detachment of Viet Cong.

Within minutes, 11th Platoon found itself virtually surrounded and pinned down by intense enemy mortar, machine gun and rifle fire. To make matters worse, the afternoon monsoonal rain came down in torrents, reducing visibility.

Despite a supporting artillery barrage from Nui Dat, 11th Platoon was unable to extricate itself from the position and it seemed like only a matter of time before it might be over-run.

Major Smith commanding D Company, ordered 10th Platoon forward to assist, but heavy fire forced the soldiers to ground and they were unable to reach their comrades.

Smith then ordered 12th Platoon around the side of the action, but it was also attacked, along with Smith's own headquarters.

An attempted air support strike failed due to the rain and low cloud and ammunition was running low. Smith realised his entire company was in imminent danger of annihilation.

Continued

U.S. Vietnam Veterans Day

As of 2008, six U.S. states -- Minnesota Tennessee, New York, Mississippi, Georgia and New Mexico -- had designated March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. The last U.S. troops left South Vietnam on that day in 1973.