Posted on 08/17/2016 3:16:07 PM PDT by naturalman1975
Vietnamese authorities have agreed to allow restricted access to the Long Tan site after negotiations with the Australian Government overnight.
Access to the site is being limited to groups of 100 people or fewer.
The Federal Government's Smart Traveller website advises that any visitors to the Battle of Long Tan site cannot wear medals or uniforms, carry banners or make speeches.
The Vietnamese Government said the commemoration ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary remained cancelled.
Veterans' Affairs Minister Dan Tehan, who yesterday described the last-minute cancellation as "a kick in the guts", said he was glad for the reprieve.
"The Prime Minister appealed to the Vietnamese Prime Minister to understand and empathise with the Australian veterans and their families who have travelled to Vietnam," he said.
Mr Tehan said more than 1,000 Australians had travelled to Vietnam to mark the anniversary.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...
“After clashing with a Viet Cong squad in the afternoon and forcing them to withdraw, the Australians were engaged by small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a flank. Numbering only 108 men, D Company was facing a much larger force. Pinned down, they called for artillery as a monsoon rain began, reducing visibility. Heavy fighting ensued as the advancing battalions of the Viet Cong 275th Regiment attempted to encircle and destroy the Australians. After several hours D Company was nearly out of ammunition, when two UH-1B Iroquois from No. 9 Squadron RAAF arrived overhead to resupply them. Heavily outnumbered but supported by strong artillery fire, D Company held off a regimental assault before a relief force of cavalry and infantry from Nui Dat fought their way through as darkness fell and forced the Viet Cong to withdraw just as they appeared to be preparing for a final assault. Withdrawing to establish a landing zone to evacuate their casualties, the Australians formed a defensive position overnight.
“Returning in strength the next day, the Australians swept the area and located a large number of Viet Cong dead. Although initially believing they had suffered a major defeat, as the scale of the Viet Cong’s losses were revealed the Australians realised they had actually won a significant victory. Over the next two days they continued to clear the battlefield, uncovering more dead as they did so. Yet with 1 ATF lacking the resources to pursue the withdrawing force, the operation ended on 21 August. Eighteen Australians were killed and 24 wounded, while the Viet Cong lost at least 245 dead. A decisive Australian victory, Long Tan proved a major local setback for the Viet Cong, indefinitely forestalling an imminent movement against Nui Dat. Although there were other large-scale encounters in later years, 1 ATF was not fundamentally challenged again. The battle established the task force’s dominance over the province, and allowed it to pursue operations to restore government authority.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Tan
Where has Western Civilization found such men in the past? From whom could they have learned such courage and bravery? Is there to be found in our age a fountain from which our children could drink so deeply as to allow us to relinquish the standard to which we ourselves have done such poor service?
Lol
The problem is, the Communists could afford to lose 245 dead, while every Aussie killed weakened the Australian population's willingness to stay in the war.
You would think the AFT would kick in their doors, then burn them to death, just like WACO.
Given the Australians are more likely to support the vietnamese if the go up against the PRC, i would think the vietnamese wouldn’t act like a bunch of arrogant assholes.
Pleased to hear this for the sake of your veterans.
...ping....
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