FED:Vietnam War changed Australia, PM says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2011
FED:Vietnam War changed Australia, PM says

By Max Blenkin, AAP Defence Correspondent

CANBERRA, Aug 18 AAP - Australia is a different nation because of the Vietnam war,
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Across Australia, veterans, family, friends and many others are marking Vietnam Veterans
Remembrance Day, held on the anniversary of Australia's signature action - the Battle
of Long Tan on August 18, 1966.

Ms Gillard said Vietnam was Australia's longest war but returning veterans were treated
with shame.

In all 60,000 served, many against their will by the casting of lots.

"We are a different nation because of Vietnam. We are a different nation than if those
men had stayed at home and worked and married and built their lives," she said.

"But we don't always get to choose. History and circumstance sometimes choose for us.

What counts is our response."

Vietnam veteran Bill Rolfe says for those in the field, every night involved picket
duty in the certain knowledge that the lives of mates were in your hands.

"It was hard service and it demanded endurance and sacrifice and created that bond
between men that flows from hardship and looking out for your mates," he told veterans
gathered in Canberra.

In Canberra, Ms Gillard, Opposition leader Tony Abbott, Governor-General Quentin Bryce
and her predecessor Major General Michael Jeffery joined veterans at the Vietnam War national
memorial.

However, the main national event was set to be a parade conducted at 6RAR's Enoggera
Barracks in Brisbane where Ms Bryce was to present a belated unit citation to Long Tan
veterans recognising their extraordinary gallantry that day 45 years ago.

In that battle, more than 100 members of Delta company, 6RAR stood against an estimated
2500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. Eighteen Australians died while the enemy
death toll has been put as high as 800.

No Long Tan veterans attended the service in Canberra, with all able to travel heading
to Brisbane for the major service at their old barracks.

But there were plenty of veterans. One was former Sergeant Kevin McMillan who served
two tours in Vietnam in 6RAR and in the Australian Army Training Team from 1969-71 and
now actually lives in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

He says the unit citation, to be presented in Brisbane, is some fitting recognition
of what his 6RAR predecessors experienced.

"A long time has gone past now but lots of things are never forgotten. It's a reminder
of what went on during and after the war," he said.

"I look back on it and think - a message to all Australians and governments - don't
forget the young men and women who are coming behind us and will be in the future."

AAP mb/bwl/jsh

KEYWORD: LONG TAN (PIX AND VIDEO AVAILABLE)

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