Cardwell RSL To Commemorate Veterans Day

On Monday, the 18th of August, we commemorate the 59th anniversary of a battle between North Vietnamese and Australian Army soldiers. The result was at least 245 Vietnamese Soldiers killed, 18 Aussies killed, and 39 wounded. Those who survived the battle agree that without the Australian, United States and in particular the New Zealand Artillery, the Australian casualties would have been much higher.

There were many other battles during the 10-year war (1962 – 1972), but the Battle of Long Tan was the one that cost Australia the most casualties. Eventually, 521 Aussies paid the ultimate sacrifice in the jungles of South Vietnam, and approximately 3,000 were wounded out of a total force of 61,000.

Like those who used to gather to remember their comrades after the First World War, then the 2nd World War, the Korean War, and the Malayan Emergency. Long Tan Day or Vietnam Veterans Day will eventually morph into Veterans Day, and it is the fervent wish of all Veterans that other young men will never again be selected by birthday lottery to serve in another bloody war.

LEST WE FORGET

Contributed by Robert Lang, President of the Cardwell RSL Sub Branch