Written in partnership with awardwinning journalist toni mcrae, long tan a lifelong battle is also harrys life story and portrays his many personal battles, from failed marriages to commandostyle killing. Heroism, tragedy and the sacrifice of battle, long tan is a grueling and dramatic exploration of war with all its horror, that will rightly take its place alongside war classics such as gallipoli. Looking to the west towards the 1st australian task force base across the rubber plantation near the village long tan left out of frame, south east of ho chi minh city saigon where, on the afternoon of 18 august 1966 the battle of long tan was fought, between my company, d company of 6 battalion royal australian regiment 6rar only numbering 108 against elements of the 5th vc division. They thought that, if they were lucky, they were closing in. Australian soldiers in vietnam were part of the yankee genocidal extermination force which invaded vietnam for no good reason other than on a theory of the domino can expect to go into their former foes country without let or hindrance to celebra. Two viet cong prisoners are led to an arvn command outpost at ha tien. Vietnam war slang was particularly interesting as it has origins dating back to world war ii, the korean war, and even french, chinese, and filipino origin terms.
A compelling account of australias bloodiest and most significant battle of the vietnam war, in time for the battles 50th anniversary. After attacks on their base at nui dat, 108 men from d company of 6rar were patrolling in the area of the long tan rubber plantation. In the short but pointed section dealing with vietnam, the statistics surrounding the infantry from down under should raise some eyebrows, as should the original issuance of just five 20round magazines per soldier until the battle of long tan on aug. New book by long tan commander harry smith battle of. On that day in 1966, 105 australian soldiers and three new zealand forward artillery observers faced 2,500 viet cong and north vietnamese army guerrillas in a. The battle of long tan the story a true story of 108 young and ordinary anzac boys who fought and defeated 2,500 viet cong and north vietnamese army soldiers and in turn became extraordinary men. Battle of long tan peter harvey 60 minutes vietnam war forgotten heroes. A compelling account of australias bloodiest and most significant battle of the vietnam war, in time for the battles 50th anniversary, by criticallyacclaimed war writer david cameron. It is an amazing story of bravery and courage in a ferocious battle between australian troops and nva and viet cong soldiers in the rubber plantation of long tan during the vietnam war. It was broadcast on august 2006, a few days prior to the premiere of my award. A slew of war memoirs stand with the best writing of that genre. Excellent history of long tan and the overall struggle the diggers went through i read another account of the battle just as gripping and enthralling a story of typical australian soldiers grit and determination against all odds. Nui dat is situated to the ne of the then and now city of ba ria in the heart of viet cong territory. David cameron has been acclaimed for writing definitive history books about australias gallipoli campaign.
One day, i get into a bar wanting to get a beer, turns out the establishment is a return servicrman club rsl, inside was a display, inside was photo and memorabilia from vietnam war. Vietnam veteran and linguist ernie chamberlain has recently written and privatelypublished a book that would certainly interest all who served in phuoc tuy province during the vietnam war. Thus this is a minute by minute account of the happenings during the battle of long tan 18th of august 1966. The battle of long tan australias four hours of hell in vietnam by david cameron. The vietnamese, however, may have suffered well over 500 casualties. New book by harry smith lifts lid on long tan conspiracy.
The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan, in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam during the vietnam war. The battle of long tan took place on 18 august 1966 in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam during the vietnam war between viet cong and north vietnamese. Anger as vietnam cancels event marking 50 years since. Remembering long tan, australias costliest vietnam battle. Harry smiths medals are displayed in the long tan display in the vietnam gallery at the australian war memorial. Vietnam veterans day, celebrated in australia on 18 august each year, commemorates the battle of long tan and those australians who served during the vietnam war and is an opportunity. With this book, david ventured into the reality of being able to talk to the veterans who were actually present at the battle. With travis fimmel, toby blome, alexander england, aaron glenane. In the days after the three savage hours that was the battle of long tan, his soldiers were finding body parts, carnage and corpses spread across the battlefield. I was too bloody busy to be frightened the defining battle of the vietnam war is now the subject of the film danger close.
The battle of long tan in a rubber plantation in south vietnam in 1966 could have been an australian military disaster, but is instead remembered as a decisive victory. Australian troops fought one of their bloodiest, most significant battles of the vietnam war. This intervention would become one of the most divisive decisions in u. The official name of the holiday is vietnam veterans day, but many aussies still call it long tan day after the location of australias bloodiest battle since the korean war. The battle on 18 august 1966, involving 105 australians and three new zealanders from d company 6rar, is regarded as one of the fiercest clashes.
The battle was one of the heaviest conflicts of the vietnam war as well as one the few battles in the recorded history of the world to be won against such odds. Click to see all battle of long tan danger close books. Col harry smith sg mc retd, former officer commanding of delta company, 6rar during the battle of long tan has released his own book. But then to read how his unit was denied many of their awards was disheartening and a total disgrace to the australian army. For the viet cong, this was to be a master strokeannihilate the soldiers of two nations, forcing australia and new zealand to withdraw from vietnam. Those in direct command of delta company share their memories of the most significant battle fought by australians in vietnam, the battle of long tan 18th august 1966. The action was fought between viet cong vc and peoples army of vietnam pavn units and elements of the 1st australian task force 1 atf. After supplies and weapons were found in a viet cong tunnel network, a soldier burns a nearby hut used for rice storage by the viet cong.
Battle of long tan documentary vietnam war narrated by. The australians had arrived at nui dat four months earlier to open up the province. Many authors have dwelt on the politics of why we were sent to vietnam. The other contributors to this book harry smith, geoff kendall, bob buick, dave sabben, morrie stanley, and adrian roberts are commanders actively involved in the battle who. Much has been written about the battle of long tan by others. Fifty years after the battle of long tan, the truth is. The battle of long tan lasted just four hours on august 18 in. Mcaulays book was the first major study of the most important battle fought by australian and nz forces in the early years of the war in vietnam, and it has.
During the vietnam war, 108 australian soldiers stood against some 1,500 to 2,500 vietnamese forces near the village of long tan. In his book, all guts and no glory, long tan vet bob buick was adamant that there was no ambush. Late afternoon august 18, 1966 south vietnam for three and a half hours, in the pouring rain, amid the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called long tan, major harry smith and his dispersed company of 108 young and mostly inexperienced australian and new zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives, holding off an overwhelming enemy force of 2,500 battle hardened viet cong. On august 18, 1966, d company 6 rar battalion, consisting of 105 australian, along with a threeman new zealand artillery team, entered the long tan rubber plantations.
The truth about the battle that came to define our vietnam war from the men who were there. A brief account sourced from george odgers, diggers. The commander at the helm of the historical and bloody battle of long tan has welcomed the addition of an unsung hero of the vietnam war to the list of. And as australia today remembers the battle of long tan, the nations bloodiest moment in the vietnam war, it is by no means exempt from blame for the suffering on display here. Battle of long tan peter harvey 60 minutes vietnam war. When the battle was over, the australians had lost 18 men, while another 24 were wounded. Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict. Company sergeant major wo2 jack kirby, d coy 6rar on the morning after the battle of long tan. The defining battle of the vietnam war is now the subject of the film danger. The action was fought between australian forces and viet cong and north vietnamese units after 108 men from d company, 6th battalion, royal australian regiment 6 rar clashed with a force of 1,500 to 2,500 from the viet cong 275th regiment. Battle of long tan blog a true story of ordinary boys.
Danger close battle of long tan 1966 seen the acclaimed motion picture danger close see trailer below now read the book. Australian army and the vietnam war, 195066 official history of australias involvement in southeast. Remembrance services were held across australia today for vietnam veterans day. These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction. I gone over to the display and look, it saids long tan, 1966 battle of long tan, may not be familiarised with by the people outside australia. Included with that is the rich pidgin vietnameseenglish. Other australian forces were located at a logistics base at vung tau on the coast to the sw.
Robert grandin was a helicopter pilot and in this book describes the key role the helicopters played in supplying the men directly involved in the battle of long tan. So i was pleasantly surprised by this book about long tan, a battle that is little known outside australia though its anniversary is australian vietnam veterans day but which demonstrated the courage and ability of the aussies didnt end with ww2. The battle of long tan 2019 in august 1966, in a vietnamese rubber plantation called long tan, 108 young and inexperienced australian and new zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives against 2500 north vietnamese and viet cong soldiers. Official website of the battle of long tan which took place on 18 august 1966 during the vietnam war. The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan, in phu. See more ideas about vietnam, vietnam war and vietnam war photos.
The battle of long tan lasted just one afternoon, but it came to symbolise australias 10year. Australian soldiers during the battle of long tan in vietnam. As featured in the vietnam years kindle edition by michael caulfield author. In august 1966, in a vietnamese rubber plantation called long tan, 108 young and inexperienced australian and new zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives against 2500 north vietnamese and viet cong soldiers.
Ironically, on june 26, 2004, 38 years after the battle of long tan, the australian government agreed to let the 22 veterans of battle of long tan to accept the medals of gallantry once offered by the south vietnam which now has ceased to exist click on white thumbnail pic for media release from aussie governor general. So i was pleasantly surprised by this book about long tan, a battle that is little known outside australia though its anniversary is australian vietnam veterans. While out on patrol, delta company of 6rar, originally numbering just 105 australians and three new zealanders, collided with. My deepest respect for all the fallen and survivors of that day worthy of the anzac name and vietnams war that they fought in so well and did not receive all the. Tmp the battle of long tan and the vietnam war topic. I stayed in the army and continued to collect terms from the vietnam war.
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