Fed: Gov General pays tribute to Vietnam vets

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2006
Fed: Gov General pays tribute to Vietnam vets

CANBERRA, Aug 18 AAP - The governor-general has paid tribute to veterans of Australia's
bloodiest battle in the Vietnam war.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan in which 108 Australian soldiers
fought a Viet Cong force that outnumbered them 10 to one.

The battle, in torrential rain in a rubber plantation south east of Saigon, left 18
Australians dead and 24 wounded.

August 18 is now Australia's annual Vietnam Veterans Day.

Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery, himself a veteran of the war, has told
a service at the Australian War Memorial that Long Tan displayed the best characteristics
of Australian soldiers.

"This epic struggle reinforced traits for which Australian soldiers have become world-renowned
- courage and determination, mateship and teamwork, leadership and tenacity, compassion
and humour," he said.

"It further reinforced our international reputation as a skilled exponent of the profession
of arms."

In parliament yesterday, Prime Minister John Howard said Australia had "collectively
failed" to give adequate recognition to the 50,000 Australians who fought in the unpopular
war.

Major General Jeffery today added his voice, saying it was "to our country's shame"

that it did not recognise its Vietnam veterans until the national welcome home parade
in 1987.

"We honour those who did not return and those who returned hurt in body or mind," he said.

"None should ever be forgotten. None will be forgotten, nor indeed will the families
and loved ones who supported us."

The Governor-General told the hundreds of veterans who attended the war memorial they
should be proud of their service.

"Be proud of what you achieved and hold your heads high in the knowledge that you were
the equal of the very best that ever went away to serve our nation, from the Boer War
to the present day, and that you did indeed make a difference," Major General Jeffery
said.

"Let us never forget."

The main Vietnam Veterans Day commemorative service will be held at the Vietnam War
Memorial in Canberra from 10am (AEST) and will be attended by Mr Howard.

AAP rp/cjh

KEYWORD: LONG TAN JEFFERY

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