Vietnam veterans recall Battle of Long Tan at anniversary service

VIETNAM veterans gathered at Ballina RSL to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, with local reverends Richard Brown and Graeme Davis recalling their experiences in the war.

Reverend Davis was one of the 24 wounded Australian soldiers in the battle on August 18, 1966. He and Reverend Brown took part in a service and wreath-laying ceremony on Monday.

Brown was wounded on his second tour of Vietnam before becoming an Army chaplain.

He now lives in Ballina, while Davis returned home to Lismore and has held several veteran support roles in the region.

“There is a lot more empty chairs each year, but it’s important that we keep it going,” Davis said.

“We were only 21 at the time and now we’re here as 80-year-olds.

“Geoff Vidal is a reverend at Alstonville, and he was in another squad over there, too, so there is a few of us still getting around.”

The Battle of Long Tan saw a small Australian force of 108 men from D Company, 6RAR, and three New Zealand artillerymen face an estimated 2000 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.

Davis was hit in the shoulder, while 18 soldiers died in the battle.

He read prayers at the Ballina service and said he is looking forward to the 60-year anniversary next year.

Brown recalled being sent into a rubber plantation to track down a mortar crew who the night before had fired on the Australians’ base at Nui Dat.

He described the deafening sound of gunfire, mortars, artillery shells and enemy bugles.

A torrential downpour hit during the battle, reducing visibility and creating confusion.

“We had to form a circle to establish some kind of control, we had no idea who was where or what was going on at first,” Brown said.

The arrival of more troops and the dimming light led the enemy to withdraw.

Both men have been advocates for veteran support in the region for several years.

“Survivor’s guilt was very prominent and there were the effects of agent orange, too,” Davis said.

“We were told post traumatic stress was something we made up and was all in our minds.

“We had battles on that front through the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

“We were told we weren’t real soldiers.

“I always made the promise that we wouldn’t let that happen to the next generation.”

Davis has been president of the Vietnam Veterans Association Lismore Sub-Branch and chaplain of the Vietnam Veterans Federation Far North Coast Sub-Branch.

He was awarded the OAM for service to veterans and their families in 2016.