By Capt Paul Stanton
THIRTY-six years ago the Battle of Long Tan was waged in South Vietnam.

In this encounter in a Long Tan rubber plantation near the 1ATF base at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province, the heavily-outnumbered Australians vanquished Viet Cong formations comprising the D445 Battalion and elements of the 5 VC Div. D Coy, 6RAR, distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations against an opposing armed force.

6RAR members gathered at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane in August, to commemorate the battle.

The celebrating padre, Maj Robert Brown, was employed as a forward scout during the battle.

“Using coded bugle blasts, the enemy attacked on three sides and at one stage the friendly artillery fire was landing 25m in front of our own positions,” he said.

“Each successive assault was repelled by the Australian troops and all hopes of air support were destroyed with the heavy monsoonal rain.”

After more than three hours of continual savage attacks the enemy withdrew from the battlefield carrying many dead and wounded but leaving behind 245 dead Viet Cong on the forward pits of the D Coy position.

D Coy, 6RAR, was awarded the US Presidential Citation for its outstanding action during the battle of Long Tan.

The day’s commemoration was attended by the Commander 1 Div, Maj-Gen Mark Evans, Commander 7 Bde Brig Richard Wilson and all ranks of 6RAR.

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