Vietnam Veteran’s Day is synonymous with Long Tan Day, a significant battle Australian soldiers fought near the village of Long Tan. Spanning for over a decade from 1962, almost 60,000 Australian soldiers served during the Vietnam War.
Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War saw the National Service Act introduced; a scheme of selective conscription designed to create an army of 40,000 soldiers, many of which were sent to serve in Vietnam.
Over 500 Australians were killed and over 3,000 were wounded while in service in Vietnam. Whilst over 30,000 Australian Soldiers returned home in the 70s, it wasn’t until 1987 that Vietnam Veterans received a welcome home parade.
Each year we commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day on the 18th of August to pay our respects to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers that fought over 2,000 North Vietnamese troops in the Battle of Long Tan.
2023 will mark the 57th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.