VIETNAM was Australia’s longest conflict of the 20th century. For Australia, it began in 1962 when 30 members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam arrived in South Vietnam to provide military training to local units.
Australian forces fought in the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral in 1967 and the Battle of Binh Ba in 1969.
Australia’s participation in the war was formally declared over in January 1973, but elements of the RAAF remained until 1975 assisting with evacuation operations.
By the end of the war some 60,000 personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had served.
Some 521 Australians died, and 3,000 were wounded.
Veterans, their families and friends mark Vietnam Veterans Day on August 18 at:
Services will be held tomorrow, Saturday, at RSL that include:
- Beaudesert RSL: Service at Palm Gardens, Beaudesert at 11am
- Greenbank RSL: Service in the memorial garden, at 11am
- Beenleigh RSL: Service in the memorial garden, 5.30pm
