Fed: Vietnam veterans honoured in Long Tan Day

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2004
Fed: Vietnam veterans honoured in Long Tan Day

The thousands of Australians who served in the Vietnam War will be honoured today in
services marking Long Tan Day.

There'll be low-key ceremonies across the nation for the national Vietnam veterans' day.

The Battle of Long Tan remains the single best remembered event of Australia's involvement
in Vietnam.

It was fought on August the 18th, 1966 when drastically outnumbered Australian soldiers
fought a fierce battle against Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation.

Eighteen Australians were killed and 24 wounded.

Commemorations will include two helicopters flying over south-east Queensland as parades
and a church service mark the anniversary.

In Sydney, NSW Governor MARIE BASHIR will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph
in Martin Place.

A group of Long Tan veterans gathered in Canberra yesterday for the launch of a new
book on the battle.

AAP RTV rp/ea/

KEYWORD: LONGTAN (CANBERRA)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.