7 years ago
VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
THE HON AMANDA RISHWORTH MP
Today we commemorate Vietnam Veterans’ Day and 51 years since the Battle of Long Tan.
One of the most significant battles of the Vietnam War for Australian Forces, Australia lost 18 lives and 24 wounded during the Battle of Long Tan alone.
Australia contributed near 60,000 ground troops, air force and navy personnel to the Vietnam War between 1962-1975 and lost 521 lives and over 3,000 wounded.
This year we remember 50 years since Australia’s contributions in Operation Bribie and the completion of Operation Ulmarra.
Operation Bribie was a fierce battle and one of the closest the Australians came to defeat in a major battle in Vietnam, in which we lost eight lives and over 27 wounded.
Today we remember and pay honour to the service of all those men and women who served in Vietnam.
It is important to recognise the hard truth of those times, the Vietnam War took a heavy toll on our nation with far too many Australians sent into the Vietnam conflict and shunned on their return.
Today we honour and respect the sacrifice and service of those who fought in Vietnam, we are reminded of the continuing duty we owe to support every generation of service men and women and their families.