Vietnam veterans duly honoured for the first time

VETERANS of the Vietnam war and their families will mark their Remembrance Day today in the knowledge that, for the first time, those who led Australia's bloodiest battle of the war have been duly honoured.Today, retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith will be awarded the Star of Gallantry, Australia's second highest decoration for bravery, for his leadership as company commander in the Battle of Long Tan. Platoon commanders Lieutenants David Sabbens and Geoff Kendall will be awarded the Medal of Gallantry for their respective roles.The other 100 men of D Company 6RAR have been recognised with unit citations. The decorations mark the end of a four-decade battle for proper recognition for those involved _ recognition first recommended in the immediate aftermath of the battle on August 18, 1966.For reasons that remain unclear today, the recommendations weren't accepted by the Australian government of the day. Certainly, opposition to the war back home would have played a role.However, 42 years on, an independent review recommended the awards were deserved.Long Tan saw Australian soldiers pitted against some 2000 regular North Vietnamese troops and Vietcong guerillas.When the fighting was over, 18 Australians were dead and 19 were wounded. The bodies of more than 250 Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers were recovered from the battlefield, while another 250 are believed to have been killed.It certainly wasn't Australia's biggest foray into combat, and it was far from the bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War, but that doesn't diminish the courage and the worthiness of those who were there.They, as much as any other Australian soldier in any other conflict, deserve recognition for what they did that day to save themselves and their mates.Harry Smith, David Sabbens and Geoff Kendall will graciously accept their decorations on behalf of their company colleagues. As Mr Smith, now 75, said last week: ``I've never asked for anything for myself, but I'm very pleased to accept it on behalf of the actions of my soldiers.''The decorations mean that, at long last, the veterans can put the battle for recognition behind them.