THE battle of Long Tan may have been 44 years ago, but the fight for recognition for Australian soldiers who fought in the bloody conflict continues.Buninyong RSL member and Long Tan soldier Bill Akell said while he was happy about the Federal Government's decision yesterday to approve additional awards for those who fought at Long Tan, the battle for recognition for 12 soldiers from the conflict would go on."The book of Long Tan remains open until approval is given for the 12 individual awards,'' Mr Akell said.Governor-General Quentin Bryce yesterday approved additional awards for the soldiers of Delta Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Mr Akell was a member of the regiment and will receive a unit citation for gallantry. On August 18, 1966, 108 soldiers of Delta Company defeated a North Vietnamese force of between 1500 and 2500 troops. Eighteen from Delta Company died. "There are still 12 more awards to be handed out that were initially recommended in 1966. But a quota of awards were allocated to every unit before they even left Australia (for the Vietnam War). Because of this quota a lot of soldiers missed out,'' Mr Akell said.Delta Company's commander Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith raised the issue of individual acts of bravery from Long Tan after the battle, but was told to reduce the list. When the official list of bravery awards was announced after several submissions by Lt Col Smith, 12 soldiers still missed out on honours. Mr Akell is one of the soldiers nominated to receive a military medal. Instead, he was given a mention in dispatches."Today, 44 years after Long Tan, Harry Smith is still fighting that battle for those soldiers. He's like a terrier and will not let go until these 12 soldiers are recognised,'' Mr Akell said."Delta Company is proud of any recognition, but the chapter of the Long Tan battle is not closed."Yesterday's approval for additional awards follows an inquiry in 2009 by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal into unresolved issues relating to medals awarded to those who fought at Long Tan.However, there were persistent complaints that participants were not adequately recognised under the then Imperial honours system.