Veterans across the country have been remembered 51 years after Australia’s withdrawal from the Vietnam War.
A crowd of around 250 people that included Eurobodalla Mayor, Mathew Hatcher, gathered at the Vets Memorial in Batemans Bay on Sunday (August 18) to remember the service and sacrifice of the nearly 60,000 who served in Vietnam.
“It was great to see so many turn out to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day on the anniversary of Long Tan and it was a beautiful tribute to the men and women who served for Australia in Vietnam,” Cr Hatcher said.
“As usual the Batemans Bay RSL organised fantastic speakers who reminded us that freedom does come with a price, and behalf of council and the community I’d like to say thank you to all the men and women in the armed services as well as their families for making the ultimate sacrifice.”
2024 marks 51 years since Australia’s withdrawal from Vietnam War in 1973.
The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
The majority of this deployment comprised army personnel, but significant numbers of air force and navy personnel, and some civilians also took part. During its 11 years of involvement, around 60,000 Australians fought in Vietnam, at a cost of 523 who died and almost 2,400 wounded.
Vietnam veteran Ray James recalled: “I was 17 on my first trip to Vietnam on HMAS Sydney, ferrying troops to and from Vung Tau port.”
“Between 1966 and 1968 I did six trips to Vietnam and a seventh in 1972 on HMAS Torrens. We’d offload 400 or 500 troops, and we’d bring 400 or 500 troops back home. We sailed with equipment, vehicles, and stores.
“Today we honour those veterans who lost their lives during the battles in Vietnam, returned home wounded, ill, or injured, lost their lives in the years since they returned, and still carry the physical and emotional scars of their service since Australia withdrew from the Vietnam War 51 years ago.”
Images: Mathew Hatcher
