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Long Tan - Australia's Vietnam Story
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2023
- Long Tan is such an important part of Australian Military history and so often forgotten. I recommend following this video, you go and listen to 'I Was Only 19' by Redgum.
This video is a lot more serious and sombre. I hope you all enjoy it.
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References:
Andrew Ross, Boh Hall. "‘LANDMARK’BATTLES AND THE MYTHS CF VIETNAM." Anzac's Dirty Dozen: 12 Myths of Australian Military History (2012): 186.
Ascot, Peter. "Frankie's war: for Vietnam veteran Frank Hunt, being immortalised in song is nothing compared to the compassion it has helped generate." Big Issue Australia 252 (2006): 10-12.
Burstall, Terry. "The soldier's story: the battle at Xa Long Tan, Vietnam, 18 August 1966." (1986).
Fett, Michael J., JEAN R. NAIRN, Deirdre M. Cobbin, and Michael A. Adena. "Mortality among Australian conscripts of the Vietnam conflict era. II. Causes of death." American journal of epidemiology 125, no. 5 (1987): 878-884.
Grandin, Robert. The Battle of Long Tan: As Told by the Commanders. Allen & Unwin, 2004.
Gillespie, Christine. "Different rememberings of the Battle of Long Tan." Eureka Street 16, no. 10 (2006): 23-27.
Logan, W. "The Battles of Binh Ba and Long Tan, Vietnam: difficult war heritage and the disconnect between significance and memorialisation." In University of Melbourne Faculty of Architecture and Building symposium ‘Traditionalism, Colonialism, and Modernism: Asian Heritage Transformed, pp. 3-4. 2013.
McAulay, Lex. "The Battle of Long Tan." (No Title) (1988).
Pimlott, John. Vietnam, the Decisive Battles. Macmillan Publishing Company, 1990.
Smith, Harry. "Letters-The long battle after Long Tan." The Australian 10 (2003): 16.
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As an American, I have a huge admiration for our ANZAC brothers across the ocean sticking with us through many conflicts, though I regret that their contributions aren’t as widely known as they should be over here. 🇺🇸🇦🇺🇳🇿
As an American we are taught that we basically fought in Vietnam alone. All our allies are glazed over. Their battles, their stories, their history needs to be remembered. Thank you.
It's no doubt the same about ww1 and ww2 and Korea,... the Balkans, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghan, Syria, and probly Taiwan, when it kicks off.. Y'all don't teach history very well. Sadly that means hundreds of thousands of American troops, especially from ww2 aren't given the recognition they deserve. Their stories remain largely untold. For a country that reveres its troops sacrifice and battles won, it's strange and a bit sad that so many are left out.. Then there's the hundreds of thousands of Aussies and millions of other allied soldiers that have fought alongside y'all for over a century..
The South Vietnamese military is treated as it doesn't exist, so most Americans don't realize the Vietnam war was in fact a civil war, and many South Vietnamese soldiers were killed after they were sent into operations to try and recover the bodies of fallen American servicemen.
@@scottcain3068very much so, though more recently more emphasis has been put on Britain in ww2 though it’s largely still “American won it” in history classes unfortunately
One of the best presentations I have seen. Well done. We must not forget their service and it must be passed on to the young ones
@@williambeisel5686 the irony of WW2 and WW1 was that the US was in an isolationist mood prior to and through the early periods of those wars. In WW2 there was a pro-German fascist movement that started and gained popularity in 1941 called America First. It should all sound way too familiar to people today.
Very powerful-I was in the US Army 53rd Signal Bn and was stationed at Nui-Dat in support of the 1st ATF 104 sigs in 1968. I lived "in the lines" with my Aussie Cousins for 8 months-supported ops in the filed at various FB's The battle of Long Tan broke the PAVN's back in the area-they never again tried to go head on with the Aussies. I have nothing but respect for the Aussies-"Good on ya" my Aussies mates.
I know it's super late but thank you for your service
good man for that PTSD shout out, thats admirable stuff.
My husband was in Vietnam and suffers from ptsd ever since. 😢
My uncle Ian, was a £50 Pound P.O.M that came to Australia in around 1960 and signed up for the Australian Army after being asked to leave Sandhurst a year earlier. So was sent to Nam with the combat engineer's as a junior officer. Being of average height and build he was given the job as a Tunnel Rat. From family folk lore.
Now a bloke of 83, he done well to get to this age.
Hello.I AM AN Australian Vietnam Veteran and I am very Proud of my Service. I am Neville Jones. I served just short of three years during Vietnam conflict as we called it. At God help me in my life. nifty j. Neville Jones.
Thank God for you, all of you.
Thank you for mentioning my fellow KIWI mates from 161 Battery and Capt. Stanly the Fwd. observer. I watched the film Danger Close and felt the KIWI contribution was overlooked in that. This documentary seems to have got the story right this time. I know that all of us who have served in the New Zealand Army feel proud that we were there and able to help our fellow ANZACs at a time when they needed us.
Thank you so much for your comment
Mate we love our kiwi brothers
Friend,
I do not question how you feel about the Danger Close portrayal of the Kiwi Gunners - but please be happy in the knowledge that I love that film, and the absolute determination of the Gun Bunnies.
I believe the way the big DC was absolutely focussed, and the speed at which he and the Gunners were shown to react to the Call for Fire was really good.
Remember that Gunners never get the glory - only the blame. Except when the troops in contact know they're really in trouble.
Ubique means that warnin’ grunt the perished linesman knows, When o’er ’is strung an’ sufferin’ front the shrapnel sprays ’is foes; An’ as their firin’ dies away the ’usky whisper runs
From lips that ’ave n’t drunk all day: “The Guns! Thank Gawd, the Guns!”
UBIQUE
Sadly the movie portrayed Capt Stanley as a weak willed, ditherer. Which in truth couldn’t be further from the truth - this unwarranted character assassination ruined the movie.
@alanbrooke144 Now there's a real Gunner name...
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
From a humble and grateful PommIe, great video.
You packed a hell of a lot into twenty minutes - I laughed out loud hearing about Private Mellor, and I wept with everyone else at the final roll call.
Damn, i was hoping I wouldn't cry. The roll call got me. Thank you for remembering the real cost of war.
On a less sober note, i did catch the opening of 'I was only 19'. Maybe you should do a video about how Aussie Vietnam vets were treated post war.
Thank you for watching. I have thought about it a lot
Yeah, me too mate.
Had a first cousin in Vietnam in 1966. 2 tpt platoon. He was around 20 years my senior. I still remember at my mums funeral she was very proud of my service so I wore my medals. He came up to me tapped my medals and just said "well done lad". He has passed now but this wil stick with me always. Rest easy big AL. Lest We Forget.
Great use of “I was only 19” in the intro. I was privileged enough last year to meet the son of Frankie.
Thank you. I'm currently typing this with very blurry eyes. As the child of a vet (nasho 67-69) I saw my father finally start to deal with his time after the Welcome Home March in Sydney, 1987. We drove over from Adelaide to be there (M, D, 16, 13, 11yo) and is still one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. The respect you have shown in reporting this does you credit. Thank you.
Thank you very much. As the grandson of a RAAF officer from the war, it means a lot
Australia has stood with the USA in every war, earlier than their joining in WW1 and WW2. I was told by an American that Australia wasn’t in the Vietnamese war. Then the discussion changed to WW2, when they said they declared war on Germany to help the allies. I had to remind them that the USA did not declare war on Germany. Germany declared war on the USA two weeks after Pearl Harbour. It was only then that the USA was forced into the war in Europe.
The Anzac contribution on the world stage is basically nil.
As a American I salute you warriors. I love these guys who fought with my cousin in Vietnam. My cousin said they were go warriors professional tough as nails. He would go to Australia on vacation as he got older he loved those guys. Thank you assures your well loved by this American family thank you.
Cheers cobber.
*an
I can't thankyou enough for being the only documentarian to recognise the NZ 161 act of gunner valour. I have viewed many long tan docos and while the depth of content is quality they all fail to credit the impact the NZ grounpounders had on this battle. Mateship.. Salute.
There is one doco that does justice to all involved incl Kiwi gunners and Kiwi forward party, Doco includes many of those who were there. Many years after Delta Co received a Bravery Award and Harry Smith, Bill Buick & Dave Sabben jumped the ditch to give the award to the 3 Kiwi's. Morrie had terminal cancer. Is a video on UA-cam covering this
The Anzac contribution on the world stage is basically nil.
Thank you so much, PTSD from service in Afghanistan has cast a long shadow over the period since, it steels my heart to think someone could make such a sensitive, respectful and thoughtful video
As the proud great-grandson of an American WW2 vet (who sadly passed not long after I was born), I made it my personal mission to speak to every veteran I meet, and became familiar with those that'd come in my work. Sadly, they've all started to lessen and it makes me deeply sad I can't see them again. To our American Vietnam vets, I genuinely respect what you did, I don't care about the politics, you fought and died to try and help South Vietnam, there are a number of refugees that are glad you did as well or else they might not have lived to make it somewhere safe for them to live. Aussie, Kiwi, South Korean, South Vietnamese, and Thai Vietnam vets, I thank you for standing with my countrymen, again I don't care about the politics, I care you fought at their side and they yours. Lastly, my great-grandfather suffered PTSD till his dying days, it hurts we lacked the treatments we have now that might have helped him, don't stay quiet about your struggles, get the help you need.
heck yeah, as a non-aussie, i've wanted a video on this ever since i saw the movie Danger Close. Something about how they handled the cinematography in that film made it feel much more brutal than similar films.
If it doesn't get brought up in the video, what are your thoughts on the movie if you've seen it?
It doesn't but I'm a big fan. There's some embellishments of course, but overall I'd give it a 8.5/10 on being faithful to the events
Thank you for not just reading out the roll call, but for also putting faces to their names. R.I.P.
As a Kiwi born Aussie parts of this hit hard. GREAT work calling out to vets and acknowledging PTSD.
No such thing as a kiwi born Aussie buffhead
I had a lovely short chat with Harry at the 50th Anniversary dinner in Vũng Tàu. His love for 'the boys' (the men of D Coy) was very, very obvious. Have a dig into the bureaucratic battles he fought for them (and on behalf of all ex-ADF) in the years after the war. Amazing man!
As an american who grew up hearing about our vietnam story i think its bloody awful you aussies don't get ANY credit here in the states just know some of us yanks care and appreciate the sacrifice made by our friends and allies so thank you boys
Just moved to Australia a few weeks ago from Ireland and the guy who did my white card course did 20 years in the RAR. He was telling me about the blokes going and visiting Long Tan when the regiment was in Malaysia, he said there wasnt a dry eye in the place, and thats from a guy who was in Somalia, East Timor and Afghanistan
Very well done video. The roll call and photos of the Australian KIAs was absolutely heartbreaking. Pte. Meller's story was classic as well.
I'm a US Army veteran from 99-08 and I just wanted to say Thank You for showing these veteran the amount of respect you do and keeping their stories from being lost. Recently the popular thing to do is blame the soldiers for the politics that got them there, and ignore that they had no choice or input on it at all. Most served their countries so that others don't have to.
I was a very young child hanging off my front gate in Yeppoon as APC's and trucks went by on the road from Rocky on the way to Shoalwater Bay for pre deployment training. If I'd only known as a four year old. They all waved back...
Hey brother I'm in Rockhampton might have seen my pop in the apc
Soldiering is a brutal job 🥺
These guys were bloody incredible… thank you for making this video
Great recollection of the war in Vietnam , my father was involved in Long Tan . I have the upmost respect for all those who served our country in a war . ❤
Your right about talking to the vets and telling there story's my dad was in 5 RAR and was in Vietnam in 1966, he like most didn't like talking about the war. When I was younger we had just went to a long tan memorial service I asked him if he was at long tan. Of course he said no but he was at the Col Joy and Little Pati concert. When the boys at Nui Dat could hear how the battle was escalating they wanted to go out and help. It was at about this time they got the order "stand to" so instead of going out to help there mates they had to stand on the perimeter and just listen and wait. He eventually told me other story's when I was older plus other bits I've picked up from the RSL and the odd reunion.
You're. Their. Stories.
@@bobfg3130 same diff 👍
its great that you gave several ptsd warnings , thank you
My uncle Jason Benjamin Sturgess served in the scorpions 3rd cav but he died in a APC crash in 2002
The NZ batteries opened up first, they were joined by the 103rd Australian Field Artillery 30 mins later. This is according to a gun layer Kelvin Wormald who was there and who is watching this documentary.
Still only 1 nz battery.
I am a very proud 6 RAR digger from 1974 to 1978, my intake were trained by hardened veterans of Vietnam many a few were still in the Battalion that were in that battle Sgt Buick was a great Sgt, hard man but a good fare NCO. God bless them all.
Bravo, this was a brilliant piece of work and being a fan of danger close it tied in the ground movements in the movie that never really gave a viewer the angles of the fire fight.
Beautiful video mate, I work at an RSL club so I deal with veterans often, a bunch of some of the most humble and nicest people you can meet.
Thank you
This is a damn good video, it needs more views than it has! Brilliant work old boy
Thank you old man
Thank you for this video mate, bloody awesome!
i live for these kinds of videos thank you for making this and helping to immortalize these heros
Very grateful for your credit to 161 Battery RNZA. I got to shake Morrie Stanley's hand at a RSA event years ago.
I am glad you enjoyed
My eldest brother was born in '51, and he missed the 'Call Up', so he would have not been in Long Tan anyway. Still, I had daydreams of him in uniform during the day at school, he is 9 and half hears my senior. Many Salutes to All who served! Uncle and Great Uncle in the Two Big Ones.
Great video. I have been asking the other day if the Australians wore the M1 helmet or if they had their own?
A guy told me that he didn't think they had helmets in Vietnam. Just the flap hats and boonie hats were all they had.
I said, "Who the hell goes to war with a helmet?
Thank you. This video has answered my question
I do wonder why, in the finest traditions of the ANZAC legend, that contribution of the New Zealand military is not so recognised and acclaimed at Long Tan. Two Kiwi SAS fought with the Aussie troops and the Kiwi over-watch battery of 105mm howitzers burnt their barrels out sustaining an impossibly incredible rate of suppressive artillery fire that really hurt the attacking Viets.
I later worked with the Kiwi captain who had managed the 105 howitzers fire support, he was a deaf as a rock, invalided out, a sacrifice the Kiwi gunners made to keep the rounds going in, that they got no real credit for but he used to say it was his proudest moments, doing the impossible for their Aussie mates until the other support finally got going.
Anyone who really has made attempt to understand the battle appreciates the contributions of all components, including in particular the Kiwi Fire battery and also nine squadron RAAF for the ammunition drops. One must also remember the critical arrival of the armoured cavalry.
So whilst I agree with your concern, Be assured that Real students have history to fully appreciate the combined arms contribution to the battle outcome.
Well said mate.
Capt Stanley MM and two kiwi Lcpls were the magnificent artillery fire support team .161 Battery RNZA fired non stop for over 3 hours.HEROES
Danger close was an amazing movie. These aussies and kiwis are champs..
Very well put together. This battle and its significance is lost within the history of the vietnam war. I went to vietnam for 4 days to specifically visit the long tan memorial last year, it was a very emotional and sobering experience that i will never forget. My thoughts and prayers always with 6RAR D Company. ✊️❤️
The Nz artillery were good at shooting close to the Aussies. My dad was stationed at Nui Dat in the 85th transport.. One day driving a squad to an insertion point, the squad leader left his notebook in the truck so my father ran over to give it to him - as he was doing so an artillery barrage came in from Nui Dat and destroyed his truck! The kiwis were shelling the insertion point and not the enemy positions!! lol.. true story.. Needless to say, hearing such praise for the NZ artillery is a new thing for me 😉
UA-cam is terrible at recommending stuff. I've clicked the damn bell. What more do they want?! Thanks for the amazing inspiring informative educational calming video!
Good shit mate if you want to make another australian video from vietnam the battle of coral balmoral is another crazy battle
My uncle fought in Vietnam he told me he still has nightmares of running through the jungle where the fire neverver catches him but he never out runs it. My grandfather was in in Korea but was stateside on a missile test range great grandfather fought in the Pacific but didn’t like to talk about it but talked to my uncle about it (I was also a young child). I also new a B24 gunner who was shot down over Yugoslavia and I met a WW2 German vet once.
Thanks, mate. Never forget.
I grew up with Vietnam on the news every night. I always held the vetrans in high reguard may be because my dad was a WW2 vet, I was ashamed of how the Vietnam vets were treated. As a young adult Ijoined the military I was not the best and did my time ang got out saying not for me never again. Nine years and a few life changing experiances later, I joined the army reserves. In the 1990s I ended up in 6 RAR . It was the best unit I served in and I had the privlige to be part of the unit when it was sent overseas for war service for the first time since Vietnam , when 6 RAR was sent to East Timor taking the role of the Austrailian Battalion in the UN PEACE MAKING FORCE. Us on thr northern paft of the border and the New Zealand Battalion on the southern part of the border with west timor.
Think I saw a movie about this, absolutely savage engagement. Some incredible bravery
Great documentary and a superb film,well done veterans should be honoured.
The best one I read in a book from the kiwis in Vietnam was during a furious first contact once the initial contact died off one of the NZ troops yelled out “half time change sides” 😂 classic ANZAC humour & of all the Vietnam veterans I know I can see anyone of those guys saying something like that 😂
Great film, I like the message. For all our Diggers, respect - You will never be forgotten.
Finally got around to watching this after a busy month, very solemn ending
absolutely stunning video.
Thank you very much
Oh damn, this one’s gonna be a doozy lol.
Very nice video about the event, maybe a little difficult to visualize the situation, but very good.
The movie danger close does it well.
Thank you very much
oh, thanks for the recomendation.@@HistoryofEverythingChannel
I apologize for the ignorance but i was a history major in college even took a course specifically on the Vietnam War and never knew of Australia's involvement. Hats off to these brave heroes
Is it too late for a refund on that course😂
Speaks volumes to the quality of education you received.....
Tear in my eye watching this. . On a War Service pension now myself and this Gold Card thing. I just wanted to try supporting the Country and doing the Military thing. I cant imagine the absolute horror these men amongst men endured but I guess my War Service might possibly fail in comparison. Afghan, Timor, etcetera etcetera.. These gentleman in Long Tahn set a bar that can never be bettered. Lest we forget our real heroes
Those who have never been to war may never experience PTSD. I was raised with it. My dad returned from WW2 a shattered man. Eventually he died a casualty of the war albeit 40 years later. Without the constant support of my mum who held him together I doubt he'd have lasted 10 years. I have nothing but respect for every serviceman or woman who struggles to return to a 'normal' life after experiecing what no-one should have to experience. To be ignored by the people they served on behalf of heaps travesty on travesty.
Amazing story, absolute heroes the lot of them. And truth be told... "Where the F have you been" gave me a good laugh!
Thank you for telling their story
I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I maintain it is the best thing I've made
I had the honour of having Bill "Yank" Akell as my battalion 2IC. He is amazing man. It's an insane thing he did!
Always angered me, knowing he wasn't appropriately acknowledged. But then again, not many of them were
Two of the thoughts I had watching this, one from the beginning and one from the end. I’ll start with the one from the beginning because it makes chronological sense even tho I think the the point from the end is more important.
So to begin, I find it interesting how that the two reasons you gave for the Aussie troops being deployed their, albeit with the asterisk that each are debated, both interestingly end up irrelevant to their actions in this battle. The first possibility you gave was they were stationed there because of their experience fighting guerrilla fighters in jungle environments form time in I think you said Malaysia? Second alternative possibility was because the Americans thought it was some backwater area where they could dump the Aussies where they’d see no battle while the Americans went and did the main fighting. Now I should note, the first one makes sense to me, but idk enough about American mentality/ego in Vietnam or their thoughts abt the Aussies, so I could buy that explanation too *if* it lines up with American attitudes. However the results of the battle show the troops going far and beyond either of those two reasons. They were fighting the NVA in this battle, not the VC. Well asides from those 6 they caught that lead to the order to pursue and this resulted in them being positioned just outside of that clearing. And those two that the private ram across after finding First platoon (using this videos nomenclature). However I think everyone can agree they were not the main issue at hand, and that it was their amazing performance against the NVA that lead to this victory. Not the type of troops or warfare they would’ve expected to be engaged in. For the second given reason, it would seem very odd that the US wouldn’t have intelligence of what I’m assuming is a Battalion (forgive me if I messed up the hierarchy, it’s whatever group size is above company since it was states it was obviously more than a platoon, and then obviously more than a single company) operating in that area. Idk maybe the the combined intelligence forces somehow missed that. Again not a VC group but a full NVA battalion, I’d assume that’s hard to not pick up on/track. Either way if they were sent to be backwater troops they obviously showed their skills as soldiers in their tactical conduct. Lacking intelligence they ended up in a horrific position, but managed to somehow get out with some alive and with the battle marked as a victory. Just interesting to me how with either explanation the Aussies and Kiwis (sorry I forgot to include them, bad habit of my dumb American brain forgetting Aussies and Kiwis are from different nations; really good education system here that it took me till 11th grade for a teacher to mention that!) still heavily outperformed their expected duties and went beyond the capabilities responsible for their position. Sorry that was over complicated, brain not working well rn.
My second point about the end of the video is that I agree, too many people forget about vets. Like we support them as an idea, in abstract. But I’ve noticed that we (at least in America, tho I feel like generally within “western” cultures as well) when confronted with dealing with them as soldiers, asking about their time participating in war, we start to get squeamish. We like the idea of their sacrifice and what they’ve done for others. But I think for many they don’t like to be reminded what war actually is outside of the an abstract idea of National Defense. Either because someone might be anti-war in general but know it’s a bad look to degrade veterans or it’s someone who is fine with the status quo but gets squirmy when they start learning the realities of what fighting is. We as a culture from my perspective love to glorify the idea of war and violence, through movies and such, or the opposite and vilify or demonize it. However I think both of these perspectives miss the point. War is not desirable but also can not be ignored. The reality is though that there are people with ideas with weapons who want to expand their ideas with those weapons. Peace isn’t an option. But war is inevitable, their are ways to prevent it. But talking to vets requires understanding this idea, and so few do. So people just leave them alone, afraid of their stories and what they can mean. However I agree with you that they need to be heard, and preserved. Both to warn against spuriously going to war, but also to show the horrors that can be endured through prolonged conflict. This part is now my very American based opinion as an American, since Vietnam we’ve been scared to use our forces in places we really should, and use them in places we shouldn’t. I can think of multiple times where US intervention could have saved the lives of many by helping end a war sooner. Yes some Americans might die, but is it not worth some Americans dying fighting to protect others if the result is we save magnitudes more from war? Lebanon is one place that comes to mind for me. However I think we also need to use these stories to know why we shouldn’t go into wars without reasons; going into Iraq in 2003 being the most obvious example. In short I think we need to hear these stories both to honor the people, but also to remind ourselves of the cost of needless war as well as the cost of not engaging in war.
Edit: oh also I forgot to mention how I feel we way to often forget about the Korean War, at least here in the U.S.. Its genuinely depressing how many people I’ve mentioned it too who don’t know what I’m talking about. When I ask them how North and South Korea came into existence with such a militarized border and polarized cultures they don’t seem to know, and sometimes are surprised when I tell them about the massive war between the two Korean factions, the west, and China. Oh and of course those strange incredibly experienced white North Korean pilots that kept speaking oddly broken Korean with a super thick and heavy Russian accent and also seemed to be fully fluent in Russian as they’d sometimes swap to it and speak it better than Korean. Odd North Korean pilots they were. Wink wink.
Hey bro, i went to portsea on the weekend (the officer cedit school smith graduated from) last weekend. Because i was particularly interested in him. He was a good man from most accounts.
God bless the very brave men and woman who have put their lives on the line for their fellow Australians ......I really hope Australians appreciate the sacrifice ..... sometimes i wonder ....
My grandpa who was apart of a mechanized division was almost sent to vietnam, and i will always think hes a true badass, told me a story once when were both a bit drunk how when he was training out of California he was in his 113 and dropping off men to secure an objective (apart of his training) and a lieutenant came up and said “hey can i drive this back to the motor pool?” And my grandpa just told him to just fuck off and drove back. Hes still alive and i thank the lord that hes my grandpa.
Hey mate! You should visit Australian Sig Troop 547. Their story is fantastic. I know a couple 547 vets.
If only we did the same in the UK for the Korean war. My granddad was so proud for the duty he did there (he was enlisted too under national service) - he saw things out there too. He also dealt with the aftermath as well as how to try and save as many as he could from both sides (he finished his tour over there as a Sergeant doing supplies/logistics and found it was much less deadly to local populations health to hire them to move/guard stuff than use UN*cough*US*cough* solders who just shot anyone on sight who got close to any supplies).
You were perfectly correct. The Kiwis stopped at nothing. They were Darn GREAT Soldiers and even today Iam proud of being side by side with the Kiwis. Nifty J.
…this was very, VERY well done.
Thank you
Literal chills mate. Making me have feels this early in shift.
It's not my usual style but I'm glad it was enjoyed
@@HistoryofEverythingChannel you’re style is good content, so no this still tracks.
But what I’m looking forward to is you, Animarchy, LP, and Falcon tearing the Felon to bloody shreds.
that line was *GOLD*
To make it perfectly clear at the outset, Australian, American and New Zealand troops and mid-grade officers performed superbly and loyally at Long Tan, and other engagements in Vietnam. The senior military and civilian leadership of all three countries, not so much.
And yes, I have heard all the arguments of why Australia went to Vietnam, and most of them simply don't make sense. Australia was playing at war and supporting the Americans, because Australian politicians suffered from severe delusions for over a century. The delusion was that Australia could not defend itself.
So let's look at World Wars One and Two. From a population of less than 5 million in WW1, and from a population of about 7 million in WW2, Australia sent a lot of soldiers overseas. Short version, it punched well above it's weight. In WW1, Australia sent [and maintained] five full infantry divisions and a mounted division. In World War Two, pretty much on the same scale, but with more modern weapons.
So the problem was not really about personnel [except that training was less than thorough in many cases]. No, it was weapons. We had to depend on the UK, and later the USA for weapons. This was due to short-sighted economic, and thus political, policy. Short version, Australia regarded itself as merely a farm and a mine. "Value-add", was simply not worth it, or so the delusion went. And sure, with heavy industry, unit cost only goes down if you can produce large volumes, and the domestic market for cars, trains, aircraft would always be relatively small. For such industries to be viable, we would have to export big-time. And sure, a small nation breaking into global markets is not easy.
But look at our basics! Abundant food, energy, mineral and other resources. The only thing we lacked was population.
And whatever your views, our White Australia policy did not help with the under-population problem.
Fast forward to today, and we are best trading mates with Communist China, but orientate culturally, militarily and alliance-wise with the USA!
But back to Vietnam. We "played" at war there. You can see in some military history books, the "fully equipped task force". Really? Seriously? An infantry brigade is at least three battalions not two, and since it was mainly an infantry war four infantry battalions would have been better. Plus you need at least a full regiment of field artillery. We had to borrow a US battery, and a NZ one, just to get up to full strength! next, a paltry engineer squadron, when there was more than enough work for a full engineer battalion, with works to be done at Nui Dat, Vung Tau, and of course, numerous civil projects.
Next, Armour. initially, only a weak squadron of APC's, and tanks came nearly two years later, and again, only a squadron. And our helicopter force? Again, just a handful. And other air assets, again, small beer indeed. And logistics? Again, less than generous. And our opposition? The best part of a division, albeit not very well equipped.
Nobody has ever accused me of being a genius general, but all things being equal, it is probably to have something like a 3 to 1 ratio in your favor if you want to take the military initiative, irrespective of the type of war. And war is often variable, from low intensity stuff COIN, to intense and/or prolonged engagements.
The whole rationale for the Australian task force was operational independence. So with such an inadequate and weak force, it was inevitable that we would have to cry for help from out allies.
In other words, in concept and execution, the Australian task force was a farce. We were both unwilling and unable to do the job properly.
We were playing at war to try to persuade the USA to be our "mommy", as we had done to the UK to be our parent earlier.
Far from Gallipoli being our spiritual birth as a nation, it helped cement our habit of dependency as a client state of someone else. Again, this is not to dishonor the Gallipoli war dead, or any other dead. On the contrary it honors them, for the soldier's role is to serve, and serve they did with sacrifice, distinction and honor.
It was the nation, and particularly it's leaders, which failed here.
As Long Tan veteran Major Kendall once remarked: "We don't have many soldiers, so please let's not waste them".
My dad is mate's with the guy who story that is being told. In the song I was only 19. The stories he tells are both pure hell, gruesome and horrifying. He suffers PTSD.. 💔😪😪🇦🇺
Have you ever watched the bush tucker man? He was in Vietnam. Les Hiddins is his name.
First off , I want to say Welcome Home to all our Aussie allies of RVN . I " think " that the " they were put down there because it was safe " BS was because it was not terribly far from Vung Tau , which was a In Country R&R Center for we American's . I actually drove to VT one time to pick up a fellow medic who had done 3 days R&R . It was a beautiful beach. As crazy as this may sound . Other than by air , that was the first time I ever saw the ocean . Of course though , I heard the same shit about Xua Loc . In mid / late 71 we worked for some Aussie troops out of FSB Mace , I THINK . IDT we were at Dui Dat ?! Being a " Blue Team "medic in a Air Cav Unit , and recon . We were so many places I lose track . I remember meeting some Aussie guys off an active some place. They were all sitting together by their trucks drinking beer and playing some drinking game :D They asked me if I wanted to play , which I would have if we weren't there as a QRF at that time . RIP Colonel .. doc 68-71 25ID / 75th and Evac Hospital Tay Ninh ....
Likely your best video.
I agree
Thank you
As a combat veteran (Iraq) i want to personally thank all the Vietnam Veterans, thank you and God Bless.
I’m certainly aware of the Kiwis being beside the Kiwis during our Vietnam Service of Australian. I’m an Aussie and I remember for sure just how C Lose that we as Aussies served side you side y side WITH THE KIWIS. For sure. Nifty J.
my mate was there they walked the artillery over the nva positions and escape trails all night next day they collected the remains many blown apart he said to me we counted over 500 pairs of hands of nva dead
18:02 Those 3 hours were probably the longest 3 days of those men's lives.
powerful closing
By God, why is it so difficult to recognize and give credit to those who died and sacrifice so bravely for the country. What is the Govt so afraid off? The Australians in Long Tan did their country proud, is that so hard to even say thank you? It is time they are given the true recognition they so rightly deserve by their own country!!
Lest We Forget.
I've heard about this battle before but I didn't release how bad it was. Thanks for telling us about this.
Long Live the Kangaroo.
(When is Russia's Navy Sucks P4 coming out?)
Should be out in 2 weeks
Mate thank you for this wonderful piece and great narrative, we should never forget this crappy war and the scars it left on our boys and the Americans. Again thank you.
Thanks mate
"Because it's important," yes it is.
My CO (Royal Hampshire Regiment, c.1987) was 22 SAS who served with Australian SAS during the Vietnam War. He was an outstanding commander and soldier.
shoutout to hometown hero Private Paul Large
Mums cousin was one of the Australian soldiers killed in Vietnam.
Thank you.
Good effort
We will remember them
I just learned that Australians served in the Vietnam war. Unfortunately in the United States this history is hardly, if ever talked about.
My father was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, 71-72. He once told me he was a pilot for an Australian captain with the last name of Kiwi.
To this day I don’t know if he was pulling my leg, and I will have to wait until I see him again in Heaven to ask.
Could search the Australian war museum archive's he would be there
It's so sad that veterans are blamed instead of their incompetent governments.
id love to hear videos from you about the allied units in Vietnam. the south Koreans were both brutal and ferocious fighters that arent mentioned. id also like an address to the crimes they committed.
as a south korean myself i never knew that the government persisted in helping during the war, and the loyalty to the usa after the korean war is still strong to this day. at least from what i have read and heard
I was hoping to actually visit South Korea next year and do some videos on the Korean War and the mentality it has left. Given I'm only 9 hours on a big bird away. I'll be holding off until the day I get to go there to get footage
@@HistoryofEverythingChannel being adopted i never had much influence from korean culture as a whole. only when i grew up did i learn what i know now about the korean war and how korea is in relation to the rest of the world and its allies.
ill be looking forward to the future video(s) on it. as well as the influence on the people. i do know that because the isolation south and north language is almost seperate and outside of a few things they share are basically completely different countries. (besides the whole lunatic in control of the north)
it is funny to me that even with all the problems they both agree on the importance of kimchi
The reason we were in Vietnam was pretty simple: We had to pay the insurance premium.