Australia’s miliitary involvement in the Vietnam War was the longest in duration of any war in Australia’s history. Almost 60,000 Australians, including ground troops, airforce and navy personnel served in Vietnam. There were 521 deaths as a result of the war and over 3000 were wounded.
The celebrated battle of Long Tan in August 1966 saw the 108 soldiers of D company hold off an enemy force of 2000 soldiers for 4 hours in a tropical downpour. The Australian force suffered 17 deaths and 25 wounded, while the Viet Cong left 245 dead and carried away a significant number of casualties.
Although the final Australian combat troops left Vietnam in June 1973, our involvement was not officially terminated until the Australian Embassy staff were withdrawn on the 25th of April 1975.