The 2024 Vietnam Veterans’ Day Commemorative Service at the Moama RSL Memorial Gardens.
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Moama’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day will draw a crowd this weekend, with veterans from the 86 Transport Platoon to commemorate the day alongside the Moama RSL Sub-branch.
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More than 30 members of the guest platoon will travel from all over Australia to attend the event, arriving in Echuca-Moama on Thursday, August 14 to attend the Sunday, August 17 service.
Moama RSL Sub-branch president and Vietnam veteran Ken Jones said it was an honour to have the platoon commemorate the day in Moama.
“Everyone is welcome, we have the 86 Transport Platoon who will be our guests this year,” he said.
“Once a year they meet up on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, they pick a venue and lucky for us, they picked us this year.
“It’s an honour, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all.”
The platoon was deployed to Vietnam in January of 1967, five years after Australia first joined the Vietnam War in 1962, and was based at Vung Tau in the Phuoc Tuy Province.
They provided transport services to all facets of the Australian Army including troop movements, supply and ammunition transportation, dump trucks, semi-trailers, gun jeeps and buses.
About 61,000 Australians, including those in the 86 Transport Platoon, had served in Vietnam by 1972, when Australia began to withdraw their forces.
The Vietnam War was Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th century and resulted in 3000 wounded during the war and more than 520 soldiers losing their lives.
Moama RSL Sub-branch president and Vietnam veteran Ken Jones during the 2025 Anzac Day parade.
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JORDAN TOWNROW
Mr Jones said the event was a way to honour those soldiers who served throughout Australia’s 10-year involvement.
“The government decided about five or six years ago to change it from Long Tan Day to Vietnam Veterans’ Day... there’s several battles that were had there and naming it the Vietnam Veterans’ Day covers them all,” he said.
“We weren’t well regarded by the public, but things have turned 180 degrees, we’re pretty well respected now by people.”
While the day is annually recognised around Australia on August 18, the Moama RSL will mark the day on Sunday, August 17 due to unavoidable circumstances.
The service will begin promptly at 11am on the Sunday and will be held at the Moama RSL.
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