Guest speaker Mark Stephens delivered a speech at the service on Vietnam Veterans’ Day. Photos: Rechelle Zammit
“They not only gave up one life, but they gave up two lives,” returned serviceman Mark Stephens said during his moving speech on Vietnam Veterans’ Day.
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“They gave up the one they were living and the one they could have had.
“They gave up their husbands, fathers and grandfathers. They gave up not having wives, children and grandchildren.”
Mr Stephens paid tribute to the more than 60,000 Australians who served in the Vietnam War, including 42,000 Australian Army soldiers, and their families at Shepparton’s War Memorial on Monday, August 18.
Crowds gathered at Shepparton’s war memorial.
He said it had been a challenge to sum up 10 years of conflict in a 10-minute speech, but went on to describe the bloodiest day on the battlefield — 59 years ago to the day — since the Australian taskforce had set up base at Nui Dat the previous April.
“The Battle of Long Tan was one of the most significant engagements by Australians in the Vietnam War,” Mr Stephens said.
He set the scene, describing how troops headed out into a treacherous jungle to the sounds of Col Joye and Little Pattie, a tropical downpour raging around them within the Vietnamese rubber plantation where the battle began.
Service MC Trevor Begley.
He told how Australian soldiers fought against more than 2000 enemy forces non-stop for three hours.
“They fought courageously against a well-armed, well-trained and determined, angry party, with their colleagues falling around them killed or wounded,” he said.
“The soldiers of Delta Company displayed outstanding military discipline while under continuous enemy fire.”
GV Vietnam Veterans secretary Peter Dealy addresses the crowd.
Delta Company suffered 42 casualties, including 18 who were killed in action and 24 wounded, equating to more than a third of its strength.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day coincides with the anniversary of that battle, but it commemorates all servicemen and women who served throughout the Vietnam War.
Mr Stephens served in the Australian Army for 33 years. He is now a Shepparton RSL committee member and co-ordinates the memorabilia collection on display at the club.
Graeme Stewart played the bagpipes during the service.
Following Mr Stephens’ address, Jeff Stanyer led the crowd in The Lord’s Prayer before commemorative wreaths were laid to the haunting sound of bagpipes.
A minute’s silence was observed before the crowd sang Australia’s national anthem, ahead of a luncheon at Shepparton RSL.
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