The Battle of Long Tan Part 3

For Martin Walsh and Damien Lay

In honor of the fallen & their Great efforts to tell their story, please Check the below link to their Award winning documentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxVMeTg4stM?

More details of the upcoming movie and more videos at - http://www.reddunefilms.com/Press_ind...

Producers: Martin Walsh and Damien Lay
Narrator: Sam Worthington
Director: Damien Lay
DOP: Steve Williams
Film Editor: Joe Morris
Composer: Mark Gluhak
Colourist: Nick Barton
Writer: Keith Thompson, Damien Lay & Martin Walsh
Prod Manager: Sam Bateman
Prod Company: Red Dune Films and Animax Films

The Battle of Long Tan Awards:
2007 Logie Award: Nomination - Documentary of the year.
2007 ASTRA Awards: Most Outstanding Documentary of the Year.
2006 ACS Awards: Cinematography in a Documentary.

***The video you are watching was made by Dr. Bruce Horsfield in the 1980's***

The battle is as legendary in Anzac military history as Gallipoli, Tobruk and Kokoda
In Australia the story is revered by military historians and those who fought but in New Zealand it is virtually forgotten.

Morrie Stanley was one of the three Kiwis involved on August 18, 1966 - a day he says he will never forget.

"It was chaos, it was turmoil, it was violent - constant violent thunderstorms and gunfire for maybe three hours."

Facing 2,500 Viet Cong soldiers, Stanley, two other Kiwis and 105 Brave Australians won the battle of Long Tan. Up to 800 Vietnamese were killed along with 18 Australians. There may have been far more deaths if Stanley - a forward observer - had not directed shells with deadly accuracy.
Stanley's team were called on to protect the Australian soldiers in the midst of the fighting - firing 180 rounds nonstop over two and a half hours and driving back the approximate 2500 strong Viet Cong forces.

Battle of long Tan Documentary director Damien Lay says although only a small number of New Zealanders were involved they played a huge part in the battle.

"It was just frightening how they turned the tide of this battle - it would have been a very different outcome if it weren't for the New Zealanders," says Lay.

Granted that the artillery controlled by Morrie Stanley was effective beyond expectation but it is worth remembering that it was his training and his coolness under fire that allowed Morrie Stanley to carry out his role to the high degree of mastery he displayed. And Harry Smith too must be included for his faultless leadership, along with that of his various platoon staff. And there can be no doubt that the APC's late in the day saved D Coy from many more casualties.
Long Tan is the enduring battle of Vietnam and the one that captures the imagination of both civilians and soldiers alike.
The loss of 18 young men in three hours is an indication of the strength of purpose of the North Vietnamese and the grim determination of the Brave Australians.
Posted for Morrie Stanley and those Brave Aussies..we call our Mates.
ANZAC...Lest we forget

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ANZAC
• Kiwi
• Aussie
• Australian
• Long
• Tan
• Battle
• War
• Hero
• Heros
• Fight
• Vietnam
• New
• Zealand

[Famsar]

good on ya diggers, a story that makes me proud to be Australian

[swanningaround]

You mean New Zealand's big part in this battle, don't you? The wall of artillery was New Zealand's 161 Battery.

[sass225]

The USMC was the last us service to accept draftees, I like the fn fals used by the anzacs better than the american m16 in used at the time. the .308 penetrates the foliage better. against such odds its amazing any of the aussies survived at all logicly souldn't have yet they did only lost 18 dead. the aussies did have more jungle fighting experiance the americans had to learn on the job. the south vietnamesse government unfortunatly wasn't seen as one that cared about the common people

[Oxnard719]

The people of the republic of south Viet nam never forget what you did for us. Thanks to all the Australian soldier who had risk your life for our freedom and democracies.

[Downfacingdog]

@dippaandyomama The VC have huge imagination.

[dippaandyomama]

That VC guy survived a headshot? What a badass

[irishgodfatherchris]

@swanningaround every Vietcong engagement was a trap, more allied soldiers were killed by friendly fire than by the enemy, at least unlike the US we knew how jungle and guerrilla warfare worked

[swatdiver1]

@swanningaround It amazes me that these things always disolve into my country vs your country arguments. Yes there were 6 US artillery pieces involved in this battle, they contributed to the outcome along with the 18 ANZAC artillery pieces. I have no doubt that the diggers that fought this battle certainly bought those boys a few rounds of beer after the battle. Is it not enough to pay respect to the men who fought this battle with such courage? The same courage that was shown by their enemy.

[swanningaround]

@BathorysGraveland How the names change. Now they would be called terrorists or insurgents. What is not said about this battle was that the Australians walked into a trap. The US artillery was needed to bale them out. The credit was given to Australians who directed the battle from their tent.

[BathorysGraveland]

@swanningaround Actually, a hell of a match for the USMC. The Viet Cong were freedom fighters, the U.S Marines either fought for their government, or fought because they were drafted and didn't have a choice.

[swanningaround]

@BathorysGraveland No match for the USMC. 

[swanningaround]

A great testiment to the American fighting artillery.