Battle of Long Tan - 60 Minutes - Forgotten Heroes - Vietnam War

Watch our documentary in full online - http://www.battleoflongtan.com Here is the very moving story that 60 Minutes (Nine Network) Australia did on the Battle of Long Tan. It was broadcast on 13 August 2006, a few days prior to the premiere of my award winning Battle of Long Tan documentary narrated by Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans) on The History Channel.

I tracked down the former Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Long Tan veterans and we interviewed them for our documentary. We were then able to help organise this story for 60 Minutes and it was the first time in 40 years the former enemy had admitted that Australia actually won the battle (but of course lost the war).

The story is called Forgotten Heroes, Producer is Hamish Thomson and the reporter is Peter Harvey.

For three and a half hours in the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called Long Tan, 105 young Australians and 3 New Zealanders fought and defeated 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers in an epic battle. 18 Australians were killed and 21 wounded with more than 500 VC and NVA killed with more than 1,000 wounded.

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[kdolo100]

Were these NVA or Viet Cong?

[OZ2CDO]

@kdolo100 They were main force Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army soldiers of 275 Regiment. D445 the local guerilla battalion only became involved towards the end of the battle and were decimated by the APC relief force. D445 were coming around to completely surround D Coy, 6RAR when they ran into the APC force. Vietnamese forces fighting at Long Tan against D Coy - 1,600 x 275 Main Force VC, 500 x NVA 45 Regiment, 550 x D445 VC Battalion.

[olkilldevil20]

There was no mention that the KIWI'S were the ones firing the artillery. There would of been a lot more Australian soldiers killed had the artillery support not been there to assist in the first place.

[OZ2CDO]

@olkilldevil20 There was 1 x New Zealand artillery battery 161 Fd Bty, 2 x Australian artillery batterys 103 Fd Bty & 105 Fd Bty (all 105mm howitzers) and also an American artillery battery A Bty, 2/35th Howitzer Battalion (155m M109 howitzers) - in support of D Coy, 6RAR during the battle.

[santasoucio]

When we (U.S.) ran secret recon missions into Cambodia, and our government could not fly in to support us (due to diplomatic red tape), there were Australian pilots who would disobey direct orders to fly in to support us by air. So I just want to say, god bless those pilots for what you did and I'll always support the Aussies

[Spadadiforza]

God bless these brave Aussies. You stepped up when a friend needed you and got the cold shoulder for it. You have here a very grateful American. Thank God we have friends like these Aussies!!!

[Altiar253]

@olkilldevil20 thats why we are called ANZACS mate! our brothers! 

[Soirkloid9]

all this happened due to communism. If Marx never existed none of this crap wold have happened

[Nucci604]

This war took my Dad and only Uncle from me but I never have any hatred toward the Vietnamese, they defended their homeland for independent and I hope we all can look back at this war as a lesson to learn and hope the best for all sides. Many thanks to the Aussies for been there with us, may God bless all the Braves that never have a chance to come home !

[inscrible]

@sucksqueezebangblow ... ANZUS... we got rid of the of the yanks ,they don't play footy like we do .

[Deckeon74]

The Only historical difference with Australia and Canada is Vietnam and original immigrants (criminals vs fur trade/farmers). Our government has also hidden and been ashamed of any valour post WWII.

[SanctumStudios]

@vincevince801 only the best in the business.. punching above our weight is what we do best. look up 'the rats of tobruk'

[thoyedao]

After French lost DienBienPhu in 1954, HoChiMinh opened Land Reform in 1955, Ho bastard killed 750,000 innocent civilians, because they were rich, vast land, big house and gold. Later uncle HoChiMinh pushed one million young men to fright in the South, during TET 1968 Ho ordered to kill and bury a live 5,000 Hue citizens.

[ogrebattle22763]

I give all the homage & respect to the Australian Special Forces these guys helped us in Vietnam in almost everyway that they could & we can't thank them enough...

[herrseppvon]

The politician's don't have an idea what the men went through they weren't there lest the American's acknowledge what our digger's did.

[sucksqueezebangblow]

relax kiwis...we love ya's , without NZ there would be no ANZAC....or ANZ for that matter :D