A Public figure involved in the Vietnam War: Dr Jim Cairns

B-Fighting the Vietnam War:

Long Tan

On the afternoon of 18 August, the 125 men of D Company began a sweep east of Nui Dat and just before 4pm, moving through a rubber plantation north of Long Tan, the soldiers of 11 Platoon met a small detachment of Viet Cong. They soon found themselves surrounded and pinned down by enemy mortar, machine gun and rifle fire and when the afternoon monsoonal rains came, they were virtually unable to see anything. An artillery barrage from Nui Dat to help the pinned platoon did nothing to relieve their position and they were in danger of being overrun by the enemy. Major Harry Smith, commanding D Company, ordered 10 Platoon forward to assist but heavy fire forced them to ground and they were unable to reach their comrades. Although Smith then ordered 12 Platoon around the side of the action, it, as well as headquarters, was soon under attack.

An air support strike also failed because of the weather and low cloud and ammunition was running low.

During the night the Viet Cong cleared many of their wounded and dead from the battlefield. A number of wounded Australians lay there all through the long terrifying night, as the Viet Cong moved around them. At first it was thought that the Australians had suffered heavy casualties as they had lost 17 men and 19 wounded, one third of its strength. Total casualties were 17 killed in action from D Company, one dead of wounds from 1st APC Squadron and 24 wounded. However, as daylight broke, it appeared that the Australians had an achieved a great victory as 245 enemy dead were discovered and many more wounded would have been taken away when the battle ended. A diary of one of the Viet Cong showed their losses to be as high as 500. At Long Tan, it has been estimated that the Australians faced around 2500 Viet Cong, and D Company became only the second Army unit in military history to receive a United States Presidential Unit Citation. 15 members were given Commonwealth awards for their courage during the battle, including the Military Cross awarded to their commander, Major Harry Smith.

To honor those who died at Long Tan, 6 RAR erected a concrete cross in the rubber plantation where the men took their stand. Today the cross is on display in the Dong Nai province museum at Bein Hoa and a replica marks the site, placed there by the Long Dat District Committee.

C-Australian reactions to the war in Vietnam:

Save Our Sons movement

By the middle of 1969 it was clear that public opinion about the war was changing. A Gallup Poll in August 1969 showed that 55 per cent of people favored bringing Australian troops home and 40 per cent favored them staying. This was the first poll to show less than 50 per cent approval for the government's policy, and all polls after August 1969 were to reveal a majority in favour of bringing the troops home. The ALP returned to the debate. In October during his policy speech for the 1969 federal elections, Whitlam declared that under a Labor Government there would be no Australian troops in Vietnam after June 1970.

The Australian anti-war movement impressed by the success of an American moratorium on 15 October, held a national conference in Canberra on 25 November to organise a similar event. Coordinating organisations emerged in most capital cities, holding lead-up demonstrations on 15 December. Like its American prototype, the Australian moratorium attracted diverse and widespread support. As a prelude, large press advertisements appeared, with long lists of signatories. Occupational groups organised their own campaigns. The moratorium was to consist not only of the main marches but also of local activities. Women who had gained their organising experience in Save Our Sons, the student movement; some of the trade unions and the Australia Party were heavily involved.