On the 18th of August 1966 at Long Tan,Vietnam, D Company of the
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, mainly made up of Australian
National Servicemen, and, at that time, located to support the American
Army, fought a battle against the Viet Cong.
In this action D Company lost 18 men killed and 24 injured.The Viet
Cong dead numbered in excess of 245. The Australian lines were never
crossed. The Viet Cong withdrew.
American President Johnson and US Army Staff recognised the achievement
by awarding the Unit Citation of Gallantry on 30th May 1968.
The Award was formally accepted by Queen Elizabeth in 13th June
1968 and Prime Minister John Gorton made the formal presentation
of this American Citation to the Battalion at Lavarack Barracks,Townsville
on 18th August 1968.
On the 31st of March 2010,
D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment were belatedly
awarded the Australian version of "Unit Citation for
Gallantry" (UCG) honouring their extraordinary deeds at Long
Tan.
The Government however refused to approve
travel payment for the surviving Unit Members or their families,
including the families of deceased Unit Members, in order that they
be present at the UCG Presentation Ceremony presided over by the
Governor General of Australia.
In February 2011 the same Government of Australia footed the bill
to bury the illegal boat people,who tragically perished on
Christmas Island. This included
flying surviving family illegals and survivors to and from Sydney
and Xmas Island, accommodating them, etc etc, plus a coach tour
of Sydney thrown in for good measure.
Our Canberra "born to rule" leaders and their hangers-on,
had waited 45 years to publicly acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice
of these Sons of Australia and then immediately crapped on their
memory by wetting themselves to appease the feelings of boat illegals
who were trying to force their entry into our country.
Now we witness, what can only be described as attempted
political face saving, this same Government is sponsoring
a grand tour and TV documentary, so they get their heads on TV,
to celebrate our Armed Forces accomplishments at Kapyong, Korea
in 1951. (Lots of good "photo opportunities" here!)
This will see our Prime Minister and the entire
Prime Ministerial entourage, fly in a RAAF plane to Korea
to mark this 60th Anniversary. Naturally, food, drink, accommodation
supplied at appropriate first class standard.
What bloody hypocrisy!!!
What a blatant affront to the feelings of our Nation's serving Armed
Forces, past and present.
Shame, Shame, Shame. You political scum. You
do not deserve to represent our country.
Note well: This is not posted on this site
for discussion. If you feel like I do, copy it and email it to your
friends and family. If you don't - that's fine too. By publishing
it, you know how I feel about it.
