The Battle of Long Tan

by David W. Cameron

  Private Barry Meller (11 Platoon, D Company), who also remained overnight on the battlefield, being treated in an armoured personnel carrier (APC), 19 August 1966.

  Private Jim Richmond being evacuated from the battlefield by medevac, 19 August 1966.

  Intelligence officer Captain Brian Wickens of 6 RAR interrogates a captured Viet Cong the day after the battle, 19 August 1966.

  Corporal Buddy Lea (D Company, 10 Platoon), who ventured behind enemy lines in the heat of battle to bring in the wounded Sergeant James Todd.

  Corporal Graham Smith (D Company HQ), who kept communications going throughout the battle.

  Corporal Kevin Miller (12 Platoon, D Company), who went forward with two sections of his platoon in an attempt to extract 11 Platoon.

  Corporal Phil ‘Doc’ Dobson (D Company HQ), who saved lives tending to the wounded during the battle.

  Lance Corporal Denis Spencer (D Company HQ), who was wounded while trying to get a spare radio to the stranded 10 Platoon.

  Sergeant Major Jack Kirby during better times.

  Private Harry Esler (10 Platoon, D Company) recalled that he felt calm during the battle when he could see a target.

  Private Les Vine (10 Platoon, D Company) recalled Sergeant Major ‘Big’ Jack Kirby running around distributing ammunition to his diggers under intense fire from the Viet Cong.

  Private John Heslewood (11 Platoon, D Company), who was in the thick of the fighting from the opening round, and among the last to leave their position.

  Private Paul Large (12 Platoon, D Company), recently engaged to be married, was among the last Australians to be killed during the battle of Long Tan.

  Private Ray Stewart (D Company HQ), recently promoted Lance Corporal Ron Eglington (11 Platoon, D company), and Private Allen May (11 Platoon, D Company). Ron Eglington was a machine gunner and was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Long Tan.

  Private Dave Beahan (12 Platoon, D Company) was to be the best man at Private Large’s wedding, and was close by when Large was killed.

  Private Robin ‘Pom’ Rencher (D Company HQ) had transferred to the Australian Army from the British Army and was ‘officially’ recognised by his mates as ‘Australian’ after the battle.

  Private Russ Parendis (D Company HQ), when firing his M60, kept his ammunition belt in a puddle of water to stop the mud getting into it and jamming the mechanism.

  M60 machine gunner, Private Alan Parr (12 Platoon, D Company), advances with his mates to try to extract 11 Platoon.

  Lieutenant Peter Dinham (A Company), who turned around from Nui Dat to reinforce D Company upon returning from a three-day patrol.

  Leading Aircraftsmen B. Hill treating wounded Viet Cong in an APC, 19 August 1966.

  Lieutenant Trevor Gardiner and Captain Charles Mollison (commanding A Company), on their return to Nui Dat after their company’s three-day patrol, 18 August 1966. At the time this photograph was taken battle had just broken out 5 kilometres to the east. (Mollison 2005)

  Only confirmed image of a member of D445 Viet Cong Battalion, with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). (Courtesy Ernie Chamberlain)

  Major Smith (left) briefing officers and NCOs, D Company, before returning to the battlefield the next day.

  Lieutenant David Sabben, commander of 12 Platoon, on the battlefield the following day.

  Part of the Viet Cong weapons collection after the battle.

  Privates Stan Hodder (D Company HQ), Terry Burstall (12 Platoon, D Company) and Peter Dettman (12 Platoon, D Company) with weapons collected on the battlefield, 19 August 1966.

  Australian soldiers of Long Tan holding awards presented in lieu of medals by the South Vietnamese government.

  Erecting the Long Tan Cross at the scene of the fighting in the plantation on the battle’s third anniversary, 18 August 1969.

  Acknowledgements

  In writing a work of recent history such as this, an author is dependent very much on first-hand accounts. I am most grateful to the veterans who kindly agreed to speak to me about their experiences, not just of the Battle of Long Tan but of the war in Vietnam more broadly. Without their generosity this book would never have seen the light of day. I am especially grateful to John Heslewood, President of the Long Tan Veterans Association, who was in the thick of the fighting and its immediate aftermath at the Long Tan Rubber Plantation. Not only did John agree to speak to me, but he kindly provided me with contact details of a number of veterans he thought might be willing to share with me their experiences. In alphabetical order I would like to thank these Vietnam War and Long Tan veterans who agreed to be interviewed for the book, and in doing so relived some of the most distressing events in their lives: Bill Akell; David Beahan; John Cash; Noel Grimes; Stan Hodder; Geoff Kendall; Kevin Miller; Alan Parr; John Robbins; Graham Smith; Tony Stepney; and Len Vine. Alan Parr his written a fascinating book on his time in Vietnam, Memories of Vietnam (2014), which is essential reading for anyone interested in Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. To all these diggers I am extremely grateful, and I hope this book meets with their approval.

  I also owe a special debt to two other Vietnam veterans turned writers: Ernie Chamberlain and Bruce Davies. Ernie has compiled and extensively reviewed the Vietnamese history of the Viet Cong 445 Battalion: The Viet Cong D445 Battalion: Their Story (2011) and The Viet Cong D455 Battalion: Their Story and the Battle of Long Tan (2016). Not only do these important volumes place the Vietnamese history in context of the Australian experience, but they provide significant analysis based on other primary and secondary Australian and Vietnamese sources. Ernie also kindly agreed to read an early draft of this book and provided invaluable critical comments, which did much to improve the final manuscript. My thanks also extends to Bruce Davies, who has written the definitive single volume on Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War: Vietnam: The Complete Story of the Australian War (2012). Like Ernie, Bruce provided valuable and extensive feedback on an earlier draft of this book. It goes without saying any remaining errors in the narrative and assessments made here are mine alone.

  I would like to thank other Vietnam War veterans who allowed me to quote from their own books: Jean Debbelle Lamensdorf, Write Home for Me: A Red Cross Woman in Vietnam (2006); Charles Mollison, Long Tan and Beyond: Alpha Company 6 RAR in Vietnam 1966–67 (2006); Lex McAulay, The Battle of Long Tan: The Legend of Anzac Upheld (1986); and Blue Lanyard – Red Banner: The Capture of a Vietcong Headquarters by 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Operation CRIMP 8–14 January 1966 (2005); and Brian McFarlane, We Band of Brothers: A True Australian Adventure Story (2000).

  I would also like to thank the following publishers for granting me permission to quote from the following books: Hachette, The Vietnam Year: From the Jungle to the Australian Suburbs by Michael Caulfield (2007); Allan & Unwin, All Guts and No Glory, by Bob Buick & Gary McKay (2000) and,The Battle of Long Tan: As Told By the Commanders by Robert Grandin (2004); and the University of Queensland Press, A Soldier’s Story: The Battle at Xa Long Tan Vietnam, 18 August 1966, by Terry Burstall (1986).

  I would also like to thank John Heslewood and other Long Tan veterans of the Long Tan Veterans Association for supplying the photographs used in this book.

  At Penguin I would like to thank Ben Ball, my publisher, who has guided this book and my previous title, The Battle for Lone Pine, through to completion. The same applies to my editors Rachel Scully and Johannes Jakob – much thanks Ben, Rachel and Johannes. And a heartfelt thanks also to the rest of the team at Penguin. I would also like to thank my agent at Curtis Brown, Tara Wynn, for all of her ongoing help and support.

  Finally, thanks to Emma, Anita and Lloyd for being there.

  Notes

  CHAPTER 1

  1  See Caulfield, M. (2007) The Vietnam Year: From the Jungle to the Australian Suburbs, Hachette Australia, Sydney.

  2  Kevin Miller interview, 8 June 2015.

  3  See Burstall, T. (1986) The Soldier’s Story: The Battl
e at Xa Long Tan Vietnam, 18 August 1966, University of Queensland Press, St Lucia.

  4  See Caulfield (2007); John Heslewood to author, 29 September 2014.

  5  McGibbon, I. (2010) New Zealand’s Vietnam War: A History of Combat, Commitment and Controversy, Exisle Publishing, Auckland, p. 149.

  6  See Mollison, C. (2006) Long Tan and Beyond: Alpha Company 6 RAR in Vietnam 1966–67, Cobbs Crossing Publications, Woombye, Qld.

  7  Ibid., p. 114.

  8  McAulay, L.F. (1986) The Battle of Long Tan: The Legend of Anzac Upheld, Hutchinson of Australia, Hawthorn, Vic., p. 30.

  9  Ibid., p. 29.

  10  Ibid., p. 30.

  11  Mollison (2006), p. 114.

  12  McFarlane, B. (2000), We Band of Brothers: A True Australian Adventure Story, B.W. McFarlane, New South Wales.

  13  Mollison (2006), p. 114.

  14  McAulay (1986), p. 31.

  15  Blaxland, J. (1998) Signals Swift and Sure: A History of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals 1947–1972, Royal Australian Corps of Signals Committee, Canberra, pp. 201–2.

  16  Steinbrook, G.L. (1995) Allies and Mates: An American Soldier with the Australians and New Zealanders in Vietnam, 1966–67, University of Nebraska Press, pp. 53–4.

  17  Parr, A. (2006) Memories of Vietnam, Murray Tucker, Victoria, pp. 44–5.

  18  See Grandin, B (2004) The Battle of Long Tan: As Told by the Commanders, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

  19  Australian Army commanders’ diaries 6 RAR (AWM 95 7/6/5), 17 August 1966.

  20  See Burstall (1986); McAulay (1986); McNeill, I. (1993) To Long Tan: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1950–1966, Allen & Unwin, Sydney; Smith, A.H. (2011) Do Unto Others: Counter Bombardment in Australia’s Military Campaigns, Big Sky Publishing, Sydney.

  21  McAulay (1986), p. 32.

  22  Ibid., p. 33.

  23  Mollison (2006), p. 113; see also Grandin (2004), p. 84.

  24  Mollison (2006), ibid.

  25  See Mollison (2006).

  26  See McNeill (1993); McFarlane (2000).

  CHAPTER 2

  1  See Caulfield (2007); Davies, B. (2012) Vietnam: The Complete Story of the Australian War, Allen & Unwin, Sydney; Edwards, P. (2014) Australia and the Vietnam War, Australian War Memorial, Canberra & New South Books, Sydney; Fall, B.B. (1966) Viet-Nam Witness 1953–66, Frederick A. Praeger, New York; Nguyen, Lien-Hang (2012) Hanoi’s War: An International History of the War for Peace in Vietnam, University of North Carolina Press; Pike, D. (1966) Viet Cong: The Organization and Techniques of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, MIT Press, Massachusetts; Schulzinger, R.D. (1997) A Time for War: The United States and Vietnam 1941–1975, Oxford University Press, New York.

  2  Pike (1966), p. 22.

  3  See Pike (1966).

  4  See Caulfield (2007); Edwards (2014); Palazzo, A. (2009) Australian Military Operations in Vietnam, Australian Army Campaign Series No. 3 (2nd edn), Australian Army History Unit, Canberra.

  5  See Fall (1966); Frost, F. (1987) Australia’s War in Vietnam, Allen & Unwin, Sydney; Pike (1966).

  6  Pike (1966), p. 28.

  7  See Davies (2012); Nguyen (2012); Pike (1966).

  8  Palazzo (2009), p. 14.

  9  Quote from Sexton, M. (2002) War for the Asking: How Australia Invited Itself to Vietnam, New Holland, Sydney, p. 29.

  10  Quote from Giap, V.N. (1994) Dien Bien Phu, Gioi Publishers, Hanoi, p. 77.

  11  See Davies (2012).

  12  See Fall, B.B. (2002) Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu, Da Capo Press, New York; Giap (1994); Windrow, M. (2004) The Last Valley: Dien Bien Phu and the French Defeat in Vietnam, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London.

  13  See Davies (2012).

  14  See Edwards, P. (1992) ‘Some reflections on the Australian government’s commitment to the Vietnam War’, in Grey, J. & Doyle, J. (eds) Vietnam: War, Myth & Memory, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, pp. 1–13; Edwards (2014); Palazzo (2009); Pike (1966).

  15  ‘Origins of the Insurgency in South Vietnam, 1954–1960’ (1971), in The Pentagon Papers (Senator Gravel edition), Beacon Press, Boston, Vol. 1, pp. 242–69.

  16  Palazzo (2009), p. 9.

  CHAPTER 3

  1  Fall (1966), p. 76.

  2  See Davies (2012); Edwards (1992, 2014); McAulay (1986); Nguyen (2012); Palazzo (2009); Pike (1966).

  3  Horner, D.M. (2000) Defence Supremo: Frederick Shedden and the Making of Australian Defence Policy, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, p. 320.

  4  See Edwards (1992, 2014); Horner (2000); Palazzo (2009); Pike (1966).

  5  Fall (1966), p. 138.

  6  Truong, N.T. (1985) A Vietcong Memoir, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York, p. 64.

  7  See Davies (2012).

  8  Watt, A. (1968) Vietnam: An Australian Analysis, F.W. Cheshire, Melbourne, pp. 81–2.

  9  Dapin, M. (2014) The Nashos’ War: Australia’s National Servicemen and Vietnam, Viking, Melbourne, p. 11.

  10  Fall (1966), pp. 185–6.

  11  See Nguyen (2012).

  12  Pike (1966), p. 81.

  13  Pribbenow, M.L. (trans.) (2002) Victory in Vietnam: The Official History of the People’s Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975, Military History Institute of Vietnam; University Press of Kansas.

  14  See Pike (1966).

  15  Truong (1985), p. 38.

  16  See Frost (1987); Pike (1966); Race, J. (1972) War Comes to Long An: Revolutionary Conflict in a Vietnamese Province, University of California Press, Berkeley.

  17  See McNeill (1993); Nguyen (2012); Pike (1966).

  18  Ibid.

  19  See Fall (1966); McNeill (1993).

  20  See Davies (2012).

  CHAPTER 4

  1  See Davies (2012); Dennis, P. & Grey, J. (1996) Emergency and Confrontation: Australian Military Operations in Malaya and Borneo 1950–1966, Allen & Unwin, Sydney; Edwards (2014); Healy, J. (2008) ‘A nine-battalion regiment: Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, 1965–73’, in Horner, D.M. & Bou, J. (eds), Duty First: A History of the Royal Australian Regiment, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, pp. 149–69; Horner, D.M. (2008) ‘Confrontation: Malaysia and Borneo, 1960–66’, in Horner & Bou (eds), pp. 124–48; McNeill (1993).

  2  See Blaxland, J. (2008) ‘Consolidation and reorganisation: Australia 1950–65’, in Horner & Bou (eds), pp. 105–23; Dapin (2014); Healy (2008).

  3  See Dapin (2014).

  4  Dapin (2014), pp. 27 and 69.

  5  See Dapin (2014).

  6  Davies, email to author, 8 February 2015.

  7  Horner (2000), p. 306.

  8  See Dennis & Grey (1996); Edwards (1992, 2014); Horner (2000); Palazzo (2009).

  9  Horner (2000), p. 311.

  10  Ibid., p. 320.

  11  See Dennis & Grey (1996).

  12  See Breen, B. (2008) ‘The build-up: Vietnam, 1965–67’, in Horner & Bou (eds), pp. 171–95; Edwards (2014); McNeill (1993).

  13  See Krenpinevich, A.F. (1986) The Army and Vietnam, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

  14  See Davies (2012); Krenpinevich (1986); Palazzo (2009).

  15  Ibid.; see also Nguyen (2012).

  16  Davies, email to author, 2 January 2015.

  17  See Dennis & Grey (1996); Bergerud, E. (1996) Touched with Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific, Viking, New York; Threlfall, A. (2014) Jungle Warriors: From Tobruk to Kokoda and Beyond, How the Australian Army Became the World’s Most Deadly Jungle Fighting Force, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

  18  See Palazzo (2009).

  19  See Davies (2012); Dennis & Grey (1996); Edwards (1992, 2014); Palazzo (2009).

  20  See Davies (2012); Horner, D.M. (1995) The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

  21  Palazzo (2009), p. 19.

  CHAPTER 5

  1 �
��See Avery, B. (2001) Our Secret War: The 4th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment: Defending Malaysia Against Indonesian Confrontation, 1965–1967, Slouch Hat Publications, Victoria; Denis & Grey (1996); Smith, N.C. (1999) Nothing Short of War: With the Australian Army in Borneo 1962–66, Citadel Press, Victoria.

  2  See Davies 2012; Horner, D.M. (2005) Strategic Command: General Sir John Wilton and Australia’s Asian Wars, Oxford University Press, Melbourne; Palazzo (2009).

  3  See Davies (2012).

  4  See Palazzo (2009).

  5  McAulay, L. (2005) Blue Lanyard, Red Banner: The Capture of a Vietcong Headquarters by 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Operation CRIMP 8–14 January 1966, Banner Books, Queensland, p. 110.

  6  Davies, pp. 146–7.

  7  McAulay (2005), p. 144; see also Thomson, J. & MacGregor, S. (2011) Tunnel Rats: The Larrikin Aussie Legends Who Discovered the Vietcong’s Secret Weapon, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, pp. 114–16.

  8  McAulay (2005), p. 145; see also Thomson & MacGregor (2011).

  9  Breen (2008), pp. 175–7; see also McAulay (2005); Davies (2012).

  10  See McAulay (2005); Greville, P. J. (2002) The Royal Australian Engineers 1945 to 1972: Paving the Way, Vol. 4, Corps Committee of the Royal Australian Engineers, Sydney; Mangold, T. & Penycate, J. (1985) The Tunnels of Cu Chi: A Remarkable Story of War, Guild Publishing, London; Thomson & MacGregor (2011).

  11  See Breen, B. (1988) First to Fight: Australian Diggers, NZ Kiwis and US Paratroopers in Vietnam,1965–66, Allen & Unwin, Sydney; Breen (2008); Blaxland (2008); Horner (2005); Palazzo (2009).

  12  Breen (2008), p. 179.

  13  See Palazzo (2009).