Kevin Meade | October 13, 2007
HARRY Smith last night savoured a celebratory beer as he marked what might be the end of an 11-year campaign to have the bravery of the men who fought with him at Long Tan finally recognised.
Long Tan commander Harry Smith at the Hyde Park memorial in Sydney
Vietnam veterans yesterday welcomed an announcement by John Howard that the federal Government would conduct an inquiry into the downgrading of medals awarded to heroes of the battle of Long Tan.
Vietnam Veterans Federation spokesman Graham Walker said the inquiry, which matches a commitment by Labor, was long overdue.
Veterans of Long Tan, the best-known battle fought by Australians in the Vietnam War, have long complained that Diggers singled out for bravery awards were not given due recognition.
A force of 105 soldiers of Delta Company, 6 RAR Battalion, fought in driving rain against a Viet Cong force of between 1500 and 2500 troops in the Long Tan rubber plantation on August 18, 1966. Seventeen Australians died and 21 were wounded. After four hours of fighting, the Viet Cong fled. About 245 of them were killed and many more wounded.
Delta Company Commander Major Harry Smith was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order, which at the time was second only to a Victoria Cross. Instead, his award was downgraded to a Military Cross.
He recommended that two of his platoon commanders -- Dave Sabben and Geoff Kendall -- be awarded the Military Cross, but their awards were downgraded to mentions in dispatches.
Mr Smith, now a 76-year-old retiree and keen yachtsman, has been campaigning for a review of the awards since the mandatory 30-year-old secrecy period ended in 1996, allowing him to finally speak out about Long Tan. He learned of Mr Howard's announcement while sailing to Port Douglas, in north Queensland.
"I'm very pleased," he told The Weekend Australian when he reached port. "This has been an 11-year battle."
He said Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson was the only minister to have taken an interest. "But I'd also like to say that because I also went to the Labor Party and pushed it with them, I believe it has forced the Government to do something about it.
"Under the old imperial system ... the guys who were up the front shooting the bullets and taking all the action, they were the ones who didn't get rewarded; it was always the leaders. I'm personally pleased to see that justice might finally be done."
