Vets mark 48th anniversary of bloody battle

Vietnam vets and VC recipient gather to remember.

Veterans gather to commemorate the battle of Coral-Balmoral at the Tweed Cenotaph on Thursday. Picture: Scott Davis

VICTORIA Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith joined 305 Vietnam veterans and their families at the Tweed Cenotaph on Thursday to commemorate the 48th anniversary of Australia’s largest and bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War.

Two F/A-18F Super Hornets flew in from the ocean and shot over the ceremony on the stroke of 5pm to close an emotional service honouring the 26Australian servicemen who lost their lives during the battle of Balmoral and Coral, plus the 109 men who were wounded and those who have since fallen.

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith and reunion conveyer Gary Prendergast following the service. Picture: Scott Davis

Mr Roberts-Smith, who received his Victoria Cross for his actions during a helicopter assault into Tizak in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province in 2010, said he cherished the opportunity to show his respect for the soldiers he looked up to.

“From my perspective, it’s a great privilege for a bloke like me, who spent his life reading books about Coral, to be here,” Mr Roberts- Smith said.

“I looked up to these guys and it’s one of the things that got me into the army.”

Mr Roberts-Smith said it was important to remember the 26-day battle, which resulted in the largest loss of life for Australia throughout the entire Vietnam War.

“It was the first time during the Vietnam War that we’d actually engaged the North Vietnamese Army,” he said.

“And the way they performed on those days set the tone for how Australians would be respected by the Viet Cong, the NVA and the enemy for the rest of the war.

“We can’t, we won’t ever forget that, and it’s really important we make sure we continue to show the respect.”

Australia will show respect to participants in another battle of the Vietnam War, the Battle of Long Tan, with a host of planned commemorations to mark its 50th anniversary in August.

Battle of Coral-Balmoral 48th anniversary commemoration

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