HONOR AND FREEDOM. Today is Long Tan Day, and no that is not a reference to soaking up the sun to bolster your color in a sundress or khaki shorts. Long Tan Day is a historic day which is meant to honor those brave soldiers who fought and fell at the Battle of Long Tan on Aug. 18, 1966, during the Vietnam War.
Conflicts involving the northern and southern states of Vietnam boiled over after the rise of communism and the end of World War II leading to the Vietnam War breaking out in 1955. When a northern Vietnamese patrol boat torpedoed the USS Maddox in 1964, President Johnson called for airstrikes on Viet Cong boats resulting in the US entering the war as an ally to the southern states fighting for democracy.
Then in 1966, the People’s Army of Vietnam and some members of the 1st Australian Task Force were pinned down and outnumbered by Viet Cong insurgents at a rubber plantation on the outskirts of Long Tan.
Long Tan Day is celebrated to honor the bravery and steadfast commitment of the soldiers who held their ground on this day, despite the odds against them. Today serves as a reminder of human resilience. Light a candle to honor the allied soldiers who, when outnumbered 10 to one, resisted repeated attacks from the Viet Cong soldiers for over three hours.
Another idea to observe Long Tan Day: Take a few moments from your busy life to learn about history and the 3.2 million lives lost during the Vietnam conflict. If we understand the motivation for the actions of historical figures and their reasons for doing what they did, it can help us to interpret a better present and future by learning from our collective histories.
