For some reason, Aussies dont hand out Medals very often.
The "End or war list" for Vietman was a disgrace from the start, politics you see.
At least, some of our boys have finally received the recognitian they deserve.
After 42 years of waiting, some of the combatants in Australia's most significant battle of the Vietnam War, are to receive their medals.
They were recommended for medals after the Battle of Long Tan but the honours never came. Today the Australian Government will announce changes to the nation's military awards.
Presenter: Samantha Donovan
Speakers: Alan Griffin, Veteran Affairs Minister; Harry Smith, Vietnam Veteran
HARRY SMITH: Oh I think it's wonderful, I think justice has been done.
My soldiers, mostly national servicemen, performed over and above what was required of them that day. There were guns and rockets and bombs going everywhere.
Everybody did exactly what they were trained to do. They fired their weapons, they ran their mates alongside and they helped each other, they helped get the wounded back to the aid post. And you couldn't expect any more of these guys. And that's why I've been pushing to get their gallantry awards for them.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: The Federal Government has finally agreed to award Harry Smith the Star of Gallantry, which he says he'll accept on behalf of all his men, particularly the 18 who were killed at Long Tan.
His platoon commanders Dave Sabben and Geoff Kendall will be offered the Medal for Gallantry, recognising they never received the awards Harry Smith recommended them for.
And the entire D Company 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment is finally being given permission to wear the Gallantry Crosses with the citation emblem awarded to them in 1966 by the then Republic of Vietnam.
Veteran Affairs Minister Alan Griffin says today's announcement is long overdue.
ALAN GRIFFIN: This has been a battle for recognition, due recognition to everyone who was part of the Battle of Long Tan. The fact is, it shouldn't have taken this long.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Harry Smith blames the military system of the day for his men not getting the awards he recommended them for.
HARRY SMITH: The scale for awards for Vietnam was reduced by half, two days before the Battle of Long Tan, on the basis that our generals thought that Vietnam was not as serious a conflict as Korea.
I don't particularly blame any particular senior officer but it was the system.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Harry Smith has campaigned for the original recommendations to be honoured since secrecy restrictions were lifted on several documents 12 years ago.
He says the biggest problem was that the awarding of medals couldn't be reviewed by an ombudsman or court.
HARRY SMITH: You know it's very difficult to argue with pure bloody-mindedness, if I could say that, amongst advisors who don't know what war is all about.
And they refused to accept the word of people like myself and my officers that were involved in the war. And now that the ALP has introduced a new tribunal I would suggest a whole new system will be there for other veterans who might have similar problems.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: And Harry Smith's battle to have the veterans of Long Tan properly recognised isn't quite over yet.
He's ready to give evidence to the Federal Government's newly established Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal when it considers the cases of another two officers and nine soldiers who were recommended for awards they never received.
The "End or war list" for Vietman was a disgrace from the start, politics you see.
At least, some of our boys have finally received the recognitian they deserve.
After 42 years of waiting, some of the combatants in Australia's most significant battle of the Vietnam War, are to receive their medals.
They were recommended for medals after the Battle of Long Tan but the honours never came. Today the Australian Government will announce changes to the nation's military awards.
Presenter: Samantha Donovan
Speakers: Alan Griffin, Veteran Affairs Minister; Harry Smith, Vietnam Veteran
HARRY SMITH: Oh I think it's wonderful, I think justice has been done.
My soldiers, mostly national servicemen, performed over and above what was required of them that day. There were guns and rockets and bombs going everywhere.
Everybody did exactly what they were trained to do. They fired their weapons, they ran their mates alongside and they helped each other, they helped get the wounded back to the aid post. And you couldn't expect any more of these guys. And that's why I've been pushing to get their gallantry awards for them.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: The Federal Government has finally agreed to award Harry Smith the Star of Gallantry, which he says he'll accept on behalf of all his men, particularly the 18 who were killed at Long Tan.
His platoon commanders Dave Sabben and Geoff Kendall will be offered the Medal for Gallantry, recognising they never received the awards Harry Smith recommended them for.
And the entire D Company 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment is finally being given permission to wear the Gallantry Crosses with the citation emblem awarded to them in 1966 by the then Republic of Vietnam.
Veteran Affairs Minister Alan Griffin says today's announcement is long overdue.
ALAN GRIFFIN: This has been a battle for recognition, due recognition to everyone who was part of the Battle of Long Tan. The fact is, it shouldn't have taken this long.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Harry Smith blames the military system of the day for his men not getting the awards he recommended them for.
HARRY SMITH: The scale for awards for Vietnam was reduced by half, two days before the Battle of Long Tan, on the basis that our generals thought that Vietnam was not as serious a conflict as Korea.
I don't particularly blame any particular senior officer but it was the system.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: Harry Smith has campaigned for the original recommendations to be honoured since secrecy restrictions were lifted on several documents 12 years ago.
He says the biggest problem was that the awarding of medals couldn't be reviewed by an ombudsman or court.
HARRY SMITH: You know it's very difficult to argue with pure bloody-mindedness, if I could say that, amongst advisors who don't know what war is all about.
And they refused to accept the word of people like myself and my officers that were involved in the war. And now that the ALP has introduced a new tribunal I would suggest a whole new system will be there for other veterans who might have similar problems.
SAMANTHA DONOVAN: And Harry Smith's battle to have the veterans of Long Tan properly recognised isn't quite over yet.
He's ready to give evidence to the Federal Government's newly established Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal when it considers the cases of another two officers and nine soldiers who were recommended for awards they never received.
