Forty-five years ago - in 1966 - one hundred and eighty soldiers of 6-RAR were patrolling in a rubber plantation in Vietnam when they encountered an estimated force of two thousand five hundred Vietcong - and this developed into a fire fight.
When the action ended eighteen Australians were dead and enemy losses were in the hundreds. It was a classical victory. In any other war, this would be celebrated in similar fashion to the victory over Rommel and his Africa corps in the western desert of Africa, or the long siege when Tobruk was held against impossible odds by " the Rats of Tobruk ".
But - this was a politically unpopular war and hence this spectacular military feat was consigned to the back pages of the history books - to be ignored and hopefully forgotten.
Over the years governments of both political persuasions have deemed it expedient to allow this victory to go unrewarded. Medals to those who fought in the battle of Long Tan were denied and all references to the action downgraded - until now.
Finally, 6-RAR has been awarded a " Citation for Gallantry " medal and there has been other recognition for individual bravery. It is long overdue- and the ageing men who served in that action have now been recognised.
It seems to be a fact of life that the armed forces have no say in events in which they are deployed by the government of the day, but politics plays a big part in whether they will be welcomed home as heroes - or shunned because the war has become politically unpopular.
At least the right thing has eventually been done - even if it is forty-five years late !
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