CONTINUED
1. Feb.1967. Battle with 6RAR at Hoi My. (see Hoi My at bottom centre of Phuoc Tuy province map)
2. June 1967. Attack on the American 9th Division at Kim Long.
3. During Tet 1968, attack on the American base at Long Binh.
4. Farly 1969. Attack on the American 25th Division.
5. May 1969. Attack on 4th Regiment ARVN 18th Division
. The meetings with these people were interesting and informative and provided an insight into the motivation of the VC forces that had eluded me for 20 years. The accounts of the Long Tan Battle were only part of the reason I had for the interviews with the people involved and discussion ranged over many issues, political and social as well as military. The answers and accounts of the Long Tan action given by them do not provide definitive answers, but they are at least the start of a dialogue that hopefully can be pursued by historians at a later date.
Dr Terry Burstall, Ph.D, B.A., Dip. Ed.
39 Arnija Court FERNY HILLS QLD 4055
(07)3511918
1. Terry Burstall, 'The Soldiers' Story: The Battle at Xu Long Tan'. University of Queensland Press', 1986
2. Terry Burstall, 'A Soldier Returns: A Long Tan Veteran Discovers the Other Side ot Vietnam'. University of Queensland Press, 1990.
3. The Phoenix Program was initiated in 1967, but did not get into full swing until 1968. The program was aimed at rooting out the VC cadres and support structure in the villages and according to American documents of neutralised as stated is: 'Neutralization means to sentence individual, or to make them rally (come over to the government of South Vietnam), or kill them'. The scheme degenerated into corruption and led to the murder of many innocent civilians because some people saw it as a way of settling old scores.
4. In 1966, 5 Division was one of two Viet Cong Dlvisions operating in or adjacent to 3 Corps. 5 Division in 1966 consisted of two regiments; 274 and 275 and had an estimated strength of 3,500-3,700 men. The other VC Division was 9 Division which had three regiments. 271, 272 and 273 and was thought to have a strength of 5,400. As well there was thought to be 3 regiments of North Vietnamese Army ~NVA) troops. the 101st, the 141st and the 250th.
5. The D445 or 860 was the main force battalion whose area of responsibility was Phuoc Tuy province, part of Bien Hoa province and part of Long Khanh province. In 1966 its estimated strength was 450. As well there was the Chau Duc company with an estimated strength of 100 and possibly eight village platoons of 20 to 25 men each. plus the cadres in the villages.
6. 11 (the) Field Force Vietnam, was the American unit in charge of Free World (not South Vietnamese) military forces in 111(3) Corps. The Australian force was part of, and under the command of 11 Field Force Vietnam. However, the Americans could only request, not order, Australian participation in operations. The Commander of Australian forces in Vietnam (COMAFV) had the power of veto should requests not fall within the parameters of a directive which had been drawn up set ting out the Australian Task Force role in Vietnam. For instance, Australians could not participate in operations near the Cambodian border, as Australia still retained diplomatic relations with Cambodia and there was a fear of border incidents.
Long Tan Index
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