Brotherhood and mateship were the themes of a Werribee service commemorating 50 years since the battle of Long Tan in the Vietnam War.
More than 100 people attended the morning service at the Station Place cenotaph on Thursday, paying tribute to those who fought and lost their lives.
Vietnam Veterans Association Melbourne West sub-branch secretary and Vietnam veteran Ray Matthew said the service was “absolutely fantastic”.
“A terrific part of being in the military services is the brotherhood, the mateship,” he said.
“As we reflected on Long Tan, we remembered our mates. But they were more than just mates … they’re family. When you lose one of them, you lose a family member.”
He said the Thursday service was not simply about the 18 Australians who died at Long Tan but all 521 Australians killed during the Vietnam War.
“They are all family to us,” he said.
“They never had the opportunity to father children or to see their kids and grandchildren grow up, to have a career. Everything was cut short and they deserve recognition and respect for that.”
During the battle of Long Tan, 108 young Australians and three New Zealanders from D Company, Royal Australian Regiment, resisted an attack by more than 1500 Viet Cong soldiers that resulted in 17 D Company members and one armoured corps trooper being killed.
