The Vietnam War veteran said he had returned from the harsh battlefields, set in dense jungle and rubber plantations, to controversy, denial and indifference. 

But now, he said everything had changed, with the efforts and sacrifices of soldiers having been recognised Australia-wide since the ‘80s. 

Mr Todd shared his relief ahead of this year’s Vietnam Veterans Day commemorative service at Victory Memorial Gardens. 

The Wagga man will be among a number of city veterans to honour fallen mates and remember experiences on Saturday, from 11am. 

Called to National Service in 1967, Mr Todd, a 20-year-old Deniliquin boy, spent almost one “life-changing” year in Vietnam.

Painting a picture across twelve months, the 71-year-old recalled the weather-bound landscape changing from hot, dry and dusty to wet, sticky and muddy.

Mr Todd said the ever-present sound of aircraft and choppers became the soundtrack of the war. 

Of about 60,000 Australians who fought across the war, 140 had listed their place of birth as Wagga; 103 were from Griffith, 44 from Narrandera; 57 from Temora; 65 from Leeton; and 20 from Gundagai.

While the annual day of remembrance is aligned with the notorious Battle of Long Tan – considered Australia’s fiercest battle of the war – this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Coral-Balmoral. 

Mr Todd said the little-known 26-day incursion had been “nerve-wracking”, “hectic” and “hair-raising”. 

The battle began on May 12 in ‘68 and resulted in the loss of 26 Australian lives, with a further 109 wounded. 

The former corporal of the Royal Australian Engineers said and other veterans who participated in the battle were this year awarded a Unit Citation for Gallantry; a medal Mr Todd said he would wear with pride.

“We were protecting the country … looking out for every Australian back home,” Mr Todd said. “Not one of us thought differently.” 

The Battle of Coral-Balmoral was a series of fierce attacks fought in Vietnam 50 years ago this May.

But Mr Todd said his return home had been “gut-wrenching”, when the loud anti-war voices refused to welcome back the soldiers as “diggers who fought in a war for Australia”. 

He said it was hard to keep emotions in check, until their service was officially recognised more than two decades later. 

“Since then, it’s been a relief,” Mr Todd said. “We did fight the good fight in service of our country.” 

City residents are encouraged to attend the commemorative service on Saturday, honouring the men and women, who “made the supreme sacrifice” and those who made it home with “mixed up heads and bodies”.

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