VETERANS of conflicts and the Wagga community came together at Victory Memorial Gardens today to commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day.
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This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba during the war.
It was one of the major victories by the Australians in Vietnam and although they would encounter Communist Main Force units in the future, it effectively marked the end of such large-scale clashes.
One of the men involved in the battle is 69-year-old Gordon O'Brien.
The Wagga resident was a fort observer during the battle. He was only 19 years old at the time and served for 12 months during the war.
"My map reading had to be spot on because if I made a mistake, I could've killed a lot of my own people," Mr O'Brien said.
"The battle itself, there's been a lot written about it.
"There were a lot of civilians who were hit, which was no fault of anybody.
"We tried to put them in one place. But it was just complete and utter turmoil. People were running everywhere."
Mr O'Brien said the battle began after a rocket propelled grenade was fired at one of their tanks.
"I think that was his biggest mistake he ever made - it was the triggering point," he said.
"Today's commemorations mean a lot. The event brings back memories, especially this year with the 50th anniversary of Binh Ba."
Vietnam Veterans Day was originally known as Long Tan Day, chosen to commemorate the men of D Company, 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regimen, who fought in the battle of Long Tan in 1966.
On that day, 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought a pitched battle against more than 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation not far from the small village of Long Tan.
The Australians prevailed, but only after fighting in torrential rain for four hours.