How much do you know about Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War?

If I asked you a similar question about the World Wars including the Gallipoli Campaign, the Western Front, the Kokoda Track, and Hellfire Pass, would you be able to answer in more detail? Could you tell me about posthumous Victoria Cross Winner, forever 18-year-old Tasmanian Ordinary Seaman Edward "Teddy" Sheehan VC who, wounded and on the brink of death, strapped himself to an Oerlikon cannon on the sinking HMAS Armidaleto protect his mates.

My hypothesis is - you could.

Sadly, before spending time engaging with returned Australian Diggers in recent years, I learned about the decade long Vietnam War by listening to Red Gum's I Was Only 19, written by John Schumann, and the Cold Chisel classic Khe Sanh, penned by Don Walker.

"From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat, I'd been in and out of choppers now for months. And we made our tents a home, V.B. and pinups on the lockers, and an Asian orange sunset through the scrub," Schumann wrote.

Last Tuesday, August 18 was Vietnam Veterans Day and the commemoration of the Battle of Long Tan. As The Examiner journalist, Harry Murtough reflected: "The Battle of Long Tan took place on August 18, 1966 and saw 108 Australians from D Company 6RAR resist an attack from more than 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops".

The Battle of Long Tan, like many infamous battles, defined the Anzac spirit with qualities and characteristics of endurance, courage, ingenuity, and mateship coming to the fore. Long Tan is a province of South Vietnam where Viet Cong soldiers attacked Diggers who were woefully outnumbered.

Australian platoons had established a base at Nui Dat, four kilometres from where the battle took place in a rubber plantation. The Viet Cong attacked just as a storm broke causing confusion as the rubber plants disintegrated and dirt rose like a cloud exposing Australian soldiers who were blinded and, initially, without cover.

Eighteen diggers perished with 24 wounded. It would have been many more were it not for machine gun cover provided by troops from the nearby base who were able to offer significant support.

As I drove past the Cenotaph last Tuesday, late for a meeting and struggling to make up time, I noticed the familiar stance of veteran and Launceston Legacy Senior Vice-President, Legatee Terry Byrne OAM at the podium with a handful of a crowd supporting him.

I should have organised my day better.

Retired Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch told us that Mr Byrne was speaking about the importance of recognising the motivation to go to war, the challenges of serving in Vietnam, and the return home.

He also spoke of the struggle for recognition like that afforded those returned servicemen and women from the World Wars.

To his credit, Mr Byrne has committed his adult life to raising the profile of Vietnam veterans, acknowledging the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, and supporting widows and families.

The Gallipoli Peninsula has become a pilgrimage for our young people, and it is students who have led the revival of Anzac Day services where thousands flock to cenotaphs and memorials across the country to acknowledge the contribution of those who have served.

Yet there were only a handful of people present on Tuesday with the rain thankfully holding off for the service. Granted, the day doesn't attract a public holiday nor the status nor, perhaps, the challenging "celebratory" nature of Anzac Day. But we must do better.

Cold Chisel reminded us of overlooked Vietnam War heroes:

"About the long forgotten dockside guarantees. How there were no V-day heroes in 1973. How we sailed into Sydney Harbour, aaw an old friend but I couldn't kiss her. She was lined, and I was home to the lucky land," Walker wrote for Jimmy Barnes to sing.

Many people disagreed with Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. Consequently, our Diggers arrived home under the cover of darkness to avoid protests and animosity. It was a chaotic and divisive intervention in support of the US and aimed at stopping the spread of communism.

However, it was leaders of the day, the Prime Ministers, and the federal parliament, who made the call, not our brave military personnel who deserved far better when they returned home. We can't change history, but we can acknowledge and recognise past failures and acts that, with deeper understanding, were utterly wrong and utterly abhorrent.

Official World War I correspondent and historian, C.E.W. Bean, described the meaning of the Anzac spirit in his publication, Anzac to Amiens:

"... Anzac stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat," he wrote.

Vietnam veterans, like those from more "celebrated" wars deserve far more recognition and our utmost respect. They embody the Anzac spirit. They are the Anzac spirit. Many Vietnam War heroes live amongst us. Often quiet and unassuming, if you listen and ask questions, they will share their challenging and tragic experiences.

Lest we forget.