The man who led Australian troops into battle in the most famous engagement of the Vietnam War has died.
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Arthur Smith, who was the most significant front-line officer in the most iconic Australian battle in the Vietnam War died on Sunday at home in Buderim, Queensland aged 90.
On August 18, 1966, now ensconced at the Australian base at Nui Dat in Vietnam, Smith’s Delta Company was sent out to the Long Tan rubber plantation, five kilometres to the east, to look for Viet Cong who had launched a mortar attack upon them.Australian Army “Leave the guns to the gunners,” Townsend replied crisply, in a voice that reminded Smith he was talking to a superior officer. But the Ratcatcher would not be bowed. Shouting over the roar of gunfire, he barked back:The line went dead, but only a short time later, all four batteries, all 24 guns –were on the job.
But things remained grim. As swarms of brave VC soldiers kept getting closer, Smith sent out a famous order through to the Nui Dat artillery Fire Control Centre. “Drop fifty, Danger Close, Fire for effect.”‘If you don’t send someone out in ten minutes, forget us – we’ll be gone.
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