EMBARGO_ NOT FOR RELEASE BEFORE 6AM FRIDAY 31 MAY
FOR PRESS PM. No. 603/ 1968
AWARD OF UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL UNIT
CITATION
Statement by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr J( chn McEwen.
The Acting Prime Minister announced this morning that the
United States Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded to Company,
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, by the President of the United
States. President Johnson presented the Citation to the Prime Minister
( Mr Gorton) at the President's Ranch in Texas on Thursday.
The Citation which is the highest United States award that
can be given to a military unit, has been conferred on Company for
extraordinary heroism in the action fought at Long Tan on 18 August, 1966,
During the battle, I'D" Company was attacked on all sides by
an enemy force of regimental, size, supported by accurate and intense
mortar and recoil-less rifle fire. The leading platoon of the Company was
cut off. Numerous enemy attacks were halted and later the Company with
the support of artillery batteries and a squadron of armoured cavalry
forced the enemy to withdraw leaving behind 245 dead.
Australian casualties were 18 dead and 25 wounded.
This is only the second occasion on which this high American
honour has been conferred on an Australian Unit; the first being to the
3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment for outstanding gallantry at
Kapyong, South Korea on 24-25 April 1951.
The Acting Prime Minister said:
III congratulate the Officer Commanding and all members of
Company. W*% e are proud of them. The Citation adds fresh
lustre to Australia's military tradition."
The citation reads:
" By virtue of the authority vested in me as Presdent of the
United States and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
the United States, I have today awarded the Presidential Unit
Citation ( Army) for extriaordinary heroism to Company Sixth
Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, the Australian Army.
Company, Sixth Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, distinguished
itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations
against an opposing armed force in Viet Nam on 18 August 1966.
While searching for Viet Cong in a rubber plantation northeast of
Ba Ria, Phuoc Tuy Province, Republic of Viet Nam, Company
n-iet and immediately became engaged in heavy contact. As the
battle developed, it became apparent that the men of Company
were facing a numerically superi or force. The platoons of I'D"
Company were surrounded and attacked on all sides by an estimated 2
-2-
reinforced enemy battalion using automatic weapons, small
arms and mortars. Fighting courageously against a well-armed
and determined foe, the men of Company maintained their
formations in a common perimeter defence and inflicted heavy
casualties upon the Viet Cong. The enemy maintained a
continuous, intense volume of fire and attacked repeatedly from
all directions. Each successive assault was repulsed by the
courageous Australians. Heavy rainfall and a low ceiling
prevented any friendly close air support during the battle.
After three hours of savage attacks, having failed to penetrate
the Australian lines, the enemy withdrew from the battlefield
carrying many dead and wounded, and leaving 245 Viet Cong
dead forward of the defence position of Company. The
conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity and indomitable courage of
1D" Company were in the highest tradition of military valour
and reflect great credit upon Company, Sixth Battalion, the
Royal Australian Regiment and the Australian Army.
A number of British awards for gallantry in the Long
Tan action have already been aninounced. Members of Company won
a Military Cross, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and three Military
Medals. Four members were Mentioned-in-Despatches.
CANBERRA,
a 31 May 1963