As the sun went down on Monday evening a small gathering of Vietnam veterans and their families stood still to remember the battle and the many who saw the sun rise for the last time on that day and other days during the war.

Leeton Returned Service League sub-branch president John Power led the ceremony for Vietnam Veterans Day at the Leeton Soldiers Club.

“It is hard to believe we were there,” he said.

“Let’s take this day to give a thought for those who never came home.”

Mr Power said Vietnam veterans should keep fighting for their entitlements and due recognition for their service.

“There was more to Vietnam than the Battle of Long Tan,” he said.

“We were soldiers and we did what the government asked of us.

“The biggest problem was we were never recognised, we were blamed for the war.

“I couldn’t event wear my uniform on public transport. You wouldn’t dare tell people you had been to Vietnam, or you became a target.”

Mr Power said last week’s formal recognition of Australian and South Korean soldiers in Vietnam was overdue, but very welcome.

This year was the first time returned soldiers could wear gallantry medals awarded by the former Republic of Vietnam.

He said soldiers are better treated by the government and the public today, but admitted he would not want to be involved in current conflicts.

“I would hate to be going to Afghanistan,” he said.

“In some ways it is similar to what we went through, you never knew who your enemy was, they would be talking to you by day and shooting at you at night.”

Mr Power said Australians are often better at dealing in such conflicts and in respecting the people that live there.

“They deal with the locals better and treat them with more respect,” he said.