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Portarlington’s Peter Nash. Photo: Matthew O’Donnell/Hails + Shine.
Episode 3345 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Peter Nash, the Australian Vietnam Vet. who opened up about the War. The story is titled: ‘No one ever asked’: Portarlington Vietnam veteran reflects 60 years on from Long Tan. It appeared on the Bellarine Times website and was submitted by Tahlia Sinclair.
Sinclair reported that Vietnam Veteran Peter Nash carried the memories of war home with him—but, like so many members of the Vietnam Veteran generation, he rarely spoke about what he experienced. Conscripted at just 20 years old, Nash was among approximately 15,000 Australian national servicemen who served in Vietnam. Deployed in June 1966, he spent a year facing the realities of the Vietnam War.
Some of his most enduring memories came from 18 August 1966—the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant battles in Australian military history. For three and a half hours, just 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought an estimated 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops in torrential monsoonal rain. Nash remembers the desperate struggle for survival, the critical role of Australian artillery, and the heartbreaking days spent burying the dead.
Like countless Vietnam veterans, Nash returned home to a nation that did not always understand or appreciate their service. Many veterans remained silent, carrying their experiences alone. Recognition finally began to arrive with the 1987 Australian Vietnam Forces Welcome Home Parade, when approximately 22,000 Vietnam veterans marched through Sydney.
Nearly 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War, and around 500 Australians were killed. Their courage, sacrifice, resilience, and commitment deserve our deepest respect.
As we mark Vietnam Veterans Day and the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, we honor Peter Nash and every Australian who served in Vietnam. These men and women answered the call of duty, endured unimaginable challenges, and carried the burden of war long after returning home.
The Vietnam Veteran generation is a generation of courage, sacrifice, duty, and honor. Their service matters, their stories matter, and their legacy must never be forgotten. We remember. We honor. We thank all our Vietnam Veterans.
Listen to episode 3345 and discover more about the Australian Vietnam Vet. Who told his story.
