ON FIRST impression, there's nothing particularly remarkable about the Long Tan region of Vietnam, where 18 Australian soldiers were killed holding off thousands of Viet Cong some 50 years ago.

The site of one of the heaviest conflicts of the Vietnam War, as well as one of the few battles ever recorded to be won against such odds, looked nothing out of the ordinary for Vietnam veteran Brian Vickery when he first arrived in 1968.

"Nothing stood out about Long Tan, it was basically all rubber tree, part of a not very well run rubber plantation,” Mr Vickery said.

"But then again, rubber trees and rubber plants don't give you much cover.”

A 23-year veteran of the Australian Army, Mr Vickery came to learn of the ANZAC spirit which was never more evident than among those rubber trees on August 18, 1966, when 108 Australians dug in against between 1500 and 2500 enemy soldiers.

Initially a 'nasho' who was called up "kicking and squealing” from his home of Murwillumbah in 1966, Mr Vickery came to love the Australian Army after transferring to officer school during recruit training at Singleton.

While not in Vietnam during the 1966 battle, Mr Vickery spent time patrolling the region over his 13 months of service during Australia's longest ever war.

He recalls the foliage and openness of the Phuoc Tuy Province of South Vietnam, where the remarkable efforts of Australian Diggers repelled the enemy as darkness set in.

"Principally, the area around Long Tan was flat, so the people of D Company did it tough fighting that battle without cover,” Mr Vickery said.

"First contact was made around 3-4pm and after a couple more hours of light, darkness came in and the battle was raging strongly by then.

"Conditions were extremely tough for them and the rain and the darkness made life very difficult for those involved.”

In the battle's 50th year commemoration, on a day that coincides with Vietnam Veterans' Day, Mr Vickery said it was important to acknowledge the 60,000 Australian soldiers who served from 1962 to 1972.

Mr Vickery said a lot of lives were also lost or damaged after the war due to attitudes on Australia's Vietnam involvement.

"The Welcome Home Parade (1987) healed a lot of hurt, but it (acceptance) was a long time after that event and we lost a lot of young men who'd given up,” Mr Vickery said.

"It was difficult to get into the RSL when we first came home as we were considered to not have been in a war, which was tiresome.

"A lot of Vietnam vets felt they weren't being recognised for their effort and loyalty and I can assure you there's no greater soldier in the world than an Aussie and they did it in Vietnam with dedication.

”It was a shame they got treated so shabbily when they came home

Mr Vickery ran a Veterans' Day service in Kingscliff for five years where just this week, four plaques were dedicated to recognise 90 years of Legacy, Australian animals in war, Changi Prison and the 50 year commemoration of Long Tan. A service will be held at South Tweed Sports Club on August 18 to mark Vietnam Veterans Day.

Battle of Long Tan

• Casualties: 18 Australians killed, 24 wounded. 245-800 NVA killed, more than 1000 wounded.
• Services: Visit http://www.dva.gov.au for services.