LONG CANBERRA, March 31 AAP - Governor-General Quentin Bryce has approved additional awards for those who fought in the battle of Long Tan in Vietnam more than 40 years ago.
Those who fought in the battle - the soldiers of Delta Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) - will receive a unit citation for gallantry.
RAAF helicopter pilot Flight Lieutenant Cliff Dohle, of Lilydale, Victoria, who died in February last year, will also be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, an upgrade to the "mentioned in despatches" previously awarded.
The decision follows an inquiry in 2009 by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal into unresolved issues relating to medals awarded to those who fought at Long Tan, the most significant single action of Australian involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
On August 18, 1966, 100 soldiers of D Company fought off an overwhelming enemy force. Eighteen of them died.
However, there were persistent complaints that participants were not adequately recognised under the then imperial honours system.
The tribunal said many men behaved gallantly that day but not all had been formally recognised with an individual award.
It concluded that it would be appropriate to recognise the extraordinary bravery in action with the Unit Citation for Gallantry.
In the case of Flight Lieutenant Dohle, who piloted an Iroquois helicopter to resupply the besieged soldiers with ammunition at the height of the battle, the tribunal noted he was initially recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross but that was not accepted in Australia.
It concluded he should be posthumously awarded the contemporary award of the Distinguished Service Medal.
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