AFTER a very well received Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration at the Long Tan Cross mural on Anzac Hill, the Gunnedah Historical Society will host the local premiere of Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan at The Civic.
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The highly acclaimed movie depicting scenes from the defining battle of the Vietnam War, will screen at The Civic on Thursday, September 12.
Tickets costing $20 will be available at the door, with a light supper served from 6pm before the movie at 7pm.
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Directed by Kriv Stenders (Red Dog) and produced by Martin Walsh, John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz, the movie stars Travis Fimmel as Major Harry Smith, who commanded 105 Australian men from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) and three New Zealanders in a four-hour battle on August 18, 1966.
In 2005, Harry Smith wrote the book The Battle of Long Tan: As Told by the Commanders, on which Danger Close was based.
Trapped in a rubber plantation, under attack by an estimated 2500 battle-hardened Viet Cong (VC) troops, 18 Australians died and between 245-800 Vietnamese were killed in the battle.
Danger Close was filmed in various Queensland locations, including Kingaroy, Gilston and Pimpama and was released on August 8.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith SG MC said he was very pleased the iconic battle of the Australian involvement in the battle at Long Tan had been made into a movie for the public screen - albeit 52 years down the track. He said the movie showed the courage and determination of his soldiers - more than half were national servicemen.
Gunnedah Historical Society has identified more than 80 Vietnam War veterans who were either born in Gunnedah or have lived in the area.
The two murals on the Water Tower Museum were commissioned by the society and painted by artist Jenny McCracken as a tribute to the service of all Vietnam War veterans.
