Two of about 20 Vietnam war veterans living in Northland have already put their name in a ballot for a trip to Canberra for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
Now Percy Blundell and Bill Lillicrapp are urging other Vietnam War veterans to fill in their applications to stand a chance to be among 35 from New Zealand vets selected to attend the commemorations on August 18, this year.
The Battle of Long Tan (August 18, 1966) took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.
Eighteen soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States were killed and 24 wounded. Northlander Brigadier Harry Honnor was the commander of the 161 Battery that put 1100 rounds of ammunition within two-and-a-half hours to support the Royal Australian regiment during the battle.
He died last year. Commemorations will be held in Wellington and Canberra in August.