Troops honoured at Vietnam service

Australia's low casualty rate during the battle of Binh Ba was a tribute to those
who fought in the 1969 conflict during the Vietnam War, the federal government says.
Forty years ago on Saturday, more than 100 Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces perished
in the battle when Australian forces moved in on the south Vietnam village in the
early hours of the morning.
The soldiers were responding to a rocket-propelled grenade attack directed at an
Australian tank in the village, which was less than 10 kilometres from the soldiers'
taskforce base at Nui Dat.
During a two-day battle, helicopter, artillery and engineer support was utilised to
drive the enemy from the village.
Private Wayne Teeling was Australia's only death during the battle. However 11
soldiers were wounded.
"The death was a tragedy for Australia, but the low casualty rate was a tribute to
the professionalism of our soldiers," Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said at
a service in front of the Vietnam memorial in Canberra on Saturday.
"Today is not only a time to reflect, but a time to recognise the service and
sacrifice of those who fought at Binh Ba and all those who served Australia in the
Vietnam War."
At the conclusion of the service, Mr Griffin, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and
Defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston laid floral tributes at the steps of
the memorial.