The Narooma veteran was wounded in the Battle of Nui Le, on September 21, 1971, the last major battle for Australians in South Vietnam. His small group faced 300 enemy fighters: "Out of the 30 guys, 16 got wounded. The enemy tried to circle us, we were pulling back, otherwise we would have all been killed. They started dropping mortars on us and I got hit in the shoulder. We had to call in the artillery, thanks to the Kiwis. It was horrifying; you were on edge all the time."

The helicopter was hit and had to take off before he could be properly loaded: "We were choppered out.through the canopy; it was the scariest part because I was lying in the basket and there was still shooting - a sitting duck."

He has empathy for others: "Our battle wasn't the biggest; I can't even imagine what it was like for the guys at the Battle of Long Tan." Seeing a movie about Long Tan was confronting: "Half the time I was on the floor, nearly under the seat, I can only imagine what Delta company in Long Tan went though."

Mr Bennett said the battle lasted about 30 minutes - his memories last forever, as does the grief of those who lost loved ones.

READ MORE: Narooma marks Vietnam Veterans Day 2019.

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