Australia joined the Vietnam war because they were a close ally of America , which is involved with the war. They also joined because South Vietnam ask for Australia’s help for the war

The first group of people are the AATTV also known as the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. The AATTV had approximately 30 people made of officers and warrant in the group, their mission was to train the South Vietnam troops.

Warrant Officer Class 2, Kevin Conway of the AATTV, died on 6 July 1964, side by side with 115 dead and wounded South Vietnam soldiers, 9 dead and wounded American soldiers during a sustained Viet Cong attack on Nam Dong Special Forces Camp, becoming Australia's first battle casualty.

At the end of 1964 there were more than 200 Australian soldiers at Vietnam.

The 600 regular army soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment(1RAR) were attached to the US 173rd Airborne Brigade on arrival, participating in several operations in Bien Hoa province.

The Battle of Long Tan is arguably the most famous battle fought by the Australian Army during the Vietnam War. On the night of 17-18 August, the Viet Cong 275th Regiment fired over 100 mortar rounds into the 103 Battery area and 24 Australian soldiers were wounded, one later dying from his wounds. Australia , New Zealand and America had over 100+ soldiers fighting of around 1500+ VC soldiers. The battle lasted for a whole day , 18 soldiers died and 21 wounded

Australia's peak commitment at any one time was 7672 combat troops and New Zealand's, 552, in 1969. New Zealand first committed a detachment of engineers and an artillery battery, and then started sending special forces. New Zealand infantry units were also integrated into RAR battalions serving with 1ATF after March 1968. These combined battalions being designated "ANZAC Battalions”

On 23 February 1967 in Huong Tra, Vietnam, Major Badcoe rescued, under heavy fire, a United States Medical Adviser. On 7 March he led his company in an attack and turned what seemed to be certain defeat into a victory. Again, on 7 April he attempted to lead his company against more powerful opposition. This final act of bravery resulted in his death. The main hall at OCS Portsea was named in his honor.

Victoria CrossAustralian

Active Service Medal 1945-1975

Vietnam Medal

Australian Defense Medal

U.S. Silver Star

U.S. Purple Heart

U.S. Air Medal South Vietnam Gallantry Cross

South Vietnam Wound MedalSouth Vietnam Campaign Medal

They started to withdraw the Australian soldiers on November 1970, the first time an Australian unit was sent home without replacement. Australian combat forces were reduced during 1971. It was on 1st July 1973 all soldiers returned.

In Australia, resistance to the war was at first very limited, although the Australian Labor Party (in opposition for most of the period) steadfastly opposed conscription. However, anti-war sentiment escalated rapidly in the late 1960s as more and more Australian soldiers were killed in battle. The introduction of conscription by the Australian Government during the war also enraged some, and groups of people resisted the call to military service (which was punishable by imprisonment) by burning the letters notifying them of their conscription.

Service in the war was unpopular and opposition to it generated negative views of veterans in some quarters. In the years following the war, some Vietnam veterans experienced social exclusion and problems readjusting to society. Some World War II veterans held negative views and attitudes toward the Vietnam War veterans and as a result many Australian Vietnam veterans were excluded from joining the Returned Servicemen's League . They also weren't excepted on the ANZAC day parades.

on 3 October 1987, Australian Vietnam veterans were honored at a "Welcome Home" parade in Sydney and it was there that a campaign for a Vietnam memorial began

There were around 520 dead 2,400 woundedAustralian soldiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

http://www.vietnamgear.com/gallery.aspx