They were sent to jungles dark, shunned on their return and now 50 years later, Australian soldiers who fought in the longest and most costly battle in the Vietnam War find themselves in the nation's spotlight.
Sunday marks half a century since the Battle of Coral-Balmoral, an almost continuous series of fierce attacks fought over 26 days from May 13 to June 6, 1968.
Twenty-six Australians died and a hundred were wounded.
It's estimated that 300 North Vietnamese were killed in these actions, but exact figures will never be known.
Bill McLellan and Harry Northwood, were among the 3000 Australian soldiers involved and watched on from the public gallery of the lower house on Thursday as the nation's leaders paid tribute after question time.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged the battle was not widely known in Australia but was among the heaviest fighting endured.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was hard to imagine the conflict but also hard to fathom the frosty homecoming.
"For too long Australia closed its eyes and its heart to our Vietnam veterans," Mr Shorten said.
"It is the hard truth that too many Australians were sent into jungles dark and were shunned on their return."
Among the Australian wounded was Second Lieutenant Tim Fischer, later deputy prime minister.
A national service will be held this Sunday at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra.
