His son had just turned one when Mr Scott left for a 12-month tour of Vietnam.

Mr Scott was based out of the southern port city of Vung Tau when he was sent on his first – and last – combat mission.

“Considering what happened that night I can confidently say I never want to see anything like it again,” he said.

Vietnam’s Battle of Coral–Balmoral occurred in May 1968 between the 1st Australian Task Force and the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong Main Force units, 40 kilometres north-east of Saigon.

Two Australian battalions were deployed to intercept enemy forces withdrawing from the capital. 

On May 12 the troops began occupation at Coral to establish a support base, their defences remained unfinished when at about 3.30am on May 13 it was attacked.

“The place was overrun and we weren’t yet up properly,” Mr Scott said.

“The Viet Cong took full advantage – we lost quite a lot of Australians that night.”

Eleven Australians were killed and 28 wounded, while the attackers lost 52 lives.

Just one day later, a further three Australians died in nearby patrol clashes.

“Time heals a lot of things and I’ve got a lot on my mind with things like Anzac Day to get involved in,” Mr Scott said.

“Those type of memories will always be there, but you’ll never get over it if you dwell on it.

At Wednesday’s Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Robertson Park, Mr Scott will direct the ceremony’s proceedings.

“On Anzac Day I’ll be thinking of those guys at Coral, some I only knew for a few hours, but you never forget.