'Nam veterans pause to remember conflict that defined a generation

"The are a couple of battles often highlighted, but there were battles every day - some unit was in some conflict somewhere," Mr Franklin said.

"You had to be alert 24/7, even when you were having a couple of hours off, you were still alert."

Mr Drysdale said the constant risk of conflict was mentally draining.

"I've often heard it said that war is hours or days of boredom, followed by moments of absolute terror, and you never knew when those moments of terror were going to take place," he said.

"You didn't know if you were going to step on a mine or get shot by someone.

"I can't speak for everyone, but it certainly did play on my mind in the bush, just not knowing if you were going to finish up with two legs at the end of the day."

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Mr Franklin said for the veterans, the day wasn't about sharing old war stories.

"When we get together - we're all the same, we're brothers - we don't talk war or anything like that, we don't need to," he said.

"We think of what we did, what our mates did and our friends that didn't come home."

The pair said they've noticed the community had a better understanding of the Vietnam War, and the way its veterans were treated upon their return home.

But there are still lessons to be learnt from that part of the nation's history, Mr Franklin said.

"We need to learn from how they treated Vietnam veterans - let's not treat the current veterans like that," he said.

"They're young, they should be treated well and looked after. At the moment the Veterans Affairs hasn't got a good track record."

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"The suicide rate among post-1973 veterans is higher than Vietnam veterans, and ours was bad enough," Mr Drysdale said.

The Tamworth service will be held on Sunday the Vietnam War Memorial on the corner of Marius and Brisbane street at 5pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony, which will go for about half an hour.