In 1966 with gunfire and rain blaring in the background, a very young Little Pattie performed for weary troops at Nui Dat on the day of the Battle of Long Tan.
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Veteran John Curtis saw her third show while serving in the 5th Battalion.
“There were guns and canons going on, rifle-fire and the rain while we were trying to listen to Pattie and Col Joye,” Mr Curtis said.
Last week, he was reunited with the star herself.
Little Pattie performed for an enraptured crowd at the Civic Theatre on Thursday.
“Performing to veterans is really one of the best experiences for a performer, especially if you’ve been to Vietnam and Iraq like I have,” she said.
“It’s always lovely to see them and just lovely to be in their company.”
John’s wife Barbara was married to him while he was serving. Tragically, her brother Peter Lyons was killed in operation while serving with the 2nd Battalion.
“I’m very teary, John always used to talk about seeing them,” she said.
25 veterans and their wives from Wagga, Junee and Cowra attended the show together.
A memorial for Mr Lyons will be erected in Junee early next year.
