This Book ought to be available in every Australian Secondary School and Public Library.
It isn’t a Book about battles or combat; it is the personal, poetic and pictorial account of amazing, dedicated and often heroic Australian personnel deployed to the combat area of Vung Tau during the Vietnam War. Men and Women in their Youth, who as Service personnel, National Servicemen and Nurses, served courageously in the fight to save lives at the 1 Australian Field Hospital (1AFH).
Homage and respect are paid to all personnel who served at the 1AFH. Acknowledgement goes well beyond the Doctors and Nurses.
This 26 Chapter Book also hails the Clerks, Cooks, Carpenters, Chaplains, Field Medics, Ward Medics, Pilots, Surgeons, Dentists, Engineers, Hygienists, Storemen, Morgue Attendants, Radiographers, Entertainers, Psychologists, Projectionists, QStore, Supply Chain, Transport personnel, Pathologists, Physios, Pharmacists and Red Cross Volunteers. Yes, everyone needed to establish and maintain a fully operational Hospital.
We hear these personnel tell their own stories, in descriptive and often graphic detail, of their time In Country as they completed their “365 then a Wakey”.
Arrival at 1 AFH meant living in a hot, oppressive, sandy and disease ravaged area, where you were pushed to your physical and emotional limits, often for Hours or Days on-end, as you performed your vital role in supporting the saving of lives; seeing yourself and your mates from long-time to then short-time and eventually home.
To get themselves through, many turned to excessive drinking of alcohol at Messes when Off-duty, or in the many bars, clubs and establishments found nearby and further afield.
Pastimes also included a heavy dose of sport; such as volleyball, rugby union, sailing and swimming, to give release from the constant pressure and tension of working extended hours in a War zone; whilst being so far away from family and loved ones.
Without an avenue of release, many more would have failed to return home. Living in hell and dealing with trauma unfortunately and understandably, left many of these brave and dedicated Men and Women with the legacy of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
This is why we should all nurture and embrace all of our Vietnam Veterans.
Compelling, educational and historic in its content, this Book is outstanding: It pulls no punches.
Review By: Adrian Catt
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