A GRUNTS VIEW

A Diggers viewpoint of being at the sharp end. Gained while serving with 3 Platoon - 'A' Company -7 Battalion (Infantry) Royal Australian Regiment, as a Rifleman in Australia's longest ever war - fought in South Vietnam.  

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"BOOKS & SITE LINKS & LANGUAGE OF THE VIETNAM WAR

SUBJECTS ON THIS PAGE

  • Vitnam Era Books -
  • Australian Titles
  • USA Titles
  • World War One Titles
  • Words for "I Was Only 19"
  • The Language of the Vietnam War
  • ANZAC Digger for this page
  • Oink at Kapooka in 1969  

 

 

This section page has been created from the old 'Order' page and at this stage this page will list in the first instance, Books and Magazines that cover the Vietnam War. Next will be added books that deal with the ANZACS in other Wars and conflicts. The page will also list books of interest about other conflicts. added.

Please don't forget to BOOKMARK this site before you move on!~! and please sign the Guestbook;-)

VIETNAM ERA BOOKS - AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS

CONSCRIPTS and REGULARS 
With the Seventh Battalion in Vietnam.
Written by Major General Mike O'Brien

Published in 1995 by Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd: Story of 7 Battalion's two Tours of Vietnam, 1967 to 1968 and 1970 to 1971.

A Copy of the book is in the White House Library after Tony Blake gave a copy to President Clinton in Sydney during the President's visit to Australia in 1997.

SEVEN IN SEVENTY
A Pictorial Record of Seventh Battalion
The Royal Australian Regiment's Tour of Vietnam 1970-71
Written & Published by 7 Battalion 1971.

 

 

Here is it after a very long wait.

7RAR's third book of it Two Tours of Vietnam. It is sub-titled "Through A Soldier's Lens".

I am pleased to say that the editors thought some of my images of our Tour good enough to publish in the Book.

 

Here is a book written by a fellow PIG, Barry Heard. He is fact served with the Battalion during its FirstTour 1967-68 its called:-

"WELL DONE THOSE MEN".

 

Here is a book with a difference written by Brian W McFarlane a Member of the Royal Australian Regiment for many years. The book is a true Australian Adventure Story. The book has its own webb-site, address below and the book's title:- "WE BAND OF BROTHERS"

    http://webandofbrothers.tripod.com

"80 people contributed over 20,000 images and I produced a 200-page full colour coffee table book which contained almost 600 of them".

STEVE LEWIS:- "I was a ninth intake Nasho and arrived in Vietnam on October 4 1968. I was a clerk in HQ Battery, 12 Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery. " " I've always liked Spike Milligan's comment (that he attributed to Hitler) ... "They also serve who only type in triplicate". " My medal was posted to me and some wanker in a pub told me I hadn't earned the right to wear an RSL badge so I threw it away and got on with my life."

"Then one day I stumbled across some slides from my tour".

"The only thing I did wrong was forget the Navy, so using the same formula I have just completed "Voyages to Vietnam" which has a few more pages, about 100 more photos and will be launched in Brisbane on May 30 by the Chief of the Navy, Admiral Ritchie.

The first book sells for $59.95 plus $10.00 postage and handling, anywhere in Australia. The second book will sell for $69.95 plus $10.00 postage and handling. Both books ordered together will be $119.90 plus $10.00 postage and handling.

 "BEHIND ENEMY LINES" An Australian SAS Soldier in Vietnam

by TERRY O'FARREL

There are many books today on the market about the activities of the SAS in many parts of the world, however their Tours carried out in Vietnam are still an untold part of the Australian Regiment's History.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Regiment to read first hand of the incredable skill of its Diggers who met and defeated the Viet Cong in its own backyard. Terry's account of his two tours as a SAS Trooper is at times nail biting stuff but told with an easy off hand manner that makes light of the true courage of these indeed "Special Air Soldiers".

 "JUNGLE TRACKS" Australian Armour in Vietnam

by GARY McKAY M.C. & GRAEME NICHOLAS

While my experience with Armour is limited to the few mentions on my pages in this web site; I was filled with admiration at the dedication of the "tankies" who faced terrible injuries from the mines and RPGs employed by our enemies. This is not a story to miss if you want to know about real heroics by ordinary soldiers on a day to day basis while supporting the Grunts.

 "COMBAT BATTALION" The Eighth Battalion in Vietnam

by ROBERT A HALL

  "FIRST TO FIGHT"

Australian Diggers, NZ Kiwis and US Paratroopers of the 173rd Brigade

by BOB BREEN

"A JUNGLE CIRCUS" Memories of Vietnam by MIKE TOWERS  

 "CROSSFIRE" an Australian Reconnaissance Unit in Vietnam"

by PETER HARAN & ROBERT KEARNEY

 "FLASHBACK" Echoes from a Hard War

by PETER HARAN & ROBERT KEARNEY

  "DELTA FOUR" Australian Riflemen in Vietnam

by GARY McKAY M.C.

"IN GOOD COMPANY" one mans war in Vietnam

by GARY McKAY M.C.

 "The BATTLE Of CORAL"

Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral

by LEX McAULAY

 "SLEEPING WITH YOUR EARS OPEN"

On Patrol with the Australian SAS

by LEX McAULAY

"VIEW FROM A LOW BOUGH"

by BARRIE CROWLEY

"THE SHARP END" the trauma of a war in Vietnam

by BRIAN HENNESSY

 "ON THE OFFENSIVE"

The Australian Army in the Vietnam War 1967-1968

by IAN McNEILL AND ASHLEY EKINS

SOME U.S.A. PUBLICATIONS

"WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE... AND YOUNG"

La Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam

by LT, GENERAL H.G.MOORE (Ret.) & JOSEPH l. GALLOWAY

 "BLACK HAWK DOWN"

Now a Major Motion Picture

by MARK BOWDEN

"IN The COMPANY OF HEROES"

The Gripping True Story of the Black Hawk Pilot.

by MICHAEL J. DURRANT

 "ABOUT FACE"

by COLONEL DAVID H. HACKWORTH

WORLD WAR ONE BOOKS

AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS

 "Guide to AUSTRALIAN BATTLEFIELDS of the WESTERN FRONT 1916 - 1918"

A must read of the incredable ANZACS in World War One

by Dr JOHN LAFFIN

Dr Laffin's family have kindly concented to allow me to use extracts from this book to enable me to list individual ANZACS on each page.

"HARD JACKA"

The story of a Gallipoli Legend. Captain Albert Jacka VC. MC and Bar

At last a real look at one of the ANZAC legends by Michael Lawriwsky

 

 

 'THE' AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM WAR SONG

 I WAS ONLY NINETEEN


Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal, It was long march from cadets.
The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card. We did Canungra, Shoalwater before we left.

And Townsville lined the footpath as we marched down to the quay. This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean. And there's me in my slouch hat with my SLR and greens. God help me, I was only nineteen.


From Vung Tau, riding Chinooks, to the dust at Nui Dat,
I'd been in and out of choppers now for months.
But we made our tents a home, V.B. and pinups on the lockers,
and an Asian orange sunset through the scrub.


And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep?
And night time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16?
And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? God help me, I was only nineteen.


A four week operation, when each step can mean your last one
on two legs, it was a war within yourself.
But you wouldn't let your mates down 'till they had you dusted off, so you closed your eyes and thought about something else.


Then someone yelled out "Contact"', and the bloke behind me swore. We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar.
Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon.
God help me, he was going home in June.


1 can still see Frankie, drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung Tau.
And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle.
'Till the morphine came and killed the bloody row


And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears.
And stories that my father told me never seemed quite real
I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel.
God help me, I was only nineteen.


And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep?
And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?
And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? God help me, I was only nineteen.

The song was written in the 70's, by a John Schumann and performed by him in the band called "Redgum". It became a national hit and especially among Vietnam Veterans almost immediately. It is still performed today whenever Veterans get together for a concert.

Just a few things that may help you understand the lyrics better. Puckapunyal was a recruit-training centre and Canungra is a Jungle Warfare training centre. Shoalwater was a place that the Army used for Military exercises. The SLR was the personal weapon mostly used in Vietnam. Vung Tau & Nui Dat were Aussie bases in Vietnam. V.B. is Victorian Bitter a very popular Aussie beer. Anzac is the acronym for the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps.

  

THE LANGUAGE OF THE VIETNAM WAR

ARVN

Army of the Republic of Vietnam

ATF

1st Australian Task Force. Based at Nui Dat

AWOL

Absent without leave

BE

Battle Efficiency course. Held at Canungra Jungle Training Center

BUND

Paddy Bund, raised pathways between paddy fields

CALLSIGN

Radio Identification. Eg I was 'starlight' when carrying med kit

CARRIER

APC armoured personnel carrier

CAVALRY

Units that used APCs in Vietnam

CASAVAC

Casualty Evacuation from the field. eg 'jungle'

CENTURION

Tank used in Vietnam. Bought from the Brits

CHARLIE

One of the terms of Viet Cong

 

 

THIS SITE SALUTES THE ANZACS

THIS SITE SALUTES THE ANZACS THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE. THOSE DIGGERS WHO FOUGHT ON MANY A BATTLE FIELD IN THE SERVICE OF AUSTRALIA.

THIS PAGE SALUTES THE ANZAC.

PRIVATE WILLIAM CURRY

AWARDED the VICTORIA CROSS.

53rd BATTALION AIF.

The 53rd Battalion was to clear Anvil wood. Coming under fire from a 77 millimeter field-gun the 53rd sustained many casualties. Pte Curry rushed forward, killed the crew and captured it single-handedly. Later he rushed a machine gun post and destroyed it.

Pte Curry volunteered to bring out an isolated 53rd Company which was in danger of being caught by Australian shellfire. . © DJL

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