|
BOOK REVIEWS - Vietnam War
Sock it to ‘em baby by Garry Cooper
Garry Cooper is a natural and brilliant pilot with a determination for perfection. He expects only perfection from himself and others. Conflict arose many times through his career when he did not experience perfection from the bureaucracy to which he was subjected. On posting to the US Army 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1968, he approached his assignments in the same devoted and determined manner and soon became named a "legend' by his American peers. General Julian J. Ewell, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, and himself a legend from the Siege of Bastogne during WWII, recommended Cooper for the Medal of Honour and the Distinguished Service Cross. Both these are the US highest awards and, as such, required Australian concurrence before being awarded. As Australia was not allowing its personnel to receive US Awards during the Vietnam Conflict, that concurrence was not forthcoming. Although Australian policy regarding foreign awards has since changed, the government is still preventing Cooper from receiving these high profile awards.
The US however, for other actions and with out reference to the Australian Government, has awarded Cooper the Silver Star, DFC, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal. In contrast, our Government awarded Cooper an imperial DFC which Cooper refers to as his I was there award' .
Today, Cooper lives in retirement in Queensland. He has been made an honorary member of the various US Army units by the men whose lives he saved and attends their reunions in the USA. This book is the life story with the emphasis on his experiences in the Vietnam War.
|
 |
 |
Write Home for Me by Jean Debelle
Working as a journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser in 1966, Jean Debelle yearned to be involved in the biggest story of the decade - the Vietnam War. But only male journalists were being sent. So she volunteered to work for the Red Cross tending to the non-medical welfare of the sick and wounded ANZAC forces. For one year she lived in the spotlight: a young Australian woman among 5,000 men.
Her story, Write Home for Me is an intimate account told from the rare and compassionate perspective of a young woman living close to the battlefront. Jean tells of the resilience of the soldiers in the face of daily atrocities and of the international medical personnel fighting to save lives and to rebuild shattered bodies and minds.
Jean tells of striving to be like a sister to the men and of the harsh realisation that after nine months in Vietnam she had grown cold to the unrelenting horror of war.
This is a story not only of tragedy but also of hope and humour. It is a compelling adventure story - and one of love.
|
 |
|
Long Tan and Beyond
Alpha Company 6RAR in Vietnam 1966/67
By Lt COL Charles Mollison
I have never met Charles Mollison and was somewhat surprised and honoured when he invited me to review his quite outstanding book, Long Tan and Beyond:Alpha Company 6RAR in Vietnam 1966/67.
A COY were not glory-hunters but skilled, professional Infantrymen who took adversity in their stride, learning to live with the ubiquitous red mud, the monsoons, the leeches, the swamps with their mosquito hordes, skin peeling off hands and feet. We share their gripes, their laconic humour, and their practical jokes. We share their daylight patrols, their night ambushes, eyes straining, ever alert. We experience the trepidation of the "moving bushes", the rustling foliage, and the fire flies. Many were 20 year old National Servicemen. They were some of the finest Infantrymen ever. They fought almost continuously for 12 months, with little respite.
The book concludes on a sad note. The deplorable treatment meted out by many of their fellow Australians, upon return, exacerbated severe depression and illness. This unquestionably led to early deaths and the high suicide rate amongst Vietnam Veterans.
Long Tan and Beyond highlights the debt of gratitude we owe these men. They performed magnificently.
Highly recommended reading.
A. E. (Gus) Breen, PL COMD, 1/2 RAR 5 USAFKOREA.
|
 |
|
|
|
