Vietnam: The Complete Story Of The Australian War

by Bruce Davies, Gary McKay

Vietnam remains one of most controversial and difficult wars that has been fought. On the 50th anniversary of Australia's first involvement comes Vietnam: The Complete Story of the Australian War, for anyone who wishes to understand why Australia went to war, and wants to make sense of the intensely unrelenting warfare. For Bruce Davies and Gary McKay, the history of Vietnam—its wars, colonial domination, its search for freedom, and its subsequent loss—speaks to an Australian anxiety of a very small population far away from the center of an empire to which it was firmly committed. The rise of Japan, the War in the Pacific, and the postcolonial independence of the peoples of Southeast Asia, coupled with the mercurial influence of Ho Chi Minh and the rise of communism, form the background to the commitment of Australian forces. Vietnam takes the reader to the front line, describing the experiences of soldier, politician, villager, enemy; and into the war room to unpick the military and political strategies. We see the challenges the Australians faced against not only a dogged enemy, but also those by the allies in their quest to defeat a powerful counterinsurgency. The authors' new archival research in Australia and America raises questions about the operational performance of both sides, and recently discovered documents shed new light on the enemy's tactical thinking. Meticulously researched and marked with acute critical analysis and a deep understanding of the place and the war, Vietnam shows the experience of Australian soldiers as never before.

690 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Bruce Davies saw operational service in South Vietnam in part of every year between 1965 and 1970. He served with 1 RAR, an Australian Infantry Battalion and then twice with AATTV as an advisor with ARVN infantry in I Corps and the Mike Force in Pleiku. He was mentioned in Despatches in 1970 and received a Commendation for Distinguished Service in Vietnam in the End of War List. Bruce has several foreign awards for valour and service in Vietnam. In 1977, Bruce was appointed a Member of the British Empire for his military service. He is the co-author of The Men Who Persevered, with Gary McKay.

Reviews

[Ishmael Soledad]

I wanted a one volume view of Vietnam from an Australian perspective; in this book I received both more and less than I hoped.

The background and book-ends to the discussion about the conflict I felt gave more than promised. The 1960's pre-history and setting the conflict in it's geopolitical context (as viewed by the west) was useful, and something I've tended to forget over the years.

However the bulk of the book, the conflict itself, I didn't find a particularly easy read for two reasons. Firstly, at times, the text was choppy and badly formed, leading to ambiguity and lost meaning. Secondly, the descriptions of the combat actions (including the ever-present debates around which NVA / Viet-Cong regiments were involved) felt more like the recitation of battle reports and office minutiae rather than 'describing the experiences of soldier' as the book claims. I am no expert on the Vietnam conflict; the book in this regard feels more like a desk researched piece than one where the players in the conflict were contacted and talked with. A small, but noticeable absence are the non-combat related people who also served; scant attention is paid to them but, in a work of 690 pages, some sacrifices I am sure must be made.

For me, not being old enough at the time to serve and only hearing second-hand, media accounts in general, I fell prey to the common misconceptions that Vietnam was a large conflict (in terms of Australian participation and losses) in which the Australian contingent performed a vital, highly effective role as (pardon the jingoism) the alpha warriors. Davies' and McKay's work paints an entirely different picture of a small (total 10,000 personnel over the entire conflict), mediocre to good force located in a small, minor part of South Vietnam, performing a necessary, and not pivotal, role.

The final chapter on post-Vietnam veterans' illness (physical and mental) was an eye-opener; these I must look into as, again, they are not portrayed as the worst effected group of returned servicemen and servicewomen this country has seen.

Military history buffs may get more from this book than I did, and are better able to argue its validity. For me, I am not unhappy I bought it or spent the time to read it.

[Lloyd Eley-Smith]

Overall the book painted a good picture of Australia's involvment in Vietnam but got very bogged down in the minutia of exactly what the numbering of each battalion, which overall didn't add anything to the history for me. The author's biases also showed through on a number of occasions and it was clear that the author does not see eye to eye with a number of senior officers which they served under. Despite these criticisms, the book did provide good analysis in areas of ambiguity, seeking to resolve conflicting intelligence reports.

[Mark Green]

Thorough but very readable account of Australia and the Vietnam war.

[Steve Woods]

This is an excellent piece of work. Uncompromising warts and all. It places the Australian experience into the context of the wider war. It names names! There are those who though legends in their own mind, like Ted Serong who come out as trumped up frauds. Would be's if they could be's and very poor though promoted commanders like Graham who, against all advice, committed the ultimate idiocy of laying "The Minefield" which unnecessarily cost the lives of man Australians needless to say the politicians came off as they must, men without honour. The style is reminiscent of Bean and is an enthralling and easy read.I(t makes sense out of the confusing jumble and places the individual service of each of us as part of the whole. It also blows the myth that Australia's involvement though efficient and honourable in the main was anything more than peripheral. This should be the text for high school study if there is ever to be one

[Charles Edge]

Not the best Vietnam history I've read by any means. The authors stray far too much from the Australian experience and into the American side. Khe San may have been a pivotal struggle, but it was most certainly not the Australian war. Many Australian activities and actions are merely glossed over. Fortunatlely I got it on my Kindle so I didn't pay through the nose for the print edition.