In Good Company

by Gary McKay

On Friday 8th March 1968, 20-year-old Gary McKay lost the lottery. He was conscripted. From a comfortable and carefree life of surfing and rugby football, he was drafted into the deadly serious preparation for war in the jungles of South Vietnam. In Good Company is his story told in his own words. It begins with induction and selection for the officer academy for national servicemen at Scheyville, a six-month 'pressure cooker' course which produced second lieutenants ready to lead troops into action against the Viet Cong. It ends three and a half years later with a burst of NVA machine-gun fire during a battle among enemy-held bunkers in the hills of Nui Le. Here is a grass-roots account of the blood, sweat and tears shared by a rifle platoon in jungle warfare, a straightforward story of the fears and the camaraderie which soldiers experience in combat. Gary McKay fashioned this account from his experience in action, leading his platoon. The detail is provided from the 80 letters he wrote to his wife while he served. He wrote his story for the reader who wants to know what the soldier on the ground went through - in the fetid jungle, in battle. Anyone who wants to understand what service in South Vietnam meant to those who were there should read this book.

Genres: Military Fiction, War, History, Nonfiction, Military History

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1987

Reviews

[Basil Fawlty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great first hand experience of an Aussie in Vietnam worth the read

[Jacob Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just great

[Nicua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative. I have heard and watched and read so much of the experience of the Americans during the Vietnam war, it was an illuminating experience to see this war from a different perspective. Gary McKay has a clear and precise writing style that doesn't leave any room for shuffling about. Skillful writing accompanied by a first hand account of extreme bravery makes for an interesting, mind-opening read.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, gives insight to this mans war in Vietnam.

[Cherie Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative view of the war, although some of the minute details about general army structure lost my interest, there was plenty to keep me turning pages until the end.