Behind Enemy Lines: An Australian SAS soldier in Vietnam

by Terry O'Farrell

Another urging hiss from behind me-okay hold onto your horses, I'm going. Five to ten paces takes me over the track, and now I scan the creek ahead trying to peer through the underbrush, to detect signs of enemy presence. Jesus, it's quiet; unnaturally quiet...another obviously more urgent hiss is sent out to attract my attention. Looking back over my shoulder I see the enemy soldier immediately; he is on the track looking directly at me...apparently oblivious to my presence. Has he seen me? screams through my brain. No!... Suddenly, the bastard takes off like a startled jackrabbit. Couldn't hold it together any longer, I think, as I try to get a shot in-but it's hopeless, no point in firing...in any case the remainder of the patrol is now thundering towards me.

With his remarkably observant eye, Terry O'Farrell's personal account of his career as an SAS soldier vividly captures not only the military actions of his time in Vietnam, but the human aspects of soldiering-from surviving the intense selection process and training, to dealing with the ever-present fear of combat.

Terry relives the long tense stretches on patrol in the jungle, ears ever alert to the sounds of the surrounding terrain and being caught by surprise and sudden contact with the enemy. He also entertains his readers with colourful tales of his experiences off the battlefield-the larrakin pranks during training, visits to Mama San and her girls, and the friendship and mutual trust that forms between soldiers.

An absorbing, frank and humorous reflection, Behind Enemy Lines is a first-hand insight into the mind of a young SAS soldier.

'Captures the true day to day existence of an Infantry solider...I had tears rolling down my face at some of the shenanigans...to being brought back to the nasty reality that was the war we all knew. The humour when setting up either a fellow soldier or an instructor and suffering the consequences or feeling Oh so smug when you got away with it makes for great reading.' - Bill McLaughlin

Genres: War, Memoir, History, Military Fiction, Biography

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kim Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book, Great man in real life!

[Nadir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the first third of this book is the typical bio-piece about the author's childhood and entry into the military, the portions dealing with his service in Vietnam are highly detailed and offer significant insight into the roles and missions (and dangers!) of long range patrols that were, man-for-man, some of the most effective units in Vietnam.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

[Keith]

Interesting insight of the Australian involvement in the Vietnam war.