The Tiger Man of Vietnam

Hachette Military Collection

by Frank Walker

The Vietnamese hilltribes made him a demi-god. The CIA wanted to kill him. This is the remarkable true story of Australian war hero Barry Petersen. In 1963, 28-year-old Australian Captain Barry Petersen was sent to Vietnam as part of the 30-man Australian Training Team, two years before the first official Australian troops arrived. Seconded to the CIA, he was sent to the remote Central Highlands to build an anti-communist guerrilla force among the indigenous Montagnard people. He was sent off with bagloads of cash and a vague instruction to 'get to know the natives'. Petersen took over the running of the paramilitary force that had been started by the local police chief and started to earn the Montagnards respect. He lived drank and ate with the Montagnards, learned their language and respected their skills. The Vietcong dubbed Petersen's force 'Tiger Men'. When Petersen he heard this, he had special badges made for their berets and supplied tiger print uniforms. The Montagnards loved Petersen and flocked to join his force but the CIA were worried. They thought he was out of control and too close to the Montagnard people...

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

400 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2008

About the author

Frank Walker is a veteran journalist. His newspaper roles have included being chief reporter for the SUN-HERALD covering defence, veterans' affairs, national security and terrorism. He's also worked on the Sydney Morning Herald, the National Times, for News Limited in New York, and for Deutsche Welle international radio in Germany.

In 2009, Hachette published his first book, The Tiger Man of Vietnam - the remarkable true story of the secret war of Captain Barry Petersen in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It was a bestseller.

Frank followed this with his bestselling Ghost Platoon in 2012, Maralinga in 2014 and Commandos in 2015. He lives in Sydney with his family.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story of an Australian soldier running a covert program for the CIA, years before Australian combat troops went to Vietnam.

This book gives an Australian perspective on the Vietnam war that focuses on one part of the role that the CIA played, and Australia's participation. The story is engaging, and the subject matter compelling. Walker obviously has a lot of respect for his subject, but it never veers into the realms of hagiography as he seeks out the recollections of other people who were there at the time.

The book is well referenced with a comprehensive set of endnotes and bibliography.

I read the book in one sitting as I found it hard to put down, and very easy to read.

[Lorry Rule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating revelations make this a riveting read. Barry Peterson is a legend of his time and this account of his experiences was a true page turner. I’m always amazed at how much history has been staged for the general media to brainwash the public. It’s first hand accounts like this that allow us to draw our own conclusions on what occurred. Job well done 👍

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting but a bit difficult to get really into at times. I feel like there was a bit of repetition but this was kind of needed to be able to see all sides of the story.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story of an Australian officer training Montagnard fighters during the Vietnam War. Well written, easy read. It certainly doesn't have much good to say about the CIA.

[Alexandra Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't my favourite military reads, but still good nonetheless.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, highly recommend.

[Joseph Falloon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling read, though styled like most pop-history books unfortunately.

[David Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable read. To have experienced This war must have been awful on all accounts. Obviously no winners and so much unnecessary bloodshed!!

[Bill Daly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A biography ish

How's from biography to opinion piece and back again. Maybe more interesting for an Australian... Okay but
not a keeper,

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this then a bit about the Phoenix Program gave me a new even more unpleasant feel for "Apocalypse Now".

The book itself is a bit flawed as the writing is not brilliant (a journo wrote it) and very subjective but at the same time detached. You never really get a feel for the man or his motivations, but you "know" that he was doing right and those rascally CIA men were wrong. I got real feeling that bits were missing or glossed over.

The final couple of chapters are not enough to balance out the one sided narative, but do at least hint that it is one man's recollection about things that most of the people involved in are not able or willing to discuss.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

a side of the Vietnam war I was unaware of. Interesting background to events that were not as they appeared in media. Is lack of media transparency and truth resulting in incorrect portrayals a surprise? I think not!

[Daniel Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and different view from an Australian officer who spent two years living and training hell tribesmen during the Vietnam war.