Australias involvement in the vietnam war opposition to. The book has been painstakingly researched, and attempts to present a balanced view of the war from the points of view of the soldiers, officers, politicians, and families of those involved on both sides, as well as those in australia who grew to detest everything the vietnam war stood for, and in the process condemned the. The australian army and the vietnam war, by ian mcneill, with an addendum by jeffrey grey 16 3. From soldier, civilian and politician of both sides you get a very good overveiw of everything from vitenamese history, main engagements, the anti war movement, national servce, ptsd, agent orange, political wrangling at home and in teh us. Jul 02, 2019 australian soldiers hold a ceremony to honour a fallen colleague, 1965. Australian soldiers hold a ceremony to honour a fallen colleague, 1965. During the four years following passage of the tonkin gulf resolution aug.
The united states and vietnam, 19501975 george herring widely recognized as a major contribution to the study of american involvement in vietnam, this comprehensive and balanced account analyzes the ultimate failure of the war, and the impact of the war on us foreign policy. Australia played a large part in the war, sending more than 500,000 troops before the labor government bought involvement to an end in 1972. Whatever your interest in australias military, the vietnam war is part of that story. Australian vietnam war books battles of the vietnam war. Australias involvement in the vietnam war began with a small commitment of 30 military. A harrowing story from the vietnam war of one green berets heroic mission to rescue a. Paul hams vietnam the australian war is an excellent read.
Like many concepts in the book world, series is a somewhat fluid and contested notion. This list is a part of the the frequently asked questions faq from the usenet newsgroup soc. Fifty books about the vietnam war vietnam war veterans. The war provoked deep divisions in australian society and politics, particularly since for the first time young men were conscripted for overseas service in a highly. Aug 04, 2017 as menzies saw it, the risk in american policy was not strategic overreach but isolationism, and what an american withdrawal from asia in the face of defeat would mean for australia and its neighbors. The vietnam war was australias longest and most controversial military commitment of the twentieth century, ending in humiliation for the united states and its allies with the downfall of south vietnam. Feb 05, 2008 books blog publishing catch of the day. List of books and articles about vietnam antiwar movement. For australians, vietnam remains one of most difficult and controversial wars we have fought. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. By the time the last australian personnel were withdrawn in 1972, the vietnam war had.
Beyond that, on the fiction front, we quickly traipse into forgettable territory. Online shopping for vietnam war from a great selection at books store. For bruce davies and gary mckay, the history of vietnam its wars. Echidna books, 2001 vietnam war, 19611975 32 pages. Australian vietnam war 1962 1972 military books books.
The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign. As menzies saw it, the risk in american policy was not strategic overreach but isolationism, and what an american withdrawal from asia in the face of defeat would mean for australia and its neighbors. Australian vietnam war book, many of these war books cover the major australian vietnam battles of long tan, coral and balmoral, tet offensive, australian army vietnam battle war history books. Bush read ninetyfive books in 2006, the year the iraq war was nearly. The early years of the united states army in vietnam, 19411960 1985 ronald h.
Below are listed fifty books which comprise a recommended reading list on the vietnam wars. Booktopia buy vietnam war books online from australia s leading online bookstore. It has been written by the lead australian official historian, peter edwards, as a short history to summarise the more expansive nine volume official history of australia s involvement in southeast asian conflicts 19481975. He has written more than ten books on the vietnam war. The australian government committed troops to the vietnam war in 1965. It sets the australian involvement in the war in vietnam in the context of the. The vietnam war has scarred, transformed and inspired countless writers and art practitioners. A slew of war memoirs stand with the best writing of that genre. If you want to understand australias part in the vietnam war, this book is the best place to start. University study group on vietnam, vietnam and australia. The conflict inspired an avalanche of volumes and they all claim to be the last word.
Australia s involvement in the vietnam war began with a small commitment of 30 military advisors in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 australian personnel following the menzies governments april 1965 decision to upgrade its military commitment to south vietnam s security. Any suggestions on books, not novels, about the australian combat operations in vietnam. The authors of these books present a range of perspectives on the war derived. While the list of books about this conflict includes hundreds of enlightening works, we pick ten of the best texts offering illuminating perspectives on the war, its context and the effects it had on vietnam. This would allow the australian army to fight their own tactical war, independently of the us. I have visited the long tan cross, but have little understanding of the significance. Australias participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the governorgeneral issued a proclamation on 11 january 1973. Mar 02, 2015 the best histories of the vietnam war. Saunders between 1965 and 1973 opponents of united states and australian involvement in vietnam and of conscription for vietnam constantly sought support for their aims, and participation in their activities, from. Military history of australia during the vietnam war wikipedia.
The complete story of the australian war, for anyone who wishes to understand why australia went to war, and who wants to make sense of the intensely unrelenting warfare. Harvest of fear is a book to appeal to everyone interested in australian. Millions of products all with free shipping australia wide. Crossfirean australian reconnaissance in vietnam and millions of other books. Battles vietnam history australian there are 44 products. The book has been painstakingly researched, and attempts to present a balanced view of the war from the points of view of the soldiers, officers, politicians, and families of those involved on both sides, as well as those in australia who grew to detest everything the vietnam war stood for, and in the process. Aug 01, 2012 for australians, vietnam remains one of most difficult and controversial wars we have fought. Vietnam veterans vietnam war armoured personnel carrier shadow warrior vietnam history north vietnam navy military memorial day american history. Series was designed to cover groups of books generally understood as such see wikipedia. Australian vietnam war books 1962 1972 one of the most contentious conflicts of the bloody 20th century, the vietnam war has been well documented by military historians. Vietnam remains one of most controversial and difficult wars that has been fought. Enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. While the list of books about this conflict includes hundreds of enlightening works, we pick ten of the best texts offering illuminating perspectives on. The battles of coral and balmoral are some of the largest and most sustained battles faced by australian forces during the vietnam war.
Booktopia buy vietnam war books online from australias leading online bookstore. Music of the vietnam war, the book details the famous. If you want to understand australia s part in the vietnam war, this book is the best place to start. Vietnam war project kit veterans history project, american folklife center, library of congress. Complete organized chaos for the new guys would begin as we landed in vietnam. Vietnam, the australian war is a nonfiction book isbn 9780732282370 written by australian author paul ham this book is a comprehensive history of the first and second indochinese wars, written from a predominantly australian point of view, namely, the first indochina war and the vietnam war. Vietnam war 19611961 19751975 tell me about a great book to read silas bronson library. Antivietnam war activism in australia, by jeffrey grey 55 4. Illustrated history of the vietnam war series librarything. Australian vietnam war 1962 1972 military books books on. Australian soldiers exit an armoured personnel carrier. These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction.
Nov 08, 2012 enough books novels and nonfiction have been published about the vietnam war and its aftermath to fill a modestsized library. Web site of the vietnam veterans association of australia, including information about australias involvement in the vietnam war, as well as a range of current issues relating to australian vietnam veterans. These 10 books, in addition to the ones below, were recommended multiple times. Usa today s bob minzesheimer recommends books by 10 authors. Shortlisted for canadas prestigious giller prize, this profoundly humane novel vancouver sun, wrings suspense and humor out of the everyday choices we make, revealing the delicate balance between sacrifice and selfinterest, doing good and being good. Anti vietnam war activism in australia, by jeffrey grey 55 4.
Australias involvement in the vietnam war began with a small commitment of 30 military advisors in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 australian personnel following the menzies governments april 1965 decision to upgrade its military commitment to south vietnam s security. On the fiftieth anniversary of australias first involvement comes vietnam. He became a career officer in the australian army after the war, serving for 30 years. 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. His streamofconscious descriptions are chaotic, choppy, dark, and intense, giving the reader an honest sense of war from the perspective of a soldier. History books, special forces, vietnam war, good company, military history. Vietnam bruce davies with gary mckay 9781743315590 allen. A vietnam war combat nurses 10year fight to win women a place of honor in washington, d. It has been written by the lead australian official historian, peter edwards, as a short history to summarise the more expansive nine volume official history of australias involvement in southeast asian conflicts 19481975. Here, mark dapin dramatically deconstructs the folklore of vietnam and national service. After we posted this article, times readers weighed in with their favorite books on the vietnam war. The 19641972 antivietnam anticonscription movement was specifically aimed at ending australias intervention in vietnam and the associated conscription scheme.
Three are novels, two of which were written by vietnam war. Military history of australia during the vietnam war. Oct 08, 2015 perhaps the only decent thing to emerge from the vietnam war is a body of literature unsurpassed by the writing thats come out of any other war. Some reflections on the australian governments commitment to the vietnam war, by peter edwards 3 2. A well researched, well written book that examines every aspect of the war and the global political environment that existed at that time. Heres an admittedly subjective list, posted on the military history now website, put together by mark masse, a ball state university literary journalism professor. What obama and the generals are reading the new yorker.
Seeing the pilot is having a hard time keeping up, one of the chinese mercenaries called nungs, says to the team leader, lets kill the dai uy. I started off reading books written about the vietnam war, by reading green. Australian vietnam war book, many of these war books cover the major australian vietnam battles of long tan, coral and balmoral, tet offensive, australian army. Mar 01, 2014 if you want to understand australias part in the vietnam war, this book is the best place to start.
On april 29 th 1965, the australian menzies government announced it would be sending an australian battalion to vietnam alongside us troops. This is a hilarious tale of an air force combat fighter pilot in vietnam who goes out on patrol with a special forces team he has supported many times from the air. Organized chaos, seemed like a contradiction in terms, but after a few weeks in vietnam, it seemed plausible. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to historical and even dark comedy. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. Discover book depositorys huge selection of vietnam war books online. I will be marking the fiftieth anniversary of those marines going ashore at da nang by posting my favorite vietnam war books, memoirs, novels, movies. The trade unions in australia and opposition to vietnam.
The arrival of the australian army training team vietnam aattv in south vietnam during july and august 1962 was the beginning of australias involvement in the vietnam war. As part of its preparations for sending troops to the war, the menzies government had earlier announced in november 1964 a birthday ballot national service scheme under which 20 year old males would register and the required number of conscripts. These books where chosen by polling a select group. Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Australias involvement in vietnam was driven by a fear of communist expansion in asia and the governments desire to align itself with the united states. Nonfiction factual information about the vietnam war, including books, videos, and cds. Australia s involvement in vietnam was driven by a fear of communist expansion in asia and the governments desire to align itself with the united states. On the 50th anniversary of australia s first involvement comes vietnam.
I met a few military advisers during the war at the province level in. The australian intervention in vietnam remains australias longest and most. There is catch22, and slaughterhouse five, and these are classics to be sure. A harrowing story from the vietnam war of one green berets heroic mission to rescue a special forces team caught behind enemy lines 353. Pages in category vietnam war books the following 42 pages are in this category, out of 42 total. Opponents of the war were galvanized by the indiscriminate bombing and napalming of vietnamese civilians, the view that the war was a civil one rather than part of a downward thrust of communism towards. Seeing the pilot is having a hard time keeping up, one of the chinese mercenaries called. Michael herrs frontline reporting of the vietnam war is collected in dispatches, one of the first books to capture the unique feel of life on the vietnam battlefront. A good rule of thumb is that series have a conventional name and are intentional creations, on the part of the author or publisher. I rate this as the best book i have read on the vietnam war from an australian perspective. It is a comprehensive and wellbalanced account of the war and australia s involvement. Books about australians in the war vietnam forum tripadvisor.
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