W3 Company - Book Reviews of Relevance to SVN and W3 Coy |
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"Who'll Stop the Rain",
Deborah Challinor & Elizabeth Lancaster [HarperCollins 2000]
[reviewed by Bruce Young on 30 November 2011] "Who'll Stop the Rain" was an early attempt to highlight the issues around how chemicals used in South Vietnam in the 1960's had affected the health of veterans and their children. I did not read the book when it was first published almost 12-years ago but chose to do so now because of recent contact with Carol the sister of Cpl Keith Henson, as Keith features in the book along with his daughter Maria and wife [now widow] Ngaire. The book has an excellent summary of the background to the decisions as to why defoliation was attempted, the nature of chemicals dispersed and the attempts by governments in New Zealand, Australia and the USA to play down or ignore the problems. Given its age it does not cover the period from 2000 until 2008 when the issues was finally and decisively acknowledged in New Zealand government and veterans circles and steps to address the issues were taken. I found the book a disturbing read because of the neglect by authorities toward veterans and their families in the case studies. It is now known that the neglect was not confined to a few, and that the case studies are the tip of an iceberg. The families of veterans and others who persevered against official indifference are to be well commended and acknowledged. I believe some background concerning W3 Coy not in the book is important. It is acknowledged in Australian records that aerial spraying of Agent Orange [AO] in PHUOC TUY Province had ceased by the end of 1968, therefore the single C-123 spraying W3 Coy at the HORSESHOE in February 1970 was an anti-malarial mission, which means W3 Coy could not have suffered from the direct affects of being drenched in AO. Yet 25% of my War Disability Pension is for loss of vision in my left eye based [in the absence of other evidence] on the assumption that dioxin from AO caused the damage, a similar symptom is suffered by John Jennings a veteran interviewed in the book. So where is the AO connection..? The book has good coverage of the effects of ground sprays released around the lines in NUI DAT but these have been generally ignored by the media in their preference for the 'sexier' image around aircraft sprays, and it is these other sprays and the lingering damage to the environment from earlier spraying, be it aerial or ground based, that I believe W3 veterans should regard as the cause of our issues. In other words we should avoid the temptation to claim aerial sprays [which can be disproved] instead focussing on the more likely weed killing or insect control sprays that we regularly encountered. While I have deep sympathy for the children affected by a legacy of AO and other chemicals passed genetically down from their father, it was the portrayal of the veterans themselves post-Vietnam which was of most interest to me. To understand that Keith drank heavily and suffered mild depression offered me a better understanding of my own behaviour following my time with W3 and I suspect that many veterans might also identify their conditions and understand their state of mind better after reading the different veterans' and children's accounts. I also think that the children of veterans might have another insight into their father's behaviour if they can now appreciate the damage done by the environment in which their father served. "Who'll Stop
the Rain" should be in your local library. The
co-author
Elizabeth Lancaster was herself the wife of a veteran and
features in the case studies. |
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"From Emergency to Confrontation", Chris Pugsley [Oxford Press] [reviewed by Bruce Young on 10 March 2008]
W3 Coy was formed and trained in Malaysia. There is not a lot written about the Malaysian connection with the forces deploying to Vietnam but one book worth reading is by Chris Pugsley "From Emergency to Confrontation", a story of the two forgotten wars New Zealanders fought in South-east Asia. Chris Pugsley is a formidable researcher and this book details in minute detail the effort made by the New Zealand Armed Forces in Malaya and Borneo between 1949 and 1966, including the formation of the first regular units of the New Zealand armed forces, and the development of Terendak garrison. Some W3 worthies whose early service is mentioned by name are Jim Brown [including how he obtained his Military Cross] and Doug Mackintosh [misspelt DI Macintosh, original SAS Malaya and later Borneo Signals Pl]. The New Zealand contribution of naval and air force units is also covered and some of their activities may surprise - such as 14 Squadron RNZAF Canberra bombers in Singapore rehearsing their role for a pre-emptive strike against airfields around Jakarta during the early days of Confrontation. I was also not aware of the extensive nature of cross-border operations [codeword Claret] undertaken by Gurr's battalion in Borneo, although news of the SAS Claret operations was more widely known.
Of most relevance to jungle bashers is the way in which New Zealand developed the expertise in close-country operations that served us so well in Vietnam. Our style of small group tactics started with the New Zealand assistance and mentoring to the Fijian battalion 1952 - 1956, were later developed by the original SAS deployment 1955 - 1957, and enhanced by later infantry battalions during their operations on the Thai border, in the Johore swamps, and across the mountainous terrain in Sarawak. Veterans will recognise in the stories many names of those responsible for training and testing us. Also interesting was the way New Zealanders went in droves to the conflict, learning mostly after their arrival how best to do the job. But the book shows how the New Zealand effort was often the best of all the units deployed, on either side of the conflict.
Another overriding theme is summed up by Colonel David Moloney a former commander of the 4th SAS deployment to Borneo, who commented "that for a very tiny country ... with a tin-pot little army, we really do extraordinary things". The book exposes the way the Holyoake government's forward defence planning developed the art of promising to do - and indeed doing - much with little. Considering we were among those doing the much with little, the book makes interesting reading.
"From Emergency to Confrontation" should be in your local library.
======================================================================================= Voices from a Border War, Robert Gurr [Landmark Printing 1995] [reviewed by Bruce Young] This book is written by the then CO of 1RNZIR 1963 to 1966 Brigadier Bob Gurr and is a factual account of the preparation and commitment to active service of a New Zealand battalion against the Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia. It uses a wide range of recollections of members of the battalion as well as official records, war diaries and post operational reports to authenticate dates and events. Chris Pugsley the author of "From Emergency to Confrontation" read the early drafts and offered advice. The book is very even paced and under-stated, typical of the manner Kiwi troops adopted when working alongside allied forces. Yet the detail is clear and the events vivid because of the personal stories of those involved. Claret operations despite their sensitivity are covered in a routine operational vein and results are reported in a matter-of-fact way. A number of people mentioned in the chapters will be familiar to W3 people. Voices from a Border War should be in your local library.
======================================================================================= This is a shocking non-fiction book. It may be the most compelling read on the ANZAC effort in Phuoc Tuy Province ever. Most unit and personal histories of the Vietnam War belong in the ‘feel good’ category, intended for a sympathetic audience to justify the outcome of hard service. ‘The Minefield’ reveals an entrenched colonial mind-set that belongs in the poor leadership category, the same category that records the mistakes and false suppositions made when planning for the Gallipoli campaign. The story is well deserving of ANZAC recognition. It is up there with 'Street Without Joy', Bernard Falls record of the French debacle in Indochina. Greg Lockhart describes it as a story of strategic self-destruction. Lockhart, today the honorary historian of the Australian Vietnam Veterans Federation, was a member of AATTV and was himself blown up by a command detonated mine while with a RF/PF patrol; draw your own conclusions from that. 40-years after the 1ATF minefield was laid from the Horseshoe to the coast, Lockhart reveals from exhaustive research through official records and interviews the twisted thinking that led to 1ATF arming the very enemy we were sent there to fight. The book reveals how the Australian CGS FLEW over Phuoc Tuy before deciding it was a suitable piece of turf to have a war on. How Australian intelligence never understood the enemy, or the local provincial administration, or the sympathies of the local population. How techniques from Malaya and Algeria were introduced as war-winning ideas when in reality the campaigns had nothing in common. How two 1ATF battalion commanders with relevant experience in Korea and opposed to the minefield concept were ignored, and how staff in Australia was unable to promote views that were contrary to those of the original minefield planners. Lockhart reveals how arming the VC from the minefield cost many Australian and Kiwi lives. In 1967 two 11 KM wire fences were erected 100-metres apart as the minefield boundaries. 20,292 powerful M16 mines were laid, approximately 12,700 with anti-lifting devices [grenade underneath connected to a switch]. Yet in 1970 when the minefield was finally removed only around 12,000 mines could be accounted for and a figure of approximately 7000 mines were attributed to being lifted by local people sympathetic to the VC cause. 55 members of 1ATF [5 NZ] were killed by mines from the field, 250 [13 NZ] wounded. In 1969-70 over 50% of 1ATF casualties were by M16 mines, a single M16 mine on several occasions gutting a platoon. But Lockhart also reveals the heroism of the diggers in dealing with the laying and aftermath of the minefield, including the original field engineers who laid the field despite suffering fatal casualties caused by rushed preparation and faulty mine fuses. He provides names and the circumstances of those killed, and the effect on those fortunate to survive. He pulls no punches over poor decision making, grandstanding and obstruction by senior officers, and he reveals the commonsense approach taken by soldiers and unit commanders to finally remove what was left of the minefield threat. It was almost a relief to read about the final day of mine clearing, considering one local interviewed had personally removed 2000 mines, and that mine lifting efforts by locals was increased in front of the mine clearing teams as they worked their way along between the fences. And in case veterans thought otherwise, the research confirms that the VC and local population were not as stupid as some would portray them. My copy of the book was from the local library - there are very good maps, lots of photos and very good appendices.
======================================================================================= Have just finished the book 'Last Out, 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion's Second Tour in Vietnam' by Jerry Taylor [Taylor was OC Admin Coy for part of the tour]. The book deals with the 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) 2nd tour from May to December 1971 and ends with the battalion being the last to leave Vietnam, abandoning Nui Dat on 7 November and Vung Tau on HMAS Sydney on 8 December [the photo at his link is of 4RAR departing] leaving D Coy behind to guard the remnants of 1ALSG. V6 Coy were the only Kiwi combat troops around at the time having joined the battalion in early May 1971 and leaving for Singapore by air on 8 December after a farewell parade at Vung Tau. There was a lot in the book I didn't know, especially about the major battle of Nui Le [near Courtney Rubber] on 21 September 1971, where D Company fought a long and involved battle against two battalions and the Regimental HQ of 33 NVA Regiment. After the battle, the last major engagement by Australian forces in South Vietnam and with a similar scenario to Long Tan, the 33rd Regiment removed itself from Phuoc Tuy Province and never operated as a unit again. One political point I found amusing was that as the battle of Nui Le was proceeding in the dark with D Coy basically surrounded and trapped against a bunker system, with numerous WIA unable to be evacuated, with three of their KIA lost behind VC lines and the outcome far from certain the Australian Prime Minister passed a message to the Australian Forces Vietnam commander MajGen Dunstan expressing concern about incurring further Australian casualties at such a sensitive time. It was not clear what he expected Gen Dunstan to do under the circumstances. The book is interesting for three other points: 1) it covers how the Australians tactically removed themselves from Nui Dat and the demise of the brigade-sized base, 2) 4RAR were proud to be an ANZAC unit and their story treats V6 Coy in a very positive and inclusive manner, illustrated by the foreword being written by the then Kiwi bn 2ic Maj [later LtGen] Don McIver, and 3) the background on the enemy ORBAT is well written and easy to understand. I found the book absorbing and finished it in 48 hours, a really good read and very recommended. =======================================================================================
"The Vietnam Years - From the Jungle to the Australian
Suburbs", Michael Caulfield [Hachette Australia].
Occasionally a book comes to hand about the Vietnam conflict that is worth reviewing for its perspective on how we might have seen the times. Such a book is "The Vietnam Years - From the Jungle to the Australian Suburbs", author Michael Caulfield. Michael produced the ABC TV series "Australians at War' and he and his producer were responsible for the establishment of the Australians at War Film Archive. He also edits 'Voices of War'. He is not a veteran himself.
Michael interviewed a wide range of veterans and veterans’ wives to give the story of how conscription affected individuals, their families and their communities. He writes from the perspective that Vietnam was different from all other wars that diggers had been sent to: "At the end of it there is one harsh, unpalatable fact that separated this war from all the others: for the first and only time in our history Australian soldiers were sullied and defamed by their own people for carrying our name into battle. Whatever the reasons, Vietnam as a term, as a memory, still carries a volatile charge and careless handling can cause instantaneous detonation." He describes the Vietnam War as being two wars, the one we fought in, the other the war watched in rising discord and discontent at home.
The book covers the WW2-type military psyche of our parents, the manner in which Australia became embroiled in the US-led war, the effect of conscription and the manner in which 'nasho's' acquitted themselves, and many good yarns which could easily come direct from our own stories. Long Tan is covered in excellent detail, as was the futile effort to motivate the locals toward the US style of fighting. It finishes with the last days of the Republic and the confusion back in Australia as servicemen discovered their poor standing among their peers and even the old soldiers. The title of the final chapter may have summed up the feelings of veterans throughout the book "If we look like having another war, send the frigging politicians".
480 pages but worth the effort.
======================================================================================= This is a military history written from the perspective of the soldier by the soldier, of the life of V4 Coy in SVN from May 1969 until the present day. The contributors sought to capture their experiences for the generation that will follow them, and as a testament to the seven who lost their lives while with them on active service. W3 Coy were present in 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) with V4 Coy for the latter half of their tour; although we didn't see a lot of them due to different deployments in-theatre we had trained with most of them individually and knew them well. From their accounts they acted [if not dressed] like us and suffered similar conditions. Where we differ is that V4 lost seven dead and were occasionally involved in action against larger groups of VC. They acquitted themselves well. The editorial committee recognised the personal emotions in individual stories and chose to leave the stories as written by the veteran involved, an effective means of getting the raw facts into print if a little boring reading that the Company deplored on certain dates from almost every contributor. There are novel contributions about each of the deceased, and many references to places and activities that we were familiar with, involved in or waiting close by. Having stood sentry on the perimeter of V4 Coy Nui Dat lines one night and hearing the story of the python in the bunker, it was illuminating to read that the story was not a rumour designed to keep us awake..! The book does not attempt to describe the Vietnam war in any historical perspective, suffice to say that all one gets from reading it is memories of the conditions under which we all served, and the sacrifices we all made in one way or another. 300-odd pages with 26 chapters, enough photos and few maps, the book is worth a read. I got mine from the public library.
40-years on, our stories will now
be told, part of a poem by Pte W [bulldog] Te Awa, who promoted the idea of the book, and who raised the funds to achieve it [First Sovereign Trust] ======================================================================================= |