The Sharp End: One Man’s War In Vietnam
The Sharp End: One Man's War In Vietnam
Brian Hennessy
Most books written about the Vietnam War have focused on either the politics associated with this conflict, or the military tactics which were used in the attempt to defeat the enemy. Not much has been written about what life was like for the ordinary soldier who was at the sharp end of this politically unpopular war in Southeast Asia.
What was it like in Vietnam? This book is an attempt to answer that difficult question. It is written by an Australian Vietnam veteran who recounts the experiences and observations of a small group of infantrymen who fought the war on the ground in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.
The first section of the book borrows its title from the Australian Army’s motto, ‘Duty First’. It describes the Australian Army’s approach to producing professional soldiers and along the way highlights moments of military humour and absurdity. Anyone who has had anything to do with military life anywhere should enjoy this section. Although some of the personalities described may seem like overworn clichés, believe me they really existed!
The rest of this section covers our time in Vietnam. Although this is a true story, I have taken some liberties with the detail in an effort to protect myself from any offended individuals and their lawyers. Nevertheless, I believe that I have remained true to my goal of painting a picture of what life was like for the average Australian infantryman or ‘digger’ in Vietnam.
There are no heroes in this book, however. Just a group of ordinary men who were asked to do something extraordinary. There is no glory here either. Fighting a war is just a dirty job that has to be done by somebody. Anyone who says otherwise is either a liar or is someone who has never experienced combat. Having said this, I hope that the reader will detect something of value in the way we behaved as we faced the trauma of war. This is story of resilience and survival as much as it is a story about Vietnam.
The final section, ‘The Return’ describes a return trip to Vietnam many years after the war had ended. It was a worthwhile experience, one that has laid many old ghosts to rest.
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