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THE
MEN WHO The men who persevered
PERSEVERED
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This book is dedicated to all those men who served in and with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. For the warriors, all.
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THE
MEN WHO PERSEVERED The AATTV—the most highly decorated Australian unit of the Viet Nam war
Bruce Davies and Gary McKay
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First published in 2005 Copyright © Bruce Davies and Gary McKay 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act. Allen & Unwin 83 Alexander Street Crows Nest NSW 2065 Australia Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100 Fax: (61 2) 9906 2218 Email:
[email protected] Web: www.allenandunwin.com National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: Davies, Bruce, 1943– . The men who persevered : the AATTV—the most highly decorated Australian unit of the Viet Nam war. Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN 1 74114 425 6. 1. Australia. Australian Army. Australian Army Training Team,Vietnam. 2.Vietnamese Conflict, 1961–1975 Regimental histories - Australia. 3.Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 - Participation, Australian. I. McKay, Gary, 1947– . II. Title. 959.7043394 Typeset in 12/15 pt Bembo by Bookhouse, Sydney Printed in Australia by Ligare Pty Ltd, Sydney 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Major General John Hartley
Foreword
The story of the Australian Army Team Vietnam is unique in the annals of Australia’s military history. No other unit experienced its range of activities and actions.And yet, the story is not widely known.This outcome is sadly becoming more so as the ranks of its former members are thinning and the memories of an increasingly distant war are dimming.The Men Who Persevered, therefore, is a timely reminder of the challenges, achievements and memories of the Team. Bruce Davies and Gary McKay, both distinguished and decorated soldiers and veterans of the Viet Nam conflict, have produced a highly readable account that nicely blends personal experiences with the politics and strategic direction of the war. A unique quality of the Team was its varied and frequently changing function. Certainly there was a training element, but members also led units, advised all manner of Vietnamese officers and officials, served on headquarters and determined policy. They were closely involved with regular and irregular forces, with Special Forces, Montagnards and Cambodians, with combat, combat support and service support units. At one time or another, they were deployed—individually or in small teams—to almost