Читать книгу No Need for Heroes - Sandy MacGregor - Страница 8

There are few books about engineers at war, let alone one told from the soldiers' perspective about the war in South Vietnam. Australian soldiers' humour is priceless and it's wonderful to be around at any time; the way soldiers use it as a "pick-me-up" for dangerous, boring, or futile situations is a great credit to their psyche – it keeps them going, through thick and thin, and is an essential ingredient of their "mateship".

For me, telling the story of 3 Field Troop in Vietnam between September 1965 and September 1966 is the least I could do for them. They were young, crazy, reckless, foolhardy, brave, cheeky, cunning fighters that gave all that was needed and then some more.

They pioneered the way Engineers would operate throughout that futile war. They took on the Viet Cong at his most dangerous – in tunnels and with booby traps. Their story deserves to be told. It's a true story full of mischief – it will make you laugh and make you cry and make you hold your breath.

It's not intended to be, nor is it, a military history. It is written so that anyone can gain insights into what it was really like to be an Engineer in Vietnam. At the same time, a young NCO or an officer can appreciate what it's like for soldiers on active service.

The pressure was on my soldiers from Day One. We served two masters. 173rd Airborne Brigade, a crack United States unit, was based at Bien Hoa, just north of Saigon and had the Aussies of 1RAR Group under its command. 3 Field Troop were responsible at different times to 173rd Airborne Brigade and to 1RAR. That was for the first six months in Vietnam. Then 3 Field Troop moved to Vung Tau where we prepared the sand hills for occupation by 5RAR, 6RAR and 1 Australian Logistic Support Group. 3 Field Troop then went to Nui Dat where we started all over again with a new area to be occupied by the newly-arrived 1 Australian Task Force. For the last three months we served a new master – 1 Field Squadron, our parent unit.

Originally my story of 3 Field Troop was to have been told by Pat Burgess. Pat was an old friend – a reporter/journalist/war correspondent of renown, whom I first met in Vietnam. Pat, when allowed, would go out on patrol with the soldiers, he was at the second major tunnel we searched and blew, he was a soldier's man. Pat died a few years ago, before I'd gotten off my backside to do this book.

Through a string of coincidences, beginning with the promotion of my book Piece of Mind, radio producer, Toni Eates, suggested I talk to Selwa Anthony, an authors' agent. She in turn introduced me to an author – Jimmy Thomson. And that was a lucky break for me. Jimmy, in writing this story, adds a dimension borne in his Scottish wit. He gets right into the soldier's mind. So thank you, Jimmy, for a great job.

I've received a great deal of help with this book; thank you to:

– The men from 3 Field Troop whom we have interviewed in person and by telephone, and for their letters and their response to the written survey.

– My wife Sandra for her encouragement, her typesetting and her proof reading.

– Lieutenant General John Sanderson Commander of UNTAG in Cambodia for writing the Foreword during a very busy schedule ... but more than that ... for being a friend since 1958 at Duntroon and for being a great Engineer.

– Ian McNamara on ABC Radio 2BL for looking for "lost" members of the Troop through his program "Australia All Over".

– Dennis Ayoub for all his time and effort in reading the manuscript and adding accuracy to many stories.

– Pam McLachlan for her transcription of interview tapes.

– Warren Lennon for being such a great boss and for his interview on Taking Command – Chapter 16.

– Selwa Anthony for bringing together myself and Jimmy Thomson and for her advice throughout the production of No Need for Heroes.

– The Directorate of Engineers at the Engineer Centre at Casula (I used to know it as the School of Military Engineering) for the copies of the Engineer badge and the other unofficial badge (Facimus et Frangimus) which many engineers prefer.

– The War Memorial for providing better quality copies of photos that I originally forwarded to them. (If anyone wants copies of these photos they are available by quoting the numbers shown to the War Memorial).

– To my Uncle Bob and his wife Lilian for relating stories about his Dad – my Grandad.

Sandy MacGregor

Sydney September, 1993