Vietnam War veteran An enthralling account of an Australian infantryman and his companions in the Vietnam War. On Friday 8th March 1968, 20-year-old Gary McKay lost the lottery. He was conscripted. From a comfortable and carefree life of surfing and rugby football, he was drafted into the deadly serious preparation for war in the jungles of South Vietnam. In Good Company is his story told in his own words. It begins with induction and selection for the officer academy for national servicemen at Scheyville, a six-month 'pressure cooker' course which produced second lieutenants ready to lead troops into action against the Viet Cong. It ends three and a half years later with a burst of NVA machine-gun fire during a battle among enemy-held bunkers in the hills of Nui Le. Here is a grass-roots account of the blood, sweat and tears shared by a rifle platoon in jungle warfare, a straightforward story of the fears and the camaraderie which soldiers experience in combat. Gary McKay fashioned this account from his experience in action, leading his platoon. The detail is provided from the 80 letters he wrote to his wife while he served. He wrote his story for the reader who wants to know what the soldier on the ground went through - in the fetid jungle, in battle. Anyone who wants to understand what service in South Vietnam meant to those who were there should read this book. 'Reading In Good Company leaves a vivid and disconcerting impression of how the Vietnam War smelt, felt and sounded. One of the most honest and affecting war memoirs which Australians have so far published.' - Mark Thomas, Canberra Times 'An enthralling, accurate account of infantry soldiering in the Vietnam era. Very readable; a must for those who have never experienced combat and a vivid reminder for all veterans.' - Major General M. P. Blake, AM, MC, former CO 5th Battalion RARGary John McKay MC (born 1947) is a writer and former Australian Army officer. He was awarded the Military Cross while serving with the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment during the Vietnam War.[1] He later served as Commanding Officer of 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment between 1988 and 1990Soft cover non fiction book

Picture depicts a frequent activity of infantry in Vietnam - either waiting for pickup by Huey helicopters or having a drop off by the helicopters; in this case it is a pickup ('dustoff') of xxx section, yyy platoon, mmm Company.Especially for infantry, the picture captures the moment of accepting a dustoff at the end of, or during, an operation.Rectangular print 'Dustoff' in a wooden frame; this is an iconic picture out of the Vietnam war Presented to: The Diamond Valley Vietnam Veterans Sub Branch on Friday 27th October 2006. By: David Streatfeild No. 9 Squadron (Royal Australian Airforce); Vietnam 1969 1970 and 1971. Centrally below the picture and columned vertically: Dustoff (CASEVAC Vietnam), by Brian Wood; Royal Australian Air Force insignia; Rising Sun insignia with scroll: The Australian Army. Signatures by: The Hon. Graham Edwards, Member of Parliament; The Hon. Tim Fischer, Member of Parliament; W.B. "Digger" Jam,es AC, MBE, MC, Major General (ret'd); Keith Payne VC, Warrant Officer Class 2 (ret'd); Brian Wood 4 RAR 70/71vietnam, vietnam war, diamond valley vietnam veterans sub branch

Photograph is of high historical significance given Brig. Pearson's achievements in the Vietnam War.Brig. Pearson was a significant Australian figure in the Vietnam War: Major General Cedric Maudsley Ingram "Sandy" Pearson, AO, DSO, OBE, MC (24 August 1918 – 7 November 2012) was an Australian Army officer. He was a Commander of Australian Forces during the Vietnam War, Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon and Director of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales.In portrait orientation; framed black and white photo of head and shoulders of soldier in uniformNilvietnam, vietnam war, diamond valley vietnam veterans sub branch

The untimely death of Principal Keith Jones paved the way for the appointment of decorated Vietnam veteran Neville Clark who valued the School’s character-building ethos and, whereas Jones saw academic results and sport as paramount, Clark believed these were only part of the education of a well-rounded individual. To this end he extended the function of the House system which now had a leading role in pastoral care, rather than just being for sporting purposes. The arts became more prominent and the Gregory Fish Library and a new swimming complex were built. (taken from '90 Years in the Making')

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of the 1st Australian Task force Commander (Aug 1969 - Jun 1970). Brigadier Stewart Weir MC (centre of the group) inspects a new bridge built by Australian Engineers from the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, South Vietnam.photograph, brig stewart weir, engineers, 1st atf base, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of the 1st Australian Task Force Commander Brigadier C M Pearson MC with the Commanding Officer 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Lt Col David Butler, at the cross of remembrance dedicated to those who fought at the battle of Long Tan 18/08/1966.photograph, 1st australian task force, brigadier "sandy" c.m.i. pearson, lt col butler, long tan, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, long tan cross dedication, 6 rar/nz (anzac)

This item was collected because it has been signed by Sir Peter Cosgrove MC, Patron on the National Vietnam Veterans Museum. He served as a Lieutenant in Vietnam :1 Australian Reinforcement Unit 02 Aug 1969 -19 Aug 1969, 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment 20 Aug 1969 -28 Sep 1969,Headquarters, 1st Australian Task Force 29 Sep 1969 - 30 Jul 1970. It was donated by National Serviceman R V Williams, a private who served under Lieutenant Cosgrove.Bottle green peaked cap with a tan brim. Embroidered. Signed in black felt pen by Peter Cosgrove.Vietnam/ Map of Australia/Vietnam 4 color bar crossing the map/ Vietnam Veterans Australia/ signature of Peter Cosgrove.souvenir, vietnam veterans cap, sir peter cosgrove signature, cosgrove, williams, r v williams