On 18 August 1966, Delta Company of 6 RAR faced an impossible test. Amidst monsoon rain and dense rubber trees, 108 Australian soldiers held their ground against a massive force of 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. Led by Major Harry Smith, these men displayed extraordinary courage in one of the most iconic engagements of the Vietnam War.
However, the battle was merely the opening chapter of a much longer struggle. In this powerful memoir, Harry Smith chronicles his life from his early years in Tasmania and service in Malaya to the visceral reality of the Long Tan battlefield. Beyond the gunfire, Smith exposes a disturbing, decades-long cover-up at the highest echelons of military and political command.
This is more than a war story; it is an intimate, unflinching account of a commander’s enduring fight for justice and official recognition for his soldiers. Through failed marriages, a near-fatal parachute accident, and persistent battles with bureaucracy, Smith reveals the resilience of a man determined to honour his comrades in the face of institutional betrayal. A compelling journey of duty, loss, and perseverance.
Used (good, see images, minor cover wear) Softcover ISBN 9781922132321
