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  • Vietnam

  • The Australian War
  • By: Paul Ham
  • Narrated by: Peter Byrne
  • Length: 31 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (208 ratings)

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Vietnam

By: Paul Ham
Narrated by: Peter Byrne
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Publisher's Summary

The definitive account of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, by best-selling author of Kokoda.

Seen as the last 'hot' frontline of the Cold War, the 10 year struggle in the rice paddies and jungles of South Vietnam unleashed the most devastating firepower on the Vietnamese nation and visited terrible harm on civilians and soldiers. Yet the Australian forces applied tactics that were very different from those of the Americans. Guided by their commanders' experience of jungle combat, Australian troops operated with stealth, deception and restraint in pursuing a 'better war'.

Drawing on hundreds of accounts by soldiers, politicians, aid workers, entertainers and the Vietnamese people, Paul Ham reconstructs for the first time the full history of our longest military campaign. From the commitment to engage, through the fight over conscription and the rise of the anti - war movement, to the tactics and horror of the battlefi eld, Ham exhumes the truth about this politicians' war - which sealed the fate of 50,000 Australian servicemen and women.

More than 500 soldiers were killed and thousands wounded. Those who made it home returned to a hostile and ignorant country and a reception that scarred them forever. This is their story.

©2008 Paul Ham (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"It is the comprehensiveness of Paul Ham's blockbuster on Vietnam that is both enticing and chilling to the core, in what is uncovered and laid out with precision and compelling evidence." ( The Australian)

What listeners say about Vietnam

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    5 out of 5 stars

The best audio book i have ever listen to.

Unbelievable l loved every part of this book it should be made compulsory reading for all Australians,

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Very Good

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The writing was very good and the narrator did a great job. I learned a great deal.

I’m disappointed that the Royal Australian Navy’s participation was not better covered. No mention of the tours of HMA Ships PERTH, HOBART nor BRISBANE.

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Flawless but....

everything about this book is flawless, except for the fact that its unabridged and the chapters in the actual audio book don't line up with the chapters in the app (just set at every 1:15hrs or so). If you fall asleep listening you're screwed, and forget going back to any memorable moments.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enlightening

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A thorough account of the experience of Vietnam from an Australian point of view.

What did you like best about this story?

Enthralling stories about an Australian account of Vietnam.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good history and Truth of the Vietnam War

Excellent rendition of facts with no holes bard. Names identified and laid out as it happened. Eye opening and really enjoyed it. Well worth reading.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic insight into the War and times of Australia

Amazing insight into the Australian Vietnam War by its soldiers, Australian public, Politicians.
I hope we can learn from history and move forward to finding ways to resolve differences without going to war as it is not the answer clearly

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A fantastic telling of the Vietnam conflict.

I liked the way the actions of both sides were told in an unbiased manner,I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Australian history of the war.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So sad but enlightening too.

Such a great unbiased account of a war that should have never been, like many others. I feel for all the diggers who had no idea what they were heading into.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Excellent by Ham, let down by this audio version

An in depth coverage of the conflict and Australian perspectives away and at home, thoroughly researched.

The audio chapters are not cut to align with content chapters? Instead just cut into 1:15 slabs. Lazy packaging Audible!

Byrne goes to far with his accents again in narration

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    5 out of 5 stars
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THANK YOU

A beautifully written book with quite a few home truths that I am sure a lot of people were unaware of. Lest we forget

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.